BBC ALBA PROGRAMME INVESTIGATES THE VARIOUS ROLES OF THE GUN IN SCOTLAND TODAY
TRUSADH – GUNNAICHEAN ANN AN ALBA / GUNS IN SCOTLAND
BBC ALBA Monday 11 July at 9pm
The gun has played a major role in rural Scottish life for generations. To this day, the history and cultural heritage of hunting and shooting for sport generates a vital income for the Scottish economy, especially during the busy autumn and winter season. Non-traditional seasonal activities such as clay pigeon shooting are also on the increase.
A new BBC ALBA documentary ‘Trusadh: Gunnaichean ann an Alba / Guns in Scotland’ examines the various roles of the gun in Scottish society, meeting those who shoot for sport, taking a look at how the police implement and control the issuing of firearm certificates at a local level, and discovers that the art of gun making is still very much a lucrative part of rural Scottish life today.
Debate continues to surround gun legislation in Scotland though, following the horrors of Dunblane and more recently in Cumbria, last year. These incidents have added to the stigma associated with gun holders in society, irrespective of their reason, or right to have a gun.
There are currently about 75,000 firearms certificates recorded in Scotland primarily for gaming and sporting purposes. It is illegal to own an unregistered firearm in Scotland, even for an air rifle, of which there are four million in the UK. Since the 1997 Firearms Act hand guns have been almost completely banned for private ownership it the UK.
In the programme, Sergeant Norman MacLeod of the Northern Constabulary carries out a routine firearms check, explaining how to store guns and cartridges safely. “A gun license lasts five years but if someone hasn’t used the gun in that time we ask why they have it unless it’s one that belonged to their family for years.
“Occasionally we ask the public to send in any guns they don’t use but more often its people who come to us with guns they don’t need. We dismantle them so they can’t be used. Cases like that happen quite often. For many people it’s a hobby, you don’t want to stop them. Young people would like to take it up too so you don’t want to discourage them. We need to instil safety in young people on the subject of guns.”
Also in the programme we hear from Fay MacRae of Skye Clay Target Club who learnt her shooting skills firing at tin cans, lemonade bottles and even the occasional pumpkin with an air rifle.
Fay comments: “Because I was a girl I was never quite allowed to participate. I always had to stand behind and watch. It wasn’t until my 20s when I thought I would give this clay business a shot. For the first wee while I felt a bit uncomfortable because you are brought up that it’s not really the women’s role to be doing guns, it’s the man’s role but the guys here make you feel relaxed and welcome. Publicly I think it’s not really seen to be a women’s sport but it’s the only sport that men and women are equal in, I don’t think people realise that.”
Dunkeld based gunsmith, Mark Frearson, makes and restores handcrafted guns for collectors worldwide, has two apprentices working with him. “About 1000 man hours goes into each gun. At the moment we are building guns full stop because we believe that the top end of the market will always have people with disposable income.”
Edinburgh gunsmith, Gary MacPherson said: “Shooting is on the increase. You are getting new people coming into shooting. Its new blood coming in which we need to keep the pastime and the heritage going. When you are spending these big figures of 40-50k on a gun you are getting to pick the engraving and wood quality and it feels more personal to you.”
Former Detective Superintendant with the Northern Constabulary, Norman MacLeod, has been shooting for about 40 years, mainly in the police force but now he shoots for pleasure.
Norman comments: “You need to have a license for every one of these rifles I have here. But with shotguns one certificate covers a few. Therefore it’s more difficult to monitor the database. As a boy we played cowboys and Indians. Nowadays they have television, videos and games, especially games where they have to kill people. That’s what young people have now for entertainment. There are others though, especially the troublemakers on our streets and if they are not carrying knives then they’ll be carrying imitation firearms.”
Produced by MacTV for BBC ALBA ‘Trusadh: Gunnaichean ann an Alba / Guns in Scotland’ will be broadcast on Monday 11 July at 9pm.