Victims demand firearms control

Jul 9 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

THREE women who were victims of a shooting rampage in North Tyneside 19 years ago, last night handed a petition to the Government calling for tighter gun controls.

Judith Rhodes, Pam Mackintosh and Debbie Haggie, all of Whitley Bay, were wounded on April 30 1989.

That day Robert James Sartin got hold of a double-barrelled shotgun and, dressed in black with dark glasses, got into his car outside his parents’ home in Monkseaton.

Over the next 15 minutes he killed Ken Mackintosh, Pam’s husband, and injured 14 other people in the village.

Now the three women, who are part of the group Campaign Against Weapon Sales and Storage (CAWSS), want to put pressure on the Government to bring in regulations allowing guns to be sold and stored only through licensed gun clubs. Judith Rhodes was Sartin’s first victim, shot in the hand as she tried to avoid his shots. He had gained access to his father’s gun, which was stored in the family home.

Ms Rhodes said: “It is something that will never leave me – I think about that day often.

“As a group we feel we can make a real difference with this petition.”

Mrs Mackintosh said: “This petition was sparked when a sports shop in Whitley Bay was allowed to start selling guns despite residents, the council and police objecting.

“It is just ridiculous how easy it is to get hold of weapons. Anything we can do to prevent another Dunblane or Hungerford massacre would be great.”

Members of the group have several main demands.

They say firearms and ammunition should not be allowed to be sold in urban areas; sales of firearms should be restricted to registered gun clubs; guns should not allowed to be stored in homes, only at registered gun clubs, and gun users should not be allowed to transport them by road, rail or air.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker was at the North Shields office of MP Alan Campbell to talk to the women and collect the petition.

He said: “We will definitely take a look at this. I will be passing it on to the relevant departments. I’m not making any promises, but we will see if there are issues which can be addressed.”