DEAR EDITOR, - I read with interest the editorial comment (May 4th) on firearms and how they should remained banned.

Legally held weapons are rarely used in criminal acts. The owners of legally held firearms are probably some of the most responsible people in society. They are all aware of the potential of the weapons being in the wrong hands.

Many people will remember Dunblane and Hungerford. These are two dreadful incidents that should never have happened had the relevant authorities followed advice and removed the weapons from the owner concerned.

But to put it in perspective, do we ban cars due to a small handful of idiots killing innocent bystanders, and themselves? Many more people die in avoidable car accidents in one month than have ever been killed by legally held firearms.

Knives are far more a threat on the street and do have an advantage for the user. They are small and concealable, they don't run out of ammunition, they don't jam and they can cause severe trauma on entry and exit and are quiet in operation.

You should be concentrating on illegally held weapons, be it guns, knives, or vehicles, not criticising responsible licence holders.

DENNIS REEVES 1 Sunderland Avenue, Pembroke Dock.