Council Set To Become First To Launch Total Ban On Airguns

Aberdeen City Council yesterday became the first local authority to approve plans for a total ban on airguns. Councillors in Aberdeen have backed the motion for the controversial weapons to be outlawed.

The proposal will now be referred to the Scottish Executive, which will decide whether to grant a relevant by-law. A report containing exact details of who the ban will apply to and how it will be implemented will also be drawn up.

Aberdeen City Council’s policy and strategy committee voted 10-5 in favour of the ban. The motion was put forward by Labour councillor Norman Collie. Mr Collie said he wanted the weapons barred in the light of airgun attacks such as that which killed two-year-old Andrew Morton from Glasgow.

He added that it was also in response to a rising number of airgun incidents in Aberdeen. Mr Collie said: “We want Aberdeen to be a leading light in getting through a ban on airguns and hopefully other places will follow suit.”

Gun clubs would be exempt from any by-law, as would anyone using the weapons for legitimate pest control. Police said measures would be needed to allow them to determine if an airgun had been bought legally.