Arm the public

I AGREE with Alison Hernandez, the police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, that people who own licenced firearms should be encouraged to use their weapons in defence of their communities in the event of a terrorist attack (Mail).

Yes, the police got to the scene of the London Bridge and Borough Market attacks in just eight minutes, but this was still long enough for the terrorists to kill and injure many innocent people.

Unlike the police, the public are everywhere. In fact, terrorists target public places, so the more people who are armed the better.

However, Devon and Cornwall’s Deputy Chief Constable Paul Netherton says private gun ownership is anti-social and ‘only highly trained police firearms officers are capable of defending the public from attack’.

The police are not the only people who can use a firearm efficiently and safely. Civilian gun owners include experienced former service personnel who can be better shots and more proficient at handling firearms than some of the police.

They are vetted as being responsible citizens by the most draconian application system for private gun ownership in the world.

Shooting clubs have a proficiency training system that means before you can become a member, you have to undergo safety training.

Experienced armed civilians are no greater risk than armed police to the public. In these perilous times, the Home Office must consider the safety of society over the neuroses of the police. JOHN ATKINS, Greatstone-on-Sea, Kent.