Letter: Guns: if the mental safety catch fails

Sir: During my week-long visit to your country, UK news has been dominated by the issue of handgun control. In a blatantly biased, one- sided debate, both print and broadcast media have echoed the passionately emotional yet substantively vacant arguments of those MPs and subjects who favour a total ban. More amazing still is The Independent's editorial position (17 October) that the surrender of one's liberties in pursuit of security is a price well worth paying.

One of the noblest of our forefathers, Benjamin Franklin, bless his far- sighted wisdom, realised that any man willing to make such an exchange would one day have neither.

JACK BOTELER,

Seabrook, Texas, USA