SIR, – A chill ran down my spine when I read the letter (the Press and Journal, July 2) from Neil Anderson concerning air weapons.
Mr Anderson stated: “Airguns are used legitimately in target shooting, vermin control and, possibly most important, in training young people.”
Scottish figures for 2007/8 show that airguns were used in just over half of the 1,125 recorded firearms offences. Since 2001, an average of one person a year has been killed in incidents involving airguns.
The figures do not show the real extent of the damage caused by air weapons. Any veterinary practice or animal rescue centre can supply long lists of the wounded and dying pet, farm and wild animals they have to deal with each year because of airgun misuse. These casualties and most of the vandalism to property caused by air weapons are not recorded under gun crime statistics.
Even legal use of air weapons can cause great suffering. I have eyewitness reports of the agony suffered by a young fox, wounded and then killed by a farmer using a .22 air rifle. Despite the weapon being incapable of killing the fox cleanly, no laws had been broken.
Airguns are not toys; they are deadly weapons and the tools of vandals and thugs. As such, they have no place in our homes and public places.
John F. Robins,
secretary, Animal Concern Advice Line (ACAL),
P.O. Box 5178,
Dumbarton.
SIR, – It is always sad when someone passes away unexpectedly and Michael Jackson is no exception. However, I find it hard to contemplate how people who have never met or known him could show such grief and sadness at his passing.
Michael Jackson was without doubt a mega-celebrity and, like many celebrities today, when such a person dies the media go totally overboard with their news coverage.
However, the same cannot be said for our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. One of the youngest soldiers in combat was killed last week, aged 18, and also a young man of 39 who was married with two daughters. Their families will be devastated by their tragic loss.
Sadly, the list of soldiers killed goes on and on. Lives are lost and the lives of those left behind are ruined.
As the war in Afghanistan intensifies, we should get our priorities right and think less about the celebrity culture and more about our armed forces fighting in far-off lands to help secure our freedom.
James Murray,
250 George Street,
Aberdeen.
SIR, – I refer to your story (the Press and Journal, July 4) headed “Bus firm and staff clash over pay”. Is this situation anything to do with oil prices?
Around 12 months ago, bus companies were saying how they were “unfazed” by the “rocketing cost of fuel”.
Didn’t FirstGroup report that it was “working on oil costs going over $100 a barrel”?
Perhaps to cope with the anticipated rise the company “hedged” at buying oil this year at over $100 a barrel.
But hasn’t the oil price stayed remarkably low and still isn’t at $80 a barrel?
Doesn’t this mean that the global transport companies will be paying far more for a barrel of oil than they need to?
Ellis Thorpe,
Albany,
Old Chapel Walk,
Inverurie.
SIR, – I am not surprised that an infestation of maggots has been discovered (the Press and Journal, July 4), although the venue, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, is very disturbing.
Now that the council collects our garbage only once every two weeks, what can we expect but infestations of maggots, especially in hot weather? Next we will be having infestations of mice and rats.
The European Union and health and safety are passing all kinds of idiotic rules and regulations. Why on earth have they not introduced a rule to say that keeping garbage lying about for two weeks is a health risk?
Perhaps this is too much to ask. After all, it is just commonsense.
M. White,
Braemar Road,
Ballater.
SIR, – Thank goodness Andy Murray had the good sense to throw in the towel in the semi-finals, as the thought of him winning the championship and being elevated to Lord Murray of Wimbledon would have surely blighted his life for ever.
Not that the celebrity-smitten public would have minded, especially if he quickly learned to serve and volley fast balls past Lord Mandelson and his motley crew in the Lords.
However, with signs that former Speaker Michael Martin is about to join the menagerie in the Upper House, surely commonsense must surface ultimately to do away with this discredited system of titles and gongs when abject failure has now become the accepted criterion for the trappings of privilege.
Dr F.L.P. Fouin,
147 North Deeside Road,
Milltimber,
Aberdeen.
SIR, – Now that one dour Jock has been tumbled out of Wimbledon and another dour Jock at Westminster will suffer the same fate at the next election, why can't we have someone with a vestige of humour and a smile just to cheer up our lives a bit?
Donald Hopkins,
50 Mackie Avenue,
Tarves.