Even as a no guns citizen of the UK, I have absolutely no problem with those who kill what they eat, or eat what they kill.

We no longer hsve wild animals in the way that the Americas have. What deer we have, for example, are owned by somebody and therefore not to be hunted without permission.

We also have no big predators capable of harming humans (though occasionally a herd of cows can inflict serious harm).

The only reason for gun ownership, except for farmers and landowners) would be to shoot people and we have agreed that this is not a productive activity, so we don't do it (as a rule).

When, as a lad of fourteen, I spent holidays with an uncle in Norfolk, who was kitchen gardener for a large estate, I used to shoot vermin using a double barreled twelve bore. It was a chore and I can't say I ever enjoyed it.

Rifles don't generally feature in UK life, since you are almost never in a position where there are no other people within range even of a .22 short.

I did shoot targets with my father who was a Bisley competitor, using a Lee Enfield .303, which was fun, but that gun resided at the club.

The point of all this is that I am not anti gun. Just anti indiscriminate and uncontrolled guns which are inappropriate for any legal civilian use.

Don T.