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Violent Crime Reduction Bill

: I have given notice that I shall object to the Question that Clause 28 shall stand part of the Bill. The effect of leaving out the clause would be to retain at 17 the age at which a person could purchase an air weapon. The effect of Clause 26 is to increase from 17 to 18 years the age from which a young person may purchase or hire air weapons or ammunition for air weapons. It also prohibits possession, and therefore use, of an air weapon by anyone under 18 years of age, subject to four limited exceptions. The Home Office, in its consultation paper of May 2004, indicated in part 3 that,"““age limits for young people are complex and need simplifying””." The Firearms Consultative Committee gave detailed consideration to some aspects of the problem in its 11th report, 2002, when it noted at paragraph 4.2 that,"““there is general agreement that the current law relating to young people is complicated and inconsistent””." However, it went on to warn that,"““any changes to the present regime need to be carefully thought through and justified””." If Clause 26 becomes law, differing restrictions on purchasing, accepting as a gift, possession on private property, possession in a public place and supervision requirements will apply to different classes of firearm at ages varying between 14, 15, 17, 18 and 21 years. That is quite ridiculous. The provisions relating to air guns will generally and perversely be more stringent than those relating to shotguns and Section 1 firearms. Much has been said about increases in the misuse of air weapons, but much of the supposed increase is the result of changes in statistical methods.