Bereaved families have strongly criticized Rupert Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain, for minimizing the 1996 Dunblane tragedy to just “one murder.”
Lowe, who faced expulsion from Reform after a dispute with Nigel Farage, referenced the tragic school shooting during a conversation about gun control on Joe Rogan’s popular podcast. He asserted that handguns were prohibited in the UK due to a single murder in Dunblane. This remark was met with disbelief from Rogan, who questioned Lowe’s characterization. Lowe reiterated his stance, expressing discontent over his father losing his pistols following the significant legislative changes that ensued after the deadliest mass shooting in British history.
The harrowing incident at Dunblane occurred on March 13, 1996, when Thomas Hamilton gunned down sixteen children, aged five and six, along with their teacher, Gwen Mayor, during a primary one PE class. Additionally, twelve children and three adults sustained injuries before Hamilton took his own life.
Kenny Ross, whose five-year-old daughter Joanna perished in the massacre, voiced his dismay, emphasizing the ignorance displayed by individuals like Lowe regarding the profound impact of the Dunblane tragedy. He underscored the importance of stricter gun laws in creating a safer society and preventing others from enduring similar horrors.
Jack Crozier, whose sister Emma, aged five, was also a victim, condemned Lowe’s insensitivity, highlighting that Lowe deliberately misrepresented the tragic events of Dunblane on a major podcast. Crozier urged the residents of Great Yarmouth to reconsider their choice of representation in light of Lowe’s remarks.
Political figures reacted strongly to Lowe’s comments, with Labour MP Chris Kane denouncing the remarks as deeply offensive and shocking. The sentiments were echoed by Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr, who emphasized the magnitude of the tragedy by recounting the impact on his children and their school community near Dunblane.
SNP MSP Keith Brown labeled Lowe’s comments as despicable, emphasizing the enduring legacy of the Snowdrop Campaign that led to stricter firearm regulations. Additionally, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie called for Lowe to issue an immediate apology for his dismissive attitude towards the Dunblane tragedy.
The Dunblane massacre prompted significant changes in the UK’s gun laws, with the government implementing stringent firearm legislation in response to the tragedy. The ban on most handguns introduced by John Major’s administration in 1997 was later expanded by Tony Blair’s Labour government to encompass all cartridge ammunition handguns.
Responding to the backlash, a spokesperson for Restore Britain defended Lowe’s comments, stating that he was simply referencing a single incident.
