§ 10 pm
§ Mr. Ernie Ross (Dundee, West)This petition has been signed by the citizens of Dundee and area. I say "area" because, when civil servants look at the petition, they will see that, during the holiday period, visitors passing through the centre of Dundee insisted on signing the petition.
The people of Dundee are concerned that the House should introduce legislation to ban the private ownership of handguns. On 13 March, Thomas Hamilton inflicted 17 death sentences and multiple life sentences on the innocent people of Dunblane. The petition that I am presenting this evening carries 3,250 signatures and says:
The Petition of the citizens of Dundee and area:Declares that the private ownership of hand guns should be banned. Hand guns are particularly dangerous firearms, they are easily concealed and carried. They are capable of rapidly firing a large number of rounds without reloading and are therefore extremely dangerous in private hands.The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons introduce legislation to ban the private ownership of hand guns, and the petitioners remain, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.
§ 10.1 pm
§ Mr. John McAllion (Dundee, East)I, too, wish to present a petition from the citizens of Dundee and area. Like my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Ross), I spent most of the summer recess helping to collect signatures in my constituency of Dundee, East, which was part of the citywide petition led by my hon. Friend and myself. Like his petition, mine declares that the private ownership of handguns should be banned, as handguns are dangerous firearms and are easily concealed and carried. They are capable of rapidly firing a large number of rounds without reloading and are therefore extremely dangerous in private hands. The petition reads:
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons introduce legislation to ban the private ownership of hand guns, and the Petitioners remain, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.