Overview
- At Holyrood, First Minister John Swinney led cross‑party tributes to the 16 children and teacher killed in 1996, recalling his son’s birth on the same day and noting the handgun ban that followed.
- Residents marked the anniversary with flowers and candles at the Garden of Remembrance, flags at half‑mast in Stirling, and a Dunblane Centre display featuring global tributes, including letters from Diana, Princess of Wales.
- Rachael Irvine, whose brother Ross was among those killed, described lasting grief and said she joined the Gun Control Network to help younger generations understand why the law changed.
- GCN chair Gill Marshall‑Andrews said campaigners faced death threats and bomb scares after 1996, warning against institutional complacency and urging tighter oversight that reflects modern risks.
- Swinney signalled openness to further measures and rigorous licensing checks as MPs weigh stricter shotgun rules, with Mick North raising concerns over 3D‑printed weapons and background checks and Keir Starmer saying he would review handgun law.