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Violent Crime Reduction Bill

We support the Government’s objective to ensure that the sale of air weapons is carried out in a responsible way, and that they are not sold to those who are under age.. The question is whether the Government have chosen the right approach. Again my noble friend is right to point out that another place had very little opportunity properly to examine these matters. The amendments were provided late before the Committee stage and were not properly scrutinised. On Report in another place they had very little opportunity to select a small number of issues that needed to be debated, so these matters were not properly attended to at that stage. The objective of my noble friend’s amendment is to secure the responsible sale of air weapons without jeopardising responsible mail order business. It provides an interesting alternative to the Government’s approach. It would make an exemption where acceptable checks on the identity of the purchaser are available and are used. It creates a rule-making power for the Secretary of State, so the Government can be assured that they will be able to put appropriate safeguards in place. My noble friend referred in particular to the issue of sales using credit cards. I understand from the trade that they are well aware of credit cards that may be available to those under the age of 18. There is a way of ensuring that those credit cards would not be accepted as a proper way of purchasing air weapons. Therefore, there is a way of carrying out mail order sales of weapons responsibly with checks to ensure young people cannot be supplied with them. My noble friend’s proposal is interesting, and I look forward to hearing from the Minister why the Government feel that that practical approach should not be preferred. It would secure the support of the trade and preserve their businesses.