"Cat shot in chest by thug" (The Argus, May 30) was yet another act of wanton cowardice in a long line reported in The Argus and other newspapers.

On May 4 this year, a boy of 12 was killed in Yorkshire after he was shot through the eye with an air-rifle, the second child this year to be killed by an air-gun pellet.

How many more incidences must we tolerate before we do something meaningful to prevent it?

What is the point of air rifles, other than to maim and kill things?

Britain's estimated four million air-guns account for 70 per cent of firearms held legally and 66 per cent of firearms offences.

Dr Peter Squires, writing in The Argus a year ago (June 24, 2004), argued for the licensing and control of handguns, rifles, air-guns and imitation guns. But his commonsense appeal has gone unheeded.

His article also revealed that more injuries and damage are caused by the misuse of air-guns than all other gun types put together.

The Green Party wants to amend the Firearms Act to prohibit the use and private ownership of firearms and other lethal weapons, such as air-rifles and crossbows, except on registered premises.

Readers of The Argus should write to their MPs, asking them to push to get more responsible behaviour in the use of air-guns through government legislation.

-David Hammond, Animal Rights Spokesperson, Crawley and Horsham Green Party