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MP says government must act on Cumbrian shootings report in the wake of the Peterlee tragedy
January 4, 2012 11:09 AM
South Lakes MP Tim Farron is calling on the government to look at fully implementing the Home Affairs Select Committee report on firearms laws in the wake the Derrick Bird tragedy.
18 months ago, taxi driver Derrick Bird shot 12 people dead in Cumbria with legally-owned guns. Sadly on New Year's Day Michael Atherton killed three people in Peterlee, County Durham. He was allowed to hold six gun licences despite apparently having a history of threatening to harm himself. This follows on from another shooting in Clarkenwell, Central London on New Years Eve.
The select committee report made 22 recommendations, only three of which the government has taken on board - and none of these included changes to gun licensing laws. The plan also outlined by the Select Committee proposed to consolidate the current 34 gun laws into one coherent Act again this was rejected by the government.
Tim today said: "18 months on from the Cumbrian shootings, we enter 2012 with the news that two horrific shootings have traumatised another two communities. It is time that the government agreed to enact the rules laid out by the Home Affairs Select Committee - they are both sensible and reasonable. They protect the rights of farmers and sportspeople to own weapons but they help to close the loopholes that currently exist. There were 22 lessons to be learned after the Derrick Bird tragedy. The government took on board just three. They should now look closely at adopting the other 19."
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