I HAVE read many articles in the Bucks Free Press on "fake and replica guns" which you have highlighted.

Can I tell you my experience, back in 1997 on visiting a local toy shop.

I was appalled to see on back shelves of the shop these replica toy guns, which were so realistic. I came straight home and put pen to paper and wrote to my local MP Mr David Lidington who I must say acted very quickly on my behalf and he contacted the Home Office and sent me a reply he had received from Ann Widdecombe of the Home Office.

In my letter to him I explained to him my dismay that these should be produced for toy shops and that at the time of my writing our local store had been ramraided and also robbed. The neighbouring post office had been held up.

Ann Widdecombe states in her letter all the Government jargon on guns but the last paragraphs are replying to my letter.

I was too disgusted to reply to her's. Stage and cinema productions, she says, need them! Most of these approach theatrical props departments for items when required.

If I could see the dangers of these replicas being used five years ago why does the Home Office drag their feet on these matters?

They are now waking up to the problem, but I'm only an ordinary person in the street and these were danger signals to me in 1997.

P Smith

Burdett Drive

Walters Ash

January 24, 2003 11:00