SENTENCING FOR GUN CRIME

Motion Text

That this House notes with alarm the rise in gun crime in the 12 months to April 2002; believes that gun crimes are amongst the most serious and violent offences that can be committed; and therefore calls upon Her Majesty's Government to introduce legislation which will make it an offence to manufacture, sell or possess replica firearms, raise the age at which air weapons can lawfully be possessed to 17; and set a tariff sentence, applicable in all but exceptional circumstances, of five years in prison for anyone found guilty of unlawfully carrying a firearm.