THE BRITISH government looks set to adopt extensive firearms legislation in the next session of Parliament despite the publication of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee report, which did not support the move.
The Prime Minister, Mr Major, is understood to be keen to intervene on the issue in order to avoid a public backlash on gun control laws. He has pledged to make parliamentary time available if Lord Cullen's report on the Dunblane massacre, due to be published next month, recommends legislation.
Mr Major has indicated he would support legislation to allow only a limited number of professionals - such as police marksmen and vets - to keep handguns in their homes. Other 05 of handguns would be required to store their weapons at gun clubs, which would face closure and the possible revoking of their licences if they breach the rules.
The plan would, however, stop short of a comprehensive ban on the ownership of handguns since the Tories could not be sure of cross party support in the Commons. For that reason the details of future legislation would be tempered by the need to gain wider support among MPs. A defeat on such a sensitive issue would be embarrassing for a government facing a general election. A further consideration is that Mr Major's desire for legislation is in direct contrast to the position of the Home Secretary, Mr Michael Howard, who is known to oppose restricting the use of handguns to gun clubs.
Meanwhile, a man who bought firearms through the small ads of a gun magazine was convicted at the Old Bailey in London yesterday of murdering a mother of two and attempting to shoot three other people.
Using a .22 semi automatic pistol and a 357 Magnum handgun, which he had delivered to his by the gun magazine, Gun Mart, Richard Humphrey (22) one woman, attempted other murders and commit a two robberies in the space of months last year.
Humphrey, of Herne Hill, south London, was given four life sentences by the court.
The Recorder of London, Sir Lawrence Verney said: "These shootings would not have taken place if Humphrey had not been to flick through the pages of Mart and pick and choose the armoury on sale."