There is no likelihood whatsoever that in the near future a licensing system for airguns will be introduced. Of course that isn’t to say that this will end or even reduce calls from animal charities and other groups for this change and in fairness it is only right that they should continue to do so. The RSPCA says that last year it received more than 900 complaints relating to the misuse of airguns involving animals and birds. Given that such reports will only cover those known about and only then when the member of the public has been bothered to complain, it is easy to see that some thousands of animals and birds, both domestic and wild, are being targeted by the thankfully tiny collection of halfwits, bed wetter’s and wannabee psychopaths who go in for that sort of thing. On top of which are those offences against property.
With seven million airguns believed to be in circulation and a licencing system already tottering under the weight of trying to manage a tenth of that number of shotgun certificates there is no chance of any Government finding either the time or appetite to bring in the necessary legislation*. And were politicians ever minded to so do, a quick glance in the direction of the monumental cock-up which is the licencing failure north of the Border, would be enough to dissuade them from replicating the folly in the south. For not only has Police Scotland not even scratched the surface of the mountain of applications currently occupying its in-tray, there is not the least shred of evidence that it has done anything to halt their misuse.
What should be done of course is to make shooting at people’s property or their pets or any of the other upsetting misuses a very serious matter indeed. A ban for life from owning any kind of firearm along with, for those who deliberately harm a cat or dog, disqualification from keeping an animal of any kind, along with heavy fines. And if the offence is committed by minor the parents pay the fine or do the time. There is as much chance of these penalties becoming a reality as there is of airgun licencing being introduced of course, but that’s politics for you.
*However should a Corbyn government be elected, all bets are off. On everything. Ever.