SIR: Gary Titley I see is going to ban firearms totally. He knows nothing about shooters, guns, or probably anything else. Douglas Hurd banned self-loading rifles, (when he was Home Secretary). He did this because he thought people wanted him to do it. It made no difference to crime, not did it take guns off the IRA, or bank and post office robbers, or disturbed people who held them legitimately.

Every country that confiscates firearms from its people suffers a massive upsurge in illegal firearm ownership, and more armed crime. The Officer who was the head of the Association of Chief Constables two years ago said this. As soon as you tell people that certain things are not allowed, everybody will have them.

Firearms are a fact of life, and we are stuck with them, Mr Titley.

The real problem is that there is no civil discipline, no fear of punishment and, if you're lucky, and you kill someone with a stolen car, you get 100 hours' community service.

All European countries try to get rid of our (British) football supporters, Mr Titley. It is accepted that they behave badly, and are dangerous. Think about it.

Thomas A Melia,

Danesbury Road, Bolton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.