Gun laws are to be looked at by Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee in the wake of the Skye attacks that left one man dead and others seriously injured.
It follows a plea by Ian Blackford, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber who raised the issue after father-of-six John MacKinnon was killed, while two others were seriously hurt in three separate attacks on August 10.
A fourth person also needed treatment before being discharged from hospital.
SNP Westminster leader Mr Blackford says it is time to take another look at existing gun laws.
The cross-party Scottish Affairs Committee is to consider the issue to see if any lessons can be learned.
Study current gun laws
Mr Blackford, who represents Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said he had written to the committee asking for them to study current gun laws.
He said: “Firearm regulations are there for a reason and there must be a review of this incident to ensure if any lessons can be learned from it.
“We must carefully examine what improvements can be made – if everybody who has a licence should have one and those that do need one exercise their right responsibly. As far is humanly possible there must be no slipping through the net.
He continued: “These are very controversial topics, and of course, in rural areas we are all aware that there are legitimate applications for people to have guns when it comes to agricultural and sporting matters etc.
“I think it’s right to say that all the agencies, including the police should be pretty strict on the granting of licenses, but given what we have sadly experienced on Skye and Lochalsh, it is right and proper to look at the regulations we have in place – and crucially, if they are strict enough.
“Out of all the firearm licences granted relatively few are ever refused.”
One in 16 people has a gun licence
Across the country, police data shows there were 102,861 gun licences held by individuals as of March this year.
Of these, 25,345 were in the “firearm” category including rifles; 44,503 specifically for shotguns; and 33,013 for air weapons.
In total, this is the equivalent of one permit for every 53 people.
But the 18,960 active gun certificates issued via the police’s Inverness office – serving the Western Isles including Skye, Highland, Orkney and Shetland – amounts to the equivalent of one in 16 people.
The rate – a best estimate, as people can hold licenses in several categories – is even higher than for offices serving other rural parts of Scotland.
And it’s seven times higher than the one in 116 in the west Central Belt, served by the Glasgow permits office.
Mr Blackford said: “The rate for the Highlands and islands is alarming.
“I think people will be shocked that it is so much higher than the rest of Scotland. What’s more, it probably understates the real level of gun ownership in the rural areas.
“The Highlands and islands figures include Inverness, and gun ownership rates will be lower in towns, and higher in the rural areas.”
Police are responsible for issuing gun licenses to people in Scotland following an assessment. To possess a gun in the UK and Scotland, you must first obtain a firearm or shotgun certificate.
In guidance issued by the Home Office, they claim the UK has some of the toughest gun control measures in the world and that “gun ownership is a privilege, not a right”.
A Home Office spokesman said: “We have recently brought in new statutory guidance for firearms licensing which means police must carry out robust checks on public safety grounds and ensure that these are consistently applied by all police forces so that the people of Britain feel safe in their communities.”
Two crowdfunders to help the families affected have topped £75,000 between them.
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