From: mkb30@cam.ac.uk (Matthew Belmonte)
To: info@annecampbell.org.uk (Anne Campbell)
Subject: questioning Blunkett on anti-gun measures
Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 15:14:49 +0000

Dear Mrs Campbell

Today's _Independent_ reports that David Blunkett is to introduce legislation
that would ban the carrying of replica guns in public and the ownership of air
pistols by under-18's.  When the Government's firearms paranoia has reached
such a fever pitch that it extends not only to real guns but to any object that
has the appearance of a gun, it's high time to consider how necessary and how
effective all of these restrictions might be.

Under a strict interpretation of this proposal, even a water pistol whose shape
and colour resemble that of a firearm might be deemed illegal.  Will we then
see police called on to waste their time citing children for playing with
water pistols?  What about the under-18 who is a shooting enthusiast and a
responsible user of an air rifle; why should (s)he be punished for pursuing a
harmless pastime?  When I was under eighteen I possessed replica guns and air
rifles, and the fact that I did so did not make me likely to go out and
threaten people with them.

Rather than attacking gun violence itself, the Government seems much more
interested in taking public stances that attack the image of gun violence by
curtailing civil liberties.  Although the former problem is much more complex,
addressing it would yield a correspondingly great benefit.

Sincerely

Matthew Belmonte
[address]