Dickson says USA shooting has hardened the resolve of those attending an arms limitations forum

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has expressed his sadness at the mass shooting at a school in Connecticut, USA, in which 27 people died, 20 of whom were children. He is attending an arms limitation forum in Sweden this weekend and has said this event has made those at the forum even more determined to cut the number of guns around the world.

The Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons limitation is holding its 2012 General Assembly celebrating the 10 years Anniversary of the Parliamentary Forum in the Swedish Parliament on the 14th and 15th of December.

Speaking from the conference attended by parliamentarians from Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia, Stewart Dickson MLA said: “Everybody here at the conference has been shocked and deeply saddened by the news of this tragedy in Connecticut.

“It has however made us even more determined to rid the world of small arms especially those used in crime and gang crime. We must do more to make it harder for people to get access to weapons.

“With over 600 million arms in circulation around the world each year, the death and suffering from gun use is far too high. Around 300,000 people are killed by guns each year, this is just unacceptable.

“The horrors of this shooting must have a positive outcome, and perhaps for the first time a real discussion in the limitation of Small Arms.”

ENDS