Amnesty 'will have no impact on criminals'

The national firearms amnesty called in the wake of the Dunblane massacre was launched by the Home Secretary, Michael Howard yesterday, writes James Cusick. Yet Mr Howard himself questioned the efficacy of the amnesty, and warned it would have no impact on hardened criminals.

Under the scheme, which runs until the end of this month, illegal weapons can be handed into police stations without fear of prosecution provided the weapons have not been used in any crime. Despite his reservations Mr Howard said: "Every gun has the capacity to kill - the more we can take out of circulation the better."