Madam, - The miracle escape of a woman who was accidentally shot in Co Roscommon should again focus attention on the dangers posed by lethal weapons in the hands of so-called sportsmen. The bullet extracted from the unfortunate woman's neck had been discharged from a .22 rifle.
Tens of thousands of these "fun-guns" are used throughout Ireland by people who get their kicks from killing or wounding Irish fauna.
While the case of the Roscommon lady has received media coverage because of its apparently freakish nature, we should not forget that bullets fly in all directions in the countryside most days of the week, many of them in the proximity of towns and villages.
Every year, dozens of shooting-related accidents, some of them fatal, bring shame to an already dubious practice of recreational blood-letting. Unfortunately, many holders of these weapons are mere teenagers or poorly trained amateurs. Licensing conditions need to be tightened up to reduce the numbers of rifles available. At present, almost anyone with a desire to kill wildlife can obtain a gun. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN FITZGERALD, Callan, Co Kilkenny.