BASC has accused the Scottish government of causing panic and confusion with its air gun surrender campaign.
The UK’s largest shooting organisation believes lawful owners are being frightened into handing over air guns before new licensing laws come into effect on January 1 next year.
Despite the licence application process not opening until July 1, BASC are concerned that people are already being advised to surrender air guns.
Dr Colin Shedden, BASC director Scotland, said: “It is utterly premature to be telling people to hand in air guns. The press are saying it’s an amnesty; it’s actually a travesty.
“There is currently no system in place to help members of the public who own air guns and want to get a licence. As we predicted when the Bill was going through parliament, the entire process has become a shambles. Nothing we are seeing at the moment can convince us otherwise.
“BASC, along with Police Scotland, are being inundated with calls from panicked members of the public who own an air gun but have no means of licensing it.
“The Scottish government urgently needs to provide critical information on the process and needs to stop causing panic among law-abiding people.”
For more information, please contact BASC's press office on 01244 573007 or email press@basc.org.uk
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