A worrying increase in online adverts for banned handguns has prompted urgent calls for action.
Stirling and Strathallan MP Chris Kane, backed by the father a Dunblane Tragedy victim, has called on the UK Government Ministers to clamp down on the illegal ads and launch an investigation.
The MP was alerted to the disturbing material on Google and Youtube by concerned constituents – one of whom was confronted with an ad for a “Glock 19” while shopping online for air filters.
Dr Mick North lost his daughter Sophie, five, in the 1996 tragedy at Dunblane Primary School.
He was among those who successfully campaigned for a handgun ban in the wake of the shootings, and who continue to monitor gun control both domestically and overseas to this day.
Dr North told the Stirling Observer: “The proliferation of online adverts for weapons which, for very good reasons, were banned in Great Britain 28 years ago is very disturbing and any measures that can be taken to stop them must be taken.
“No one should be encouraged in any way whatsoever to try and buy a handgun or anything that resembles one.”
Gun control campaigners are also believed to have noticed an increase in the number of firearm adverts coming through popular online platforms such as ads for hybrid-type weapons, including 3D printed, CO2 powered and real firearms.
MP Chris Kane was approached by two separate constituents – one a former pupil of Dunblane Primary – after they were confronted with unsolicited adverts for firearms online.
The former Dunblane Primary School pupil, described the advert which appeared before them on a video streaming site as “horrifying” and said it claimed to be for a legal mail order handgun.
They added: “Hopefully it is a scam, but I wondered who I ought to report it to, and if it is genuinely legal what can be done to end this state of affairs.”
The other Stirling resident said that, while simply browsing for HEPA air filters, they were “stunned to be served an advertisement between videos to buy a ‘Glock 19’ hand gun, adding: “This was the second time in a month I have seen a gun advertisement.
“My Google account is a standard UK setup. I have left feedback directly to Google and am awaiting a response. However I was extremely shocked and very upset to be shown an advertisement for a Glock hand gun and a website from where I could purchase one.”
The local said the situation was “unacceptable” and “wholly against UK laws”.
The MP has now demanded immediate action following the reported advertisements for handguns appearing on online platforms Google and YouTube.
One such advertisement linked to a website selling products that appeared to be either handguns or handgun parts and purported to originate from a company in China.
Mr Kane has escalated the matter by writing to the UK Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, urging an investigation. He has also written to Google to demand that these advertisements be removed and that an investigation should be lodged.
He said: “This kind of advertising is both appalling, dangerous and deeply upsetting. Immediate action must be taken to remove these ads from online platforms, and a full investigation should determine how they were allowed to appear in the first place.
“The issue needs immediate action by the technology companies, and I have written to Google and the Home Office to highlight the deep concern held by my constituents and I.”
Google responded to Mr Kane to say they would look into the adverts. They did not respond to our request for comment.