In the last couple of weeks we have seen a number of attacks against animals in Bandenoch and Strathspey in the Highlands of Scotland.

This included two cats who were both shot with crossbow bolts, Nuke and Theo. Thankfully, Nuke was able to be saved and is at home recovering. Theo was not lucky, he tragically died from his injuries and has left his owners heartbroken.

These are not isolated occasions, attacks against animals with a crossbow have happened before and they will happen again as long as nothing in the law changes. Right now anyone can go online and buy a crossbow without needing a permit. This cannot continue.

The laws against owning a firearm in Scotland and the UK are extremely strict for a good reason. We have seen the damage a crossbow does to an innocent animal, what is to stop the next victim not being an innocent baby, child or person.

Let's get this moving, get it to parliament and make owning a crossbow illegal without a permit and pre checks by law enforcement.