Mother launches anti-airgun video

[Don]

bbc web site said:

Mother launches anti-airgun video George Atkinson said he was having 'the best day of my life' before he died An anti-gun video featuring a north Wales boy who was accidentally shot dead with an airgun has been launched in London on Monday. Jayne Atkinson, from Mold, became a campaigner for the Gun Control Network after her son, George, 13, died. She met Home Secretary David Blunkett at the launch of the video, which shows images of George days before his death in 1999. She also explains how losing her son has devastated the family. The video - Watching Over Me - is filmed in the style of a soap opera and will be shown to secondary school pupils aged between 12 and 15. It tackles the subject of guns, as well as racial issues and drugs, and comes with a teaching pack. The video features actresses Linda Bellingham and Kathy Tyson as well as budding stars from the National Youth Theatre. The pictures of George show him laughing on a day out to the beach with friends. Just two days later he was dead. David Blunkett talks to children at the video launch in London He was shot at point blank range while firing at cans in the garden at his aunt's house with his cousin. An inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death. Mrs Atkinson's campaigning work has previously taken her to the House of Commons Select Committee, where she talked about the dangers guns pose and the impact they can have on families. She said: "They (airguns) have become more dangerous, they are more powerful. "I would like to see them locked up in the home. "If the gun that George was playing with was locked up, he would still be with us now, he would be 18. "I would hope that in future, David Blunkett will make the gun laws stricter concerning airguns, to prevent children being killed and maimed and prevent anyone else going through what we've been through." At the launch, Mr Blunkett said of young people getting caught up in crime: "It is essential that we address these issues at an early stage and help young people make positive informed life choices."

How interesting. So Mother launches an anti-airgun video.

Airguns have not got more powerful. Their muzzle velocity is limited by law - if the gun is more powerful than the limit it is classed as a firearm, you need a firearm licence, gun cabinet - the works.

You would have to be monumentally unlucky to be killed by normal airgun - although this clearly happened to this poor young chap.

How come a teenager under the age to be allowed to have an airgun was playing with one unsupervised by an adult? Any gun is not a toy - although they can be great fun. I hope this video is about proper supervision - but I somehow I doubt it will be.

I'm afraid I see this as blame transference. Mum can't blame who she'd like to so she blames in inanimate object.

[Bonce]

Being shot at point black range is not unlucky, it means sheer bloody stupidity on behalf of one of the shooters he was with. Why were he and his friends not instructed in the safe use of airguns?

When I got my airgun for my 13th birthday I was also given a book all about airgun shooting and told read it cover to cover before I was allowed out to 'play'. I and my friends spent many happy hours shooting the shit out of inanimate objects with not one injury.

Edit: It was my 14th birthday.

>> Edited by Bonce on Wednesday 8th December 09:20

[FourWheelDrift]

Don said:

I'm afraid I see this as blame transference. Mum can't blame who she'd like to so she blames in inanimate object.

Exactly right.

I am fed up with this attitude these days, same when a person gets run over crossing a road not using a pedestrian crossing or foot bridge. They put all the blame on the road users by reducing speeds instead of educationg people on how to cross safely.

It's probably her fault anyway, poor supervision. Sorry but it is, she can't accept it so blames the airgun and tries to ruin it for everyone else out there who does know how to use an airgun safely.

I remember when all sorts of safety films used to be shown in schools, bet they aren't today.

And what the hell does David Blunkett know about airguns? It's just another minority bandwagon for him to jump on in a vain attempt to look popular and transfer attention away from the Visa scandal.

>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 8th December 09:36