Dunblane: How Britain Banned Handguns
Parents, politicians and campaigners tell the story of their fight to ban handguns after the shooting in which 16 children and a teacher were murdered with legal firearms.
On 13 March 1996, a gunman walked into the gym hall in Dunblane Primary School, Stirlingshire, shot dead 16 pupils and their teacher and seriously injured 14 pupils and two other teachers. The gunman, who was armed with four legally owned handguns and over 700 rounds of ammunition, then killed himself.
The Dunblane massacre stunned the world and changed Britain, but not without a political battle. This is the story of one of the worst crimes in 20th-century Britain, and of how ordinary people forced the government to ensure the tragedy could not happen again, leading to a complete ban on handguns and the institution of some of the tightest gun laws in the world.
Last on
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Director | Liz Mermin |
| Executive Producer | Steve Condie |
| Executive Producer | Mark Downie |
| Production Company | IWC Media |
Broadcasts
- Tue 10 Mar 202621:00
- Thu 12 Mar 202621:00
- Wed 18 Mar 202600:00BBC Two except Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD
- Thu 19 Mar 202602:30
Featured in...
![]()
Trending in Scotland
Discover the shows Scotland is loving this week.
![]()
Topical takes and talking points
News, views, investigations and issues affecting the lives of people around Scotland.
![]()
True Crime
Scottish crime and justice.
![]()
iPlayer BBC Scotland Channel :: Featured Episodes
iPlayer BBC Scotland Channel featured programmes



