RSPCA calls for air gun licenses to protect animals being attacked

RSPCA officials are calling for tougher laws on owning airguns after revealing more and more animals are being attacked by people using the weapons.

The animal welfare charity will be giving the recommendation as part of a submission to the government’s current review of the regulation of air weapons following two serious incidents involving children.

The RSPCA has received, on average, 900 calls a year since 2013 reporting incidents of animals being targeted by people using air weapons.

Now it wants to see England and Wales follow the lead of Scotland, where airgun owners and users have been required to have a licence since January 1 last year.

However, in 2017 the RSPCA still received 884 calls reporting air gun attacks on animals across England and Wales.

A total of 4,500 reports of air gun attacks were received by the charity between January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017.