Civilian Disarmament Proceeds Apace in the UK

According to this BBC story

Gun permits at all-time low

The number of firearms and shotgun certificates issued in Scotland has dropped to its lowest recorded level, new figures show. There were just under 80,000 certificates at the end of 2002, a drop of nearly 4,000 from the previous year.

But the number of legally-held weapons rose slightly from 2001, according to a report from the Scottish Executive.

So there are 4,000 fewer permit holders but more gun owners with "arsenals?"

According to the 2001 census, the population of Scotland was about 5,062,000 of which about 3.8 million were above the age of 19 and eligible for a firearm or shotgun certificate. That means the percentage of legal owners is just about 2% of the eligible population. And declining.