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Dumblane
As the 30th anniversary of the Dumblane tragedy approaches, the BBC has commissioned a documentary film Dunblane: The Shooting that Changed Britain (working title).
On the 13 March 1996, a lone gunman walked into a primary school in Dunblane, near Stirling, and shot dead 16 pupils and their teacher in a Primary 1 gym class. To date, it is the deadliest firearms atrocity in the UK.
The documentary will tell the lesser-known story of Britain’s gun culture at the time and an extraordinary turning point in Britain’s modern history. It will shed new light on one of Britain’s darkest moments and explain how legislative decisions made in the aftermath of the Hungerford shooting in 1987 led – nine years later – to an atrocity which shocked the world.
Dunblane: The Shooting that Changed Britain examines the wave of public anger following Dunblane. The Snowdrop Campaign founded by Ann Pearston, Jacqueline Walsh and Rosemary Hunter, and supported by many of the grieving parents including Mick North, led a hard-fought campaign to introduce a total ban on handguns for private citizens. At first this was met with political and public resistance in some quarters and support in others and led to passionate debates as politicians wrestled with unfathomable grief of the families. Yet the film reveals the steps which led to Britain introducing tough new gun laws over the next 18 months.
Revealing evidence from the government archives, the film will examine both sides of the debate around Britain’s gun laws in the 90’s and include contributions from high profile figures who joined the calls for change. Moving testimony from those affected by the shocking events of that morning, along with archive material captures the mood of the country at that time and provides context around the fight to challenge the status quo.
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland says: “Scotland and the world was shocked by what happened in Dunblane nearly 30 years ago. Whilst much has been written and broadcast about the terrible events of that morning, our film will seek to shine a light on the courageous story of those who campaigned to get Britain’s gun laws changed forever.”
26 September 2025
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