Dunblane anger after Nigel Farage calls for easing of handgun ban

A controversial politician was criticised by the husband of a Dunblane survivor after he called for an easing of the ban on handguns imposed after the tragedy.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage branded the current law “ludicrous” and insisted it had not helped to keep gun crime down.

Ownership of most handguns was made illegal following the 1996 Dunblane shooting, when Thomas Hamilton killed 16 schoolchildren and a teacher before shooting himself.

Tony Blair’s government extended the restrictions in 1997.

Tony Harrild, husband of PE teacher Eileen who was shot in the chest and arms by Hamilton but survived, said Farage’s comments were “very inappropriate”.

He said: “Given all the other things that should be occupying his mind his comments on gun control are inappropriate and, some might argue, inane.

“I think it will hurt people. People forget about these things until there’s another Dunblane or another Hungerford but we must remain vigilant. We have to be there to remind people of the consequences of a liberal approach to gun ownership to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

Mr Farage claimed gun crime doubled in the five years following the ban.