SIR: People say it's not the gun that's dangerous, it's the man; not the dog, it's the owner; and it's not the car, it's the driver. Yes, but with reservations.

If a macho farmer tried to outshine the "pit bull" lads by walking his two-ton bull down the village street on a lead and the bull went berserk .... questions would be asked of our lawmakers.

Men don't pay a grand for a gun to leave it in a showcase, nor £300 for a large pedigree dog to confine it to a kennel, nor £20,000 for a ton-up car to garage it.

Expensive things are bought to be used. One man's freedom can be another man's catastrophe.

Max Nottingham, St Faith's Street, Lincoln

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.