New law aims at airgun menace
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David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, is drawing up laws to ban teenagers owning airguns as part of a raft of measures on anti-social behaviour.
The proposals being considered by ministers include raising the current age of ownership from 14 to 17 and giving police officers the powers to confiscate loaded weapons from teenagers.
The laws are expected to be included in a new anti-social behaviour bill aimed at clamping down on teenagers who intimidate the public with their loutish behaviour.
Government sources said the bill will also impose new restrictions on the use of fireworks and increase the use of anti-social behaviour orders. It comes as Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, launched a high-profile campaign to crack down on louts which includes plans for a £50 fine for dropping chewing gum and a ban on children buying paints used for spraying graffiti.
The clamp-down on airguns is in response to a huge rise in shootings, especially those involving teenagers. Home Office figures show that airgun incidents, including attacks on children and animals, rose from 7,506 in 1997 to 10,227 in the past year.
Existing laws allow anyone over the age of 17 to buy an air rifle and it is legal to own and use these weapons from the age of 14. Airguns are freely available in toyshops, army surplus stores, car boot sales and market stalls without the need for a licence.
It was revealed last week that Terry Rooney, MP for Bradford North, was the victim of an airgun "sniper" who shot a total of six people in south London over a four-day period. Police believe this was a copycat attack inspired by the shootings in and around Washington DC.
Police officers are also concerned about teenagers modifying airweapons to increase their firepower and inflicting deadly injuries.
Tom Watson, a member of the Home Affairs Select committee, said it was time to introduce new laws. "It's vital we deal with this issue as quickly as we can," said Mr Watson, MP for West Bromwich East. "A young girl has already been shot and seriously injured in my constituency. Fourteen-year-olds should not be able to own rifles and police should have powers of confiscation."