By Steve Bargeton, political editor

FIRST MINISTER Jack McConnell yesterday criticised UK ministers for not going far enough with plans to limit the use of airguns in Scotland.

Earlier this week the Home Office announced proposals for new legislation to raise the minimum age for buying airguns from 17 to 18, and to ban the “indiscriminate and reckless” firing of airguns from private property.

Campaigners in Scotland have been pressing for a crackdown on air weapons since the death of two-year-old Andrew Morton, fatally injured by an airgun pellet in March.

Soon after the Glasgow toddler’s death, Mr McConnell told MSPs he wanted to see an all-out ban on the weapons or a tough licensing scheme.

Yesterday at Question Time SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon pointed out that the UK Government had ruled out both of these options.

“He has manifestly failed, in the three months leading up to the UK Bill being published yesterday, to persuade the Home Office to take tough action to restrict the sale of airguns,” she said.

“What makes him think he is going to be any more successful in the few weeks after the proposals have been published?”

Mr McConnell said, “As we have said, we do not believe that legislation will go far enough. That is why we need to find a workable system that will reduce the availability and use of airguns even further, and reduce the potential for similar incidents.

“We will find such a solution ... in discussion with the police forces of Scotland and the Home Secretary.”

Ms Sturgeon challenged the First Minister to give “a personal guarantee” that measures would be announced to either ban airguns or strictly regulate them. “Will he deliver on his promise—or does he just talk tough and act soft?”

Mr McConnell said his objective was “reducing the availability” of airguns.

He told MSPs he did not agree with the objection of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) to a licensing scheme. “We are not yet convinced by that argument at all,” he said.

“But if there is going to be any kind of scheme that either limits the availability of airguns or in some way registers their use and allows us to monitor their availability, and deal with those who would misuse them, then we need to ensure that scheme is practical and can be operated properly with the full support of police forces—and indeed our local authorities, almost certainly.

“And that is exactly what we will do—we will put in place a scheme here in Scotland that can be workable.”

* In an amnesty brought in following the Andrew Morton tragedy, the number of airguns handed into each Scots police force are: Central Scotland—60; Dumfries and Galloway—58; Fife—103; Grampian—50; Lothian and Borders—170; Northern—46; Strathclyde—308; Tayside—127.