My daughter died in the Dunblane shooting in 1996 – here’s why we must keep resisting the gun lobby

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On March 13, 1996, a man legally owned four handguns and ammunition. He entered a primary school in Scotland and tragically used one of the pistols to kill 16 young children and their teacher. My five-year-old daughter, Sophie, was among those killed, and others were seriously injured.

The tragic events at Dunblane Primary School thirty years ago were shocking, especially because school shootings were so rare at the time. The tragedy sparked debate about strengthening gun laws, but many doubted the government would act decisively due to its ties with gun advocacy groups.

The response came from the public – everyday people and the families affected by the tragedy at Dunblane. Thanks to our efforts, Britain’s gun laws were significantly changed, most notably with a complete ban on owning handguns privately.

A new BBC documentary shares the story of our success, featuring reflections from those of us who were involved in the challenging campaign. I firmly believe our efforts saved lives.

School shootings are sadly common in many countries, particularly the US, but Britain has never experienced one. Strict gun laws have kept gun violence levels much lower here than in most other developed countries.

Gun violence has fallen considerably in Great Britain since 2000. In recent years, fewer than 30 people have been killed by guns each year, a much lower number than the daily toll of gun homicides in the United States. Thankfully, most children in Great Britain don’t experience the lockdown drills that have become a sadly common and upsetting part of school life in the US.

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The firearms used in mass shootings are typically obtained legally. Most British politicians now openly support the country’s strict gun laws, believing they’ve helped make the nation safer. It’s therefore surprising that, in 2014, Nigel Farage described the handgun ban as “ludicrous.” This comment resurfaced last summer, and while a spokesperson for Reform UK stated the party doesn’t intend to alter gun laws, Farage himself hasn’t offered the same assurance.

We can’t afford to become complacent about gun laws. Gun owners will always look for ways to make it easier to acquire firearms, and laws often struggle to keep up with new developments, remaining complicated and full of loopholes. Gun Control Network, which I helped found after the Dunblane shooting, monitors these changes and tries to inform lawmakers. Our goal is to balance the influence of the powerful and well-funded gun lobby, which consistently opposes efforts to strengthen gun laws.

Other countries offer valuable lessons. After a terrible mass shooting in Port Arthur, Australia in 1996, they strengthened their gun laws. However, over time, those safeguards weakened, and it became easier to legally obtain multiple firearms. The recent shooting at Bondi Beach highlighted just how much these laws had been eroded, often due to pressure from gun advocacy groups. It took another tragedy to force a review, and we shouldn’t wait for the same thing to happen here.

Looking back on the Dunblane tragedy after 30 years, and the progress made since, I ask all lawmakers – both now and in the future – to stay focused on public safety. We need leaders we can rely on to prioritize the well-being of people over the demands of gun rights groups. Please act now to strengthen gun laws and prevent future tragedies, rather than waiting for another devastating event and leaving families to fight for change. Strong gun laws are essential for saving lives.

The documentary Dunblane: How Britain Banned Handguns will be shown on BBC Scotland on Tuesday, March 10th at 9 PM, and on BBC Two on Thursday, March 12th at 9 PM.

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Authors

Mick North

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2026-03-02 20:54