Well done, Richard Halfpenny (Letters, October 5 and 12). In the light of the current crisis, there may well come a situation where trained, qualified riflemen, under proper military direction, could be of use to the authorities.

The anonymous letter of October 9 was typical of the ill-informed, hysterical view of legal, privately-owned firearms.

For far too long, law-abiding shooting enthusiasts have been vilified for the actions of two madmen.

It has been stated in many quarters, not only shooting organisations, that no amount of laws would have stopped these people any more than a peace deputation with a slap on the wrist will stop Osama bin Laden.

Sussex has a long and fine tradition in musketry, going back to the invasion threat of Napoleon when every man of Sussex was required to be expert in and have to hand a rifled musket for the defence of the realm.

Our armed services are woefully undermanned and, should the need arise, the riflemen of Sussex are the hands that will be needed, as long as some loony MPs have not already confiscated every last rifle, bow, crossbow and, come to that, cricket bat.

A very dangerous thing.

-Name and address supplied