IN the article headed "MP takes aim at airgun yobs" (Bury Times, Nov 12) David Chaytor tells us that "the Government's Firearms Consultative Committee is considering reviewing airgun controls".

Either Mr Chaytor is mistaken, or Tony Blair was lying when, on October 25, in reply to a question on the banning of fox hunting, he stated: "I have made it quite clear that my government will not interfere with fishing, shooting or other country sports."

Are the new laws - which Mr Chaytor says we need "to make sure that the ownership and use of airguns is restricted to legitimate purposes" - similar to the law that has taken handguns off licensed users, who had them for "legitimate purposes", but has failed to have any effect on unlicensed users?

Before calling for yet more laws, Mr Chaytor may care to reflect on the fact that, since the banning of handguns, Jill Dando has been murdered with one, several people in Manchester have been murdered with them and, nearer to home, the front window of a house in the Walmersley Road area of Bury has been shot out with one.

Since these handgun incidents have occurred despite a total ban, what makes Mr Chaytor think that a law on airguns will be any more effective?

T. R. MILES

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