READING your editorial (LET, September 25), I was sorry to note the editor had taken unsubstantiated claims by Jack Straw to be fact.

The Shadow Home Secretary is claiming unfair lobbying of Conservative members forced the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee to come to the conclusion that there is no rational basis for the banning of handguns.

In fact, it appears that the conclusion was reached only after careful consideration of submissions by the Home Office, police and shooting organisations, and the deliberations and submissions are detailed in a published two-volume report 'Fifth Report of the Home Affairs Committee - Possession of Handguns' (Ref No 393 - 1 and 2).

Those who want to learn the truth, please, read the report (it is available in Blackburn Reference Library), and do not rely entirely on dubious statements from Jack Straw.

No doubt Jack Straw and other 'anti-gun' campaigners will blame the mythical and all-powerful 'gun lobby' if Lord Cullen's Inquiry does not call for a ban on the legal possession of handguns.

It is an easy option for an ambitious politician to blame 'dark forces' if reasonable argument does not accord with his own political agenda.

LOCAL GUN COLLECTOR. (Name and address received).

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