Plymouth shooting: Law proposal to ban shotguns in homes

Proposals for a new law to ban the keeping of pump-action shotguns in homes have been discussed by MPs.

It follows the mass shooting in Keyham, Plymouth, in August, when a gunman shot and killed five people.

City MP Luke Pollard introduced the Firearms and Hate Crime Bill to Parliament.

If made law, it would prohibit the keeping of pump-action firearms in homes, with exemptions for professional pest controllers and farmers.

The bill is due to be debated again at a later date for a second reading, subject to Parliamentary time being available.

On 12 August, Maxine Davison, 51, Stephen Washington, 59, Kate Shepherd, 66, Lee Martyn, 43 and three-year-old Sophie Martyn, were all killed by Jake Davison.

Davison then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life.

Mr Pollard, the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said before the debate: "I want to see changes in gun laws informed by the evidence from the inquest and police investigations.

"I am presenting the first part of Keyham's Law with the hope that further measures can be proposed after careful consideration from these investigations."

Mr Pollard added he "saw no reason" anyone would need a pump-action shotgun stored in their home.

Putting forward his bill, he told the House of Commons: "Biddick Drive, where the shooting began in Keyham, could be any street in any of our communities.

"That's what makes this so scary and that's why we need to be sure that this will never happen again.

"Keyham is still grieving. But through that grief comes clarity.

"We never want this to happen to any other communities again and for that to happen we need to learn the lessons of this tragedy."

His bill has also proposed continuous cross-checking of mental health records for people who possess a firearms licence already, not just checks at the time of application.

Some of the families of the victims attended Parliament when Mr Pollard presented the bill and met with Crime and Policing Minister Kit Malthouse.

Laura Mervyn, Keyham resident and member of the Keyham Neighbourhood Watch, said the community had been "left in shock".

"Guns are not toys - they should not be treated as something cool.

"There should be real precautions in place to ensure people being given gun licenses are properly vetted.

"Changes to gun law need to include a focus on mental wellbeing and it should be reviewed regularly.

"No other community should have to suffer because a gun slips into the wrong hands."

Councillor for Devonport Bill Stevens said Mr Pollard's work to limit the use of guns has been "essential".

"There's no excuse for them to be kept by ordinary people at home and the sooner we have a common sense approach, the better.

"We all want to live safely and this step from Luke will a huge contribution to that.

"I hope those who lost loved ones in the horrific shooting will take some comfort that if this campaign succeeds, their losses will not have been in vain."

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