AS A collector of de-activated firearms, I read with interest our local MP Greg Pope's proposal to totally ban the possession of imitation, blank-firing or de-activated firearms.

The problem, as I see it, is how would such a ban work in practice. How could it be effectively implemented, and would it affect the criminal misuse of firearms either real, imitation, or imaginary?

Many thousands of imitation, blank-firing, and de-activated firearms have been sold over the years and there are no records as to their present owners. A law banning the possession of such items would only affect the many thousand of responsible, law abiding citizens and would not even worry the very small minority of criminals and potential criminals.

Therefore, any ban is totally impractical and unenforceable without a detailed police search of every home in the country. Surely Mr Pope is not proposing such action?

I believe that the Firearms (Amendment) Act, 1994 makes it illegal to cause people fear or alarm by the carrying, displaying or otherwise of a firearm, imitation firearm, or anything that can reasonably be mistaken as a firearm.

Surely, this law solves the problem without resorting to the extreme and totally impractical measures suggested by our MP.

Any law that adversely affects only the law-abiding must be so bad as to be unworthy of consideration by any responsible Member of Parliament and this should be remembered by the voters in Hyndburn at the next election.

LOCAL GUN COLLECTOR (name and address supplied).

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