FOLLOWING the front page coverage in the Evening Press, I went to City Screen to see for myself the controversial photographic exhibition Shoot by Noirin Carmody.

It was striking and thought-provoking, which should surely be the purpose of good art. It's a long time since people accepted that art is not just about painting pretty pictures and chocolate-box scenes.

Art should make us think and it should be challenging.

These photographs made me think about American gun culture and how this creeps into the British psyche through film and television.

It also made me think about the reality of gun ownership in the UK.

We all know of the Dunblane massacre and the drive-by shooting of Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare, but is gun crime becoming more prevalent over here?

If this art exhibition gets us to think about issues such as this it is not only great art, but is a valuable contribution to society.

Ban guns, not art.

Dave Taylor,

New Walk Terrace,

Fulford, York.

Updated: 08:59 Monday, January 17, 2005