§ Lord Mancroftasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether their current concerns over the use of firearms alters the Answer given by Lord Whitty to Lord Geddes on 10 May 2002 (WA 205). [HL1151]
165WA
§ Lord WhittyThe Home Office is proposing a number of measures in order to deal with the unacceptable increase in firearms crime and reflect the Government's determination to tackle this problem in a deliberate and concerted way.
These measures include:
- The introduction of a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for those convicted on indictment of possessing prohibited firearms.
- A ban on the carrying of an imitation firearm or air weapon in a public place without reasonable excuse.
- The age limit for acquiring or using an air weapon without adult supervision will be increased from 14 to 17.
- A ban on the sale, manufacture and importation of air cartridge systems, such as the Brocock, and the licensing of those already held.
- A national firearms amnesty.
These measures do not impact on the Answer I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Geddes, on 10 May 2002 as to use of rifles and shotguns for hunting.