From: Rusty�Bullethole, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Express 5.10.00 Gun ban to be relaxed for Games in 2002 BY DAVID TAYLOR HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR BRITAIN'S all-out ban on handguns is to be relaxed to allow shooting events when the Commonwealth Games are staged here in 2002, Home Secretary Jack Straw announced yesterday. All handguns were made illegal in the wake of the Dunblane massacre, but British and foreign competitors will be given permission to possess pistols for a limited period before, during and after the games. They will not, however, be allowed to take weapons away from the competition ranges at Bisley, Surrey. Since Dunblane in 1996, when gunman Thomas Hamilton killed 16 schoolchildren and their teacher, British competitors have been forced to practise aboard. Yesterday's decision was announced as the Government set out proposals to further tighten controls on shotguns and the use of weapons by young people. In future, shotgun licences will only be issued when an applicant can show a good reason for possessing a weapon. At present, police can only refuse a licence if they can prove the person has no need for a gun. Other moves include a ban on the unsupervised use of lethal firearms by under-16s and tighter controls on the sale of airguns. The minimum age for owning a lethal firearm will rise from 17 to 18. The measures - which come after the Olympic success of Richard Faulds and Ian Peel, who won a gold and silver respectively in shooting events - were criticised by British Shooting Sports Council secretary Pat Johnson. He said: "It will make it more difficult for us to produce another Richard Faulds by making it harder for youngsters wanting to take up shooting." Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
