Firearms safety

"Never, never let your gun pointed be at anyone," opened Victorian Mark Beaufoy's famous verses giving advice to his son on hunting and firearms safety. "That it may unloaded be, matters not the least to me," he continued. A shotgun or rifle should be pointed either at the ground or up in the air when it is not being aimed at a legitimate target, particularly when adjustments are being made to it in the field.

The page 3 photograph in your Aug. 31 edition of policewomen practicing marksmanship depicts three of them, one sitting, one kneeling and one standing pointing their rifles directly behind them from the shoulder. Another is sitting cradling her rifle and pointing it probably towards spectators while apparently handling the bolt. A fifth young lady is doing the same thing from a standing position.

At Bisley, or much lesser known shooting grounds for that matter, such unawareness of elementary firearms safety practice would warrant the perpetrator being sent off in disgrace and told never to return. It is of course all down to the instructor. My comments are based on 50 years experience and my criticism is intended to be constructive.

COLIN FOOTE

Medan, North Sumatra