A BOLTON firearms expert today warned that banning handguns in the home would kill off the sport of target shooting and create a massive danger to the public.

Brian Ford, pictured, has renewed his opposition to any moves to force gun owners to store weapons centrally at clubs. Farnworth-based Mr Ford said he is waiting to hear the full Cullen recommendations before he comments in detail.

But he said: "If the effect of the law is to punish those who wish to obey it while having no impact on those who would use firearms for criminal purposes then that state of affairs should be reconsidered as a matter of urgency.

For such a law is worse than futile - it brings the law itself and every branch of government associated with it into disrepute." In August 1991 raiders stole a safe containing seven guns from Mr Ford's home.

Four have since been recovered, including a Colt .45 used in the killing of Ian Foster and a Smith and Wesson revolved used by drug-crazed Ordsall man Ian Spiers to kill himself and his girlfriend.

Mr Ford said today: "A ban on keeping handguns at home would effectively kill off the sport of target shooting as much as a total ban."

Mr Ford and other keen target shooters take their guns around the country to competitions.

If they had to be stored at clubs they could no longer do that, Mr Ford said. He added: "There is no common sense at all in central storage.

"It would provide central points for the criminal underworld to go to if they wanted a gun. That would be a real danger to the public."

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