Bereaved families are expressing outrage towards Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe for minimizing the 1996 Dunblane massacre as merely “one murder.” The conservative figure, previously ousted from Reform after a clash with Nigel Farage, referenced the tragic school shooting during a conversation about gun control on Joe Rogan’s popular podcast.
Lowe mentioned that handguns were prohibited in the UK due to a “murder in Dunblane.” When Rogan questioned, “One murder?” Lowe reiterated, stating it was indeed “one murder.” He lamented the loss of his father’s pistols following significant gun law reforms enacted in response to the deadliest mass shooting in British history.
The Dunblane tragedy occurred on March 13, 1996, when gunman Thomas Hamilton fatally shot sixteen children aged five and six, along with their teacher Gwen Mayor, during a primary school PE class. Additionally, twelve children and three adults sustained injuries before Hamilton took his own life.
In response to Lowe’s remarks, Kenny Ross, whose daughter Joanna perished in the massacre, criticized the lack of understanding regarding the severity of the Dunblane incident. He emphasized the importance of stricter gun regulations in creating a safer society and preventing similar tragedies, highlighting the ignorance and selfishness displayed by individuals like Lowe.
Another affected individual, Jack Crozier, who lost his five-year-old sister Emma in the shooting, condemned Lowe’s insensitivity, labeling his description of the massacre on a prominent podcast as “one murder.” Crozier urged the residents of Great Yarmouth to carefully consider if Lowe is an appropriate representative for their community.
Political figures denounced Lowe’s comments as “deeply insulting” and “shocking.” Labour MP Chris Kane raised concerns in Parliament, emphasizing that Lowe’s trivialization of the Dunblane tragedy belittled the loss of sixteen children and their teacher, as well as the enduring impact on the affected families and community. Scottish Tory MSP Stephen Kerr echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the incident was a mass murder, not a singular act.
SNP MSP Keith Brown criticized Lowe, describing his remarks as despicable and underscoring the positive legacy of the Snowdrop Campaign in advocating for stricter gun laws following the Dunblane massacre. The resilience and unity shown by the Dunblane community in the aftermath were commended, with Brown emphasizing the need to uphold this legacy and prevent any attempts to weaken firearm regulations.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie condemned Lowe’s dismissal of the Dunblane tragedy as appalling, urging him to issue a prompt apology. The Dunblane massacre prompted the UK to implement stringent firearms legislation, including a ban on most handguns introduced by John Major’s government in 1997, later expanded by Tony Blair’s Labour administration.
A spokesperson for Restore Britain defended Lowe’s remarks, clarifying that he was referring to a single incident.
