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Gun death dad in plea to end arms culture
 
 
David started campaigning in Turkey after little Alistair, above,  was killed
David started campaigning in Turkey after little Alistair, above, was killed
 

by Deborah Anderson

THE father of a Scottish toddler shot dead on holiday today called on the Turkish government to tackle the country's "enormous" gun culture.

David Grimason, from East Kilbride, travelled to Izmir, in Turkey, to join a demonstration calling for tighter gun controls.

In July 2003 his two-year-old son Alistair was shot dead after a gunfight broke out in a cafe in the coastal resort of Foca.

His mother and grandmother had gone to the cafe for a meal and Alistair had been asleep in his pushchair when the gunfight broke out at a nearby table.

In July 2004 Daimi Akyuz was found guilty of killing Alistair and jailed for 36 years.

Since the shooting Mr Grimason and his Turkish wife Ozlem have campaigned for tighter gun controls.

Estimates suggest there are seven million unregistered guns in the country and every year people die in incidents involving handguns.

In Izmir, Mrs Grimason's home town, a march takes place annually calling for action.

Mr Grimason said: "I have attended this event each year since my son's death.

"The death rate in Turkey is still very high so still we have to try to change people's attitude towards guns.

"The Turkish government needs to accept the enormity of the problem and take the necessary actions."

Mr and Mrs Grimason last year joined campaigners in London to mark the United Nations General Assembly's endorsement of an arms trade treaty and went to Kenya to highlight the devastation caused by illicit trade in small arms.

Alistair's name is now known all over Turkey and a street in the village where he died has been named Alistair Road.

Publication date 11/09/08

Posted by: BigJohnKnew, SousideGlesga on 3:25pm Thu 11 Sep 08
john1 wrote:
perhaps Mr Mason MP should read this story.
Perhaps councillor kalashnikov should read this story.
Posted by: Bear, Glasgow on 4:34pm Thu 11 Sep 08
ere we go anotha gun story an this time it got nuffin da wi the uk.
wot goes on in turkey wi guns is nuffin da wi us its turkeys prob.
anyfin wi word gun in it an it seems always b in paper. fink sum1 is obseesd wi em

Posted by: Hoof Hearted, GlasVegas on 4:54pm Thu 11 Sep 08
Bear wrote:
ere we go anotha gun story an this time it got nuffin da wi the uk. wot goes on in turkey wi guns is nuffin da wi us its turkeys prob. anyfin wi word gun in it an it seems always b in paper. fink sum1 is obseesd wi em
Read the story you ignorant muppet.

................ And learn English.
Posted by: William Gallagher, Bolton on 5:09pm Thu 11 Sep 08
Dear Bear
this everything to do with us all just read the article they are brittish citizens on holiday, they are in the middle of a gang war that breaks out right in front of them and their beautiful little boy gets killed in the process.

On this point you are very much wrong wether it be Turkey the USA or any other country we have a duty to protect our loved ones at all cost's.
Posted by: Bear, Glasgow on 5:11pm Thu 11 Sep 08
jus coz 1 o parents is scottish end o day it happen in turkey no ere. evryfin it sayin bout guns refer 2 turkey no uk.
Posted by: calamero, Glasgow on 5:19pm Thu 11 Sep 08
Hoof Hearted wrote:
Bear wrote: ere we go anotha gun story an this time it got nuffin da wi the uk. wot goes on in turkey wi guns is nuffin da wi us its turkeys prob. anyfin wi word gun in it an it seems always b in paper. fink sum1 is obseesd wi em
Read the story you ignorant muppet. ................ And learn English.
Unfair on muppets - I am sure they were more eloquent.
Posted by: The Wise One, Glasgow on 8:53pm Thu 11 Sep 08
Bear

It is obvous that you are taking the proverbial P***

Go away, you stupid person!



Posted by: The Wise One, Glasgow on 8:56pm Thu 11 Sep 08
I am very disappointed that the ET pulled the plug on comments concerning John Mason. I sincerely hope it was not due to SNP pressure and the fact the guy is an idiot
Posted by: ex labour voter, glasgow on 9:14pm Thu 11 Sep 08
The only idiots are the ET who are losing sales day by day with their disgusting attacks on a man who has broken no law.
The sick defeated labour mob are going to get a hiding at the elections.
Caffy Jimmison thanks for making an oaf of your self again at FMQ,s.
Hilarious stuff hen.Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha.
Labour are in deep dodo if this is the best they can dredge up.

Posted by: The Wise One, Glasgow on 9:33pm Thu 11 Sep 08
ex labour voter wrote:
The only idiots are the ET who are losing sales day by day with their disgusting attacks on a man who has broken no law. The sick defeated labour mob are going to get a hiding at the elections. Caffy Jimmison thanks for making an oaf of your self again at FMQ,s. Hilarious stuff hen.Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha. Labour are in deep dodo if this is the best they can dredge up.
The Kalashnikov kid and John the Baptist are doing a good job , on their own, of bringing the SNP bandwagon to a halt.

The SNP are guilty by association in this matter and their disregard of public opinion will be their downfall.

If Emperor Alexius, Ruler of Caledonia, cannot see the folly in supporting the KK, then my message to him is this. BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH.
Posted by: SPAMALOT, southside on 10:56pm Thu 11 Sep 08
The Wise One wrote:
ex labour voter wrote: The only idiots are the ET who are losing sales day by day with their disgusting attacks on a man who has broken no law. The sick defeated labour mob are going to get a hiding at the elections. Caffy Jimmison thanks for making an oaf of your self again at FMQ,s. Hilarious stuff hen.Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha. Labour are in deep dodo if this is the best they can dredge up.
The Kalashnikov kid and John the Baptist are doing a good job , on their own, of bringing the SNP bandwagon to a halt. The SNP are guilty by association in this matter and their disregard of public opinion will be their downfall. If Emperor Alexius, Ruler of Caledonia, cannot see the folly in supporting the KK, then my message to him is this. BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH.
The Wise One wrote The SNP are guilty by association in this matter and their disregard of public opinion will be their downfall. I dont think so look at the scandals of the labour admin and it took 8 years to get them. out
Posted by: Betty Uttley, California, formally Sheffield on 9:57pm Fri 12 Sep 08
Were the people on holiday? or were they living in Turkey? Seems to me that the man was from Scotland and his wife from Turkey, surely if the do live there they would know the hot spots for gang warefare.

I know that we do not visit Los Angeles brcause of the same problem, the police are told not to touch the Mexican Gangs, so the only thing is to keep away from them, there has been a lot of driveby shootings and most of these have been babies that got shot, the first thing the shooter does is go straight back to Mexico. They will not give them up to stand trial, there is not much to say either, as the Mayor of LA is Mexican.
Posted by: Betty Uttley, California, formally Sheffield on 10:25pm Fri 12 Sep 08
Were the people on holiday? or were they living in Turkey? Seems to me that the man was from Scotland and his wife from Turkey, surely if they do live there they would know the hot spots for gang warefare.

I know that we do not visit Los Angeles brcause of the same problem, the police are told not to touch the Mexican Gangs, so the only thing is to keep away from them, there has been a lot of driveby shootings and most of these have been babies that got shot, the first thing the shooter does is go straight back to Mexico. They will not give them up to stand trial, there is not much to say either, as the Mayor of LA is Mexican.
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