MSPs Vote On Airgun Restrictions

Airgun owners will soon require a licence under a wide-ranging new law which can also be used to crack down on unwelcome pubs, strip bars, taxi firms and scrap dealers.

The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill is expected to be passed at Holyrood today.

Its headline provision for a licensing regime for airguns fulfils a pledge by the SNP to regulate the weapons following the death of two-year old Andrew Morton, who was shot in the head with an airgun in Glasgow in 2005.

But the Bill includes a much wider reform of the licensing regime in Scotland, giving councils the power to reject applications for new pubs, off-licences, lap dancing clubs and hire cars on the grounds that there are too many in the area.

The Bill was endorsed by Holyrood's Local Government Committee in March, but it called for action to close a loophole'' which could see strip clubs circumvent the new laws.

Premises which hold four or fewer sexual entertainment events a year would be exempt, but MSPs fear this could lead to strippers moving from venue to venue to avoid the law.

However, theatre productions that contain nudity will be exempt from the licensing shake-up.

Labour has also called for amendments to prevent 16-year-olds working as cleaners or in administrative roles in strip clubs.

Speaking ahead of the final debate on the Bill, Labour children's spokeswoman Cara Hilton said: There is a risk that the Bill as it stands could encourage a slippery slope, allowing sexual entertainment venues to employ teenage girls to work as cleaners or in administration roles and then persuading or subtly coercing them to become performers when they reach 18.

I'm especially concerned that vulnerable young women, such as care leavers or women living in poverty or disadvantage, could be exploited under the current system.

My provisions effectively extend the current rules which bar under-18s from working in sex shops. We shouldn't have a two-tier system.''

Other provisions include a requirement for pub owners to prove that they are fit to run a premises, including disclosing spent convictions.

Councils must have the stated objective of reducing the consumption of alcohol when considering new licences while those who give alcohol to children to drink in public will be criminalised.

Communities will get a greater say over the opening of lap-dancing bars while councils will also be able to judge whether there is an over-provision of private hire cars in the area.

The wide-ranging Bill will impose new regulations on scrap metal dealers to cut down on theft, including a requirement to get proper identification from those selling scrap and refuse payment in cash.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: At the very heart of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill is this Government's aim to support and encourage legitimate businesses whilst protecting public health and safety and empowering our communities.

It will reduce metal theft by strengthening a licensing regime for scrap metal dealers, introduce more robust alcohol provisions for pubs, clubs and retailers, and gives local authorities the powers to decide on the numbers of sexual entertainment venues in their area.

We also have a long-standing commitment to eradicate gun crime in Scotland and look forward to revisiting this in tomorrow's stage three debate.

Offences involving air weapons accounted for almost half of all offences involving a firearm in 2013-14. Every day police and animal welfare groups have to face the results of air weapon misuse, from anti-social behaviour to horrific and deliberate injuries to wildlife and pets.

The new legislation we're proposing will better protect our communities by taking these potentially lethal weapons out of the hands of those who would misuse them.

We are not banning air weapons outright, but ensuring that their use is properly regulated and users have a legitimate reason for them. We believe this legislation strikes the right balance between protecting communities and allowing legitimate shooting in a safe environment to continue.''