Tighter reforms on who can own firearms keep us all safe
In Scotland, we know only too well the catastrophic consequences of firearms falling into the hands of violent and unstable individuals.
Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the Dunblane massacre, a shattering event which remains imprinted on the national psyche.
It was in response to the tragedy that three mums got together to launch the Snowdrop campaign, which eventually led to the banning of all privately owned handguns in the UK in 1997.
Many people assume those reforms were passed with cross-party support. They were not. The Tories at the time branded the ban on handguns as an attack on civil liberties.
The reforms to gun licensing announced by Labour today are welcome. Gun ownership in the UK is not a right.
It's in all our interests that those who own guns for legitimate purposes are fit and proper individuals.
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Under the new laws, people will need two referees to apply to own a shotgun rather than one.
Police will also be ordered to speak to partners and household members to identify signs of domestic abuse or any other factors which could indicate that the applicant isn't suitable to have a firearms licence.
Campaigner Emma Ambler has been pushing for the change since her twin sister, Kelly Fitzgibbons, and her two nieces were murdered in 2020 by Kelly's partner with a legally-owned weapon, despite him being a domestic abuser.
Guns are a fact of life in some professions. But those who use them must be scrutinised.
And they must never, ever again fall in to the hands of evil killers like Thomas Hamilton.
Reverse cop cuts
The SNP swept to power in 2007 on a promise to protect police numbers. But now frontline cops claim staffing numbers are too low and the public are starting to feel the effects.
Figures published today reveal that the overtime costs for officers have increased in the last year.
With cops being drafted in to help with policing US President Trump's trip to Scotland, insiders believe the figure will rise again.
In practice, this means our over-stretched police force is having to work longer hours to keep Scots safe.
It means a tired workforce is being run ragged – to the detriment of everyone.
SNP ministers must ensure that Police Scotland has the resources needed to do its job.
Top of the list is reversing the cut to police officer numbers, which is coinciding with a rise in overtime.
Police Scotland is another service that is at breaking point.
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