IN REPLY to H O Griffiths under the heading "Ban lethal weapons", (June 15), this is a classic case of a little knowledge being dangerous.

The writer feels the Government and society need to act before the problem gets out of control.

I have bad news for H O Griffiths: the situation is out of control already, big time; but only in the case of the minority, ie misfits and criminals - the rest of us are okay.

I have sold target sports products on and off for 20 years plus. Would the writer really like to ban the three main products - guns, crossbows and archery - that brings pleasure to millions, all for the sake of a few dopes?

I have one customer, a chap in his seventies, an ex-engineer who collects knives and swords; he owns more than 400 of them, all different. I feel he would disagree with H O Griffiths - it is his hobby, for heaven's sake.

The average DIY store contains a bigger selection of "weapons" than any target sports shop.

Sleep soundly, Armageddon is not round the corner.

Stuart Sykes,

Blue Moon Trading,

Goodramgate, York.

Updated: 09:46 Tuesday, July 20, 2004