Tighter reforms on who can own firearms keep us all safe
In Scotland, we know only too well the catastrophic consequences of firearms falling into the hands of violent and unstable individuals.
Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the Dunblane massacre, a shattering event which remains imprinted on the national psyche.
It was in response to the tragedy that three mums got together to launch the Snowdrop campaign, which eventually led to the banning of all privately owned handguns in the UK in 1997.
Many people assume those reforms were passed with cross-party support. They were not. The Tories at the time branded the ban on handguns as an attack on civil liberties.
The reforms to gun licensing announced by Labour today are welcome. Gun ownership in the UK is not a right.
It's in all our interests that those who own guns for legitimate purposes are fit and proper individuals.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Under the new laws, people will need two referees to apply to own a shotgun rather than one.
Police will also be ordered to speak to partners and household members to identify signs of domestic abuse or any other factors which could indicate that the applicant isn't suitable to have a firearms licence.
Campaigner Emma Ambler has been pushing for the change since her twin sister, Kelly Fitzgibbons, and her two nieces were murdered in 2020 by Kelly's partner with a legally-owned weapon, despite him being a domestic abuser.
Guns are a fact of life in some professions. But those who use them must be scrutinised.
And they must never, ever again fall in to the hands of evil killers like Thomas Hamilton.
Reverse cop cuts
The SNP swept to power in 2007 on a promise to protect police numbers. But now frontline cops claim staffing numbers are too low and the public are starting to feel the effects.
Figures published today reveal that the overtime costs for officers have increased in the last year.
With cops being drafted in to help with policing US President Trump's trip to Scotland, insiders believe the figure will rise again.
In practice, this means our over-stretched police force is having to work longer hours to keep Scots safe.
It means a tired workforce is being run ragged – to the detriment of everyone.
SNP ministers must ensure that Police Scotland has the resources needed to do its job.
Top of the list is reversing the cut to police officer numbers, which is coinciding with a rise in overtime.
Police Scotland is another service that is at breaking point.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
25 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Missing British tourist vanishes from sunbed next to husband as concern grows
Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, was last seen on a sunbed at Ofryni beach, Kavala in Greece on August 1. Concern is growing for a missing British woman who disappeared three days ago from a beach sunbed as a search for her has been extended. Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, was last seen on a sunbed on Friday August 1 at Ofryni beach, Kavala in Greece. Her husband is said to have been asleep when she disappeared. He woke up to find her missing, with her belongings still on the beach, reports the Mirror. The alarm was then raised by her concerned family, according to Greek missing persons charity Lifeline Hellas, who put out a Silver Alert after police were unable to locate her. An alert from the charity read: "Her life is in danger. If you know anything, contact the Silver Alert service, 24 hours a day, at the National SOS Line 1065." Greece's Hellenic Coast Guard have launched a search operation at sea and they are investigating the reports that her belongings were left on the beach. It is reported that three recreational craft, five fishing boats as well as two patrol boats have been involved in looking for Ms Bourda. Michele is described as having straight blonde hair down to her shoulders, hazel eyes, is 1.73m (5ft 6in) tall and is thin. On the day she disappeared, she was wearing a two-piece swimsuit with rhinestones, yellow beach shoes and red sunglasses. She was apparently seen swimming at around 12pm. And the investigation is now understood to have been extended with fears for her life. A source told The Sun: "We are giving it our all. There are still no signs as to whether she went missing on land or sea but right now there are no plans either to end this search. "We are not at that stage." They added: "Michele is a British citizen who likely also had a home in the UK. There are coast guard boats and private boats out looking for her." The beach near where she disappeared is surrounded by vegetation, houses and a large reservoir. Ms Bourda is understood to live with her Greek husband in Serres, Macedonia. The British embassy in Greece shared a notice on Facebook which read: 'Michele Ann BOURDA went missing on 01/08/2025 at the beach of Ofrynio in Kavala. On the day she went missing, she was wearing a swimsuit with decorative stones, yellow water shoes and red plastic sunglasses. Her life is in danger.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
Labour has ‘lost control of our borders' & ‘one in, one out' migrant deal ‘won't make any difference'
LABOUR'S "one-in-one-out" migrant deal is a hopeless "gimmick" that will "make no difference whatsoever", the Shadow Home Secretary blasted today. The trial, which starts today, sees up to 50 Channel migrants a week sent back to France while the UK will take in the same number via a legal route. 2 2 Detentions are expected to begin within days and removals could start in weeks. But the plan has already been slammed as "weak" and a "gimmick which won't work". Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "The government's plan being signed today to return just 50 illegal channel immigrants a week, and probably less, will make no difference whatsoever. "This amounts to only 6 per cent of illegal arrivals. Allowing 94 per cent to stay in the UK will be no deterrent at all. "This is a gimmick which won't work." Mr Philp added: "Only removing all illegal immigrants upon arrival will provide the necessary deterrent to stop the crossings. "This is the Conservative plan, but Labour is too weak to implement it and as a result they have lost control of our borders." Under a wider attempted crackdown at illegal migration, charity visa routes are also being tightened as a Nigerian YouTuber boasted about using them to get into the UK. And ministers plan to stop universities taking foreign students if they do not prevent courses being used to claim asylum. The Home Secretary this morning refused to put a number on the overall amount of illegal arrivals who will be sent packing to France under the scheme. She said: "We are not putting an overall figure on this programme. "Of course, it will start will lower numbers and then build, but we want to be able to expand it. We want to be able to increase the number of people returned through this programme." She added: "We will provide regular updates, people will be able to see how many people are being detained, how many people are being returned, and it is right that we should be transparent around that. "But we're not setting the numbers in advance, firstly because there is no fixed number in terms of the overall number of people to come through this system, and secondly because we're not going to provide (gangs) with that operational information." The first small boat migrants set to be booted back to France under the new 'one in, one out' returns deal will be rounded up by the end of the week, the Home Office confirmed. The scheme, which has now been signed off by the European Commission, kicks in today and marks the first major returns agreement with an EU state since Brexit. Border Force officers are on standby to start picking out who'll be sent packing, with dozens of beds already cleared at immigration removal centres across the UK. Under the rules, any adult arriving illegally by small boat could face deportation. For every one sent back, Britain will take in a "genuine asylum seeker" from France — but only if they've got family ties here or come from a country with a high level of successful asylum claims, such as Afghanistan, Iran or Eritrea. The pilot will run for nearly a year. While the Home Office hasn't confirmed exact numbers, insiders say around 50 migrants a week will be deported. The figure equates to just one in 17 arrivals, based on current crossing levels. Top officials say the people smugglers' business model will only collapse if up to 85 per cent of crossings are stopped. The deal is part of Sir Keir Starmer's wider vow to 'smash the gangs'. But channel crossings have hit record highs, with a whopping 25,436 people making the journey this year alone, up nearly 50 per cent on 2024.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Jay Blades 'charged with two counts of rape' as former BBC star to 'appear in court'
West Mercia Police have understood to have confirmed charges against the 55-year-old TV star, who stepped back from presenting The Repair Shop last year. Former BBC presenter Jay Blades has reportedly been charged with two counts of rape and is set to appear in court later this month. West Mercia Police have understood to have confirmed charges against the 55-year-old TV star, who stepped back from presenting The Repair Shop last year. As the Mirror reports, a magistrates' court date is set for Wednesday, August 13. "Jason Blades, 55, of Claverley in Shropshire, has been charged with two counts of rape," a spokesperson for the force told The Sun on Monday night. "He is due to appear at Telford magistrates' court on 13 August 2025." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Blades, who was awarded an MBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours for his services to crafts has three children; a daughter from his first marriage and two sons from previous relationships. The TV star is best known for presenting The Repair Shop, Money for Nothing and Jay Blades' Home Fix, and co-presenting Jay and Dom's Home Fix. He has also fronted features with Sir David Jason and Dame Judi Dench.
