Wednesday, February 22, 2006
National Shame
Ten years ago today, a lone gunman with a history of unpleasant encounters with society, stalked through a primary school in the small Scottish town of Dunblane.
He shot dead 16 children and their teacher; he left 12 others seriously wounded; shattered the hopes and dreams of many families; and brought a nation to a halt.
It took a matter of moments for this misfit to carry out his cowardly act.
Within months, Scotland had new laws in place to ban handguns and establish a national register, a database listing all owners of firearms. On paper it showed swift response to a dreadful event. In reality, it is only partly implemented.
Ten years on, political promises now seem as postures. The legislation that provided for a UK-wide database has yet to be established. And although information is exchanged between the Scottish police forces, which is welcomed, there is no such system operating in the rest of the United Kingdom.
It is a national shame.
The leader of the House of Commons says he is commited to the national database. He says the Westminster government expects to see it rolling out across England and Wales in the summer, assuming that the pilot programme, currently being tested, is successful.
It's difficult to believe all this began ten years ago this morning, in a quiet Stirlingshire town best known for its natural beauty, architecture and friendliness.
Today, the people of Dunblane go about their business as they did on every other year since the shooting; determined that although this may be a milestone anniversary, it is no different to them whether one, ten or 50 years have passed. Except they still want the children and their teacher to be remembered, quietly, but always.
In gardens and woods, wherever you see snowdrops, remember this day.
In the windows, candles are lit in memory of the lives lost and the others still being rebuilt.
Mick North, whose daughter Sophie was one of the victims, is a veteran campaigner for a national gun register.
He succintly responds to those in the gun lobby who protest against his moves and say they have a right to undertake a sport responsibly.
Mr North calmly reminds them that it was his right to bring up his child; but that has been taken away from him.
The register must be implemented across all of the United Kingdom.
The quiet composure and dignity of the families closest of all to this dreadful event are to be commended, for they have shown strength and courage. It is shameful that successive governments have failed them and us.
Charles Fletcher
charles.fletcher@caledoniamedia.com
Ten years ago today, a lone gunman with a history of unpleasant encounters with society, stalked through a primary school in the small Scottish town of Dunblane.
He shot dead 16 children and their teacher; he left 12 others seriously wounded; shattered the hopes and dreams of many families; and brought a nation to a halt.
It took a matter of moments for this misfit to carry out his cowardly act.
Within months, Scotland had new laws in place to ban handguns and establish a national register, a database listing all owners of firearms. On paper it showed swift response to a dreadful event. In reality, it is only partly implemented.
Ten years on, political promises now seem as postures. The legislation that provided for a UK-wide database has yet to be established. And although information is exchanged between the Scottish police forces, which is welcomed, there is no such system operating in the rest of the United Kingdom.
It is a national shame.
The leader of the House of Commons says he is commited to the national database. He says the Westminster government expects to see it rolling out across England and Wales in the summer, assuming that the pilot programme, currently being tested, is successful.
It's difficult to believe all this began ten years ago this morning, in a quiet Stirlingshire town best known for its natural beauty, architecture and friendliness.
Today, the people of Dunblane go about their business as they did on every other year since the shooting; determined that although this may be a milestone anniversary, it is no different to them whether one, ten or 50 years have passed. Except they still want the children and their teacher to be remembered, quietly, but always.
In gardens and woods, wherever you see snowdrops, remember this day.
In the windows, candles are lit in memory of the lives lost and the others still being rebuilt.
Mick North, whose daughter Sophie was one of the victims, is a veteran campaigner for a national gun register.
He succintly responds to those in the gun lobby who protest against his moves and say they have a right to undertake a sport responsibly.
Mr North calmly reminds them that it was his right to bring up his child; but that has been taken away from him.
The register must be implemented across all of the United Kingdom.
The quiet composure and dignity of the families closest of all to this dreadful event are to be commended, for they have shown strength and courage. It is shameful that successive governments have failed them and us.
Charles Fletcher
charles.fletcher@caledoniamedia.com
# posted by scotcast @ 8:27 am 
