Air gun shooting penalty

Edinburgh and Glasgow, with good rail, air and car links, should have been the other candidates for the national academy.

Young aspirants with little money are unlikely to be attracted to the sport because of the costs of getting started in tennis in centres of population. Do many young people set about playing on the local outdoor city courts during the five months of dark days and winter chill? Some hopes!

I see a gigantic white elephant on the horizon – a facility for the betteroff in society, not the majority, which brings me back to that democracy ideal.

John Allen, Irvine Place, Stirling Dear Editor

I read the article in the Observer (August 30, 2017) on the pet cat shot by an air gun with a mixture of utter outrage at the act and sympathy for the cat’s owner .

So much for the new allencompassing licensing of air weapons. I myself am a shooter and cat owner, one who has a licence, a club and private land to shoot on, insurance and lawful right to use and possess a firearm. The new law was to prevent or deter such actions by individuals, clearly it has been nothing but an expensive exercise.

I trust when and indeed if the culprit is caught, the fullest penalty is applied regardless of age.

Doubtless this reprehensible act was done as a laugh by some wee ned and I would imagine that the likely culprit may even be known to the locals, as it’s hard to run around the street with a gun these days.

Indeed, perhaps if the [police’s] tactical firearms [team] sat them down and explained the potential consequences to them it may sink in that they could potentially be shot dead.

J Tripney By email