Calls for gun law reform after the Cumbrian shootings
It was inevitable that the West Cumbrian shootings would lead to .
But before heading to the area today, .
, talking about the need for all the facts to be digested before any discussion of what might need to change.
It is right that any review of the gun laws is carefully considered, and not just rushed through to grab easy headlines.
But it's clear now that a debate is beginning.
We know Derrick Bird held his guns legally, we know he had no known mental health problems, but .
that even if our laws are some of the tightest in Europe, very few of those who apply are actually refused gun licences.
He says that's one area which may need examining.
And the Gateshead MP Ian Mearns .
He told me this morning that that he understands any further tightening of the laws will lead to the shooting lobby protesting about civil liberties.
But, he pointed out, Derrick Bird's 12 victims' civil liberties were "completely terminated" by Wednesday's events.
He believes there may be a case for restricting access to some weapons.
The MP suggests they could be kept within controlled gun clubs to prevent people having such weapons at home.
It is a difficult issue though.
As the Prime Minister has pointed out, you cannot legislate "to stop a switch flicking in someone's head", but you can be fairly certain that Derrick Bird would have caused far less carnage if he hadn't had access to powerful guns.
But for the moment we are still piecing together Derrick Bird's motives, and the principal focus for the community is rightly on those .
During my time as a journalist in Cumbria, I had come across two of Derrick Bird's victims - , and .
Unfortunately like Hungerford and Dunblane, it will, to a certain extent, now become synonymous with mass murder.
I hope though that it doesn't become the only reference point for an area I have such affection for.
How West Cumbria recovers from this will be one of the issues we will explore on this Sunday's as we talk to the local MP Jamie Reed live from Whitehaven.
I'm Richard Moss, the 91Èȱ¬'s Political Editor for the North East and Cumbria. Welcome to my irreverent - but hopefully insightful - northern take on reporting politics for Look North and the Politics Show.
Comments
or to comment.