TORY MPs face a torrent of protests today for rejecting a blanket ban on the private ownership of handguns in the wake of the Dunblane massacre.
It is understood the Tory majority in the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee will declare officially at noon they see ``no point'' in such a prohibition. Instead, the report is likely to recommend detailed measures to tighten up procedures for receiving firearms' certificates.
Even the Shooter's Rights Association believes ``an opportunity has been missed'', despite winning its key argument that guns should remain in private hands.
The contents of the report will demonstrate clear splits only on party political lines. A minority report by the five Labour members that handguns should be banned will also be published today.
However, it has already been rejected by the six Conservative members and casting vote of chairman Sir Ivan Lawrence QC, Tory MP for Burton.
The anger of anti-gun campaigners was summed up by gym teacher Eileen Harrild, 44, who has to undergo further operations after being shot in the arm, who described the committee's split and anticipated decision on handguns as ``almost insulting'' and said it left her ``flabbergasted''.
Mrs Harrild, speaking at Murrayfield where Scotland's rugby team will take on the Barbarians on Saturday in a Dunblane fund-raising match, added: ``I find it difficult to make sense of . . . it was meant to be a non-political issue but it has split two ways. We are going ahead with the fight for an anti-gun policy.'' Her daughter Jennifer, 11, and fellow pupil Andrew Robertson, 12, will act as mascots and lead out the teams.
It is anticipated the Tories will argue a ban on handguns would produce a ``minimal improvement'' in public safety because alternative lethal firearms, including rifles and shotguns, would still be readily available.
The committee report is also expected to conclude that a ban would not prevent unstable individuals gaining access to guns illegally and argue that even a ban on multi-shot handguns - capable of rapid firing without manual reloading - is unlikely to make mass killing less likely.
The report is also likely to declare that there would have to be a wide range of exemptions for people whose work requires handguns and that a ban would bring an end to pistol shooting as a sport pursuit.
It is likely to add that a ban would have trade and employment implications and that owners might have to be paid substantial compensation for surrendering their weapons.
However, sources close to the Prime Minister last night indicated that if Lord Cullen recommends a handgun ban in his report on Dunblane, then the Government is likely to accept it and legislate to carry it out in the next session of Parliament beginning in October.
Nevertheless, that will not appease critics of the Tory MPs' stance - including relatives of the 16 children and teacher who died at the hands of guns legally-held by Thomas Hamilton in March.
Mr John Crozier, father of victim, Emma, five, said of the decision against a ban: ``If this is true and it would seem that it is, they have let us down miserably.''
The Gun Control Network, which includes relatives of the Dunblane and Hungerford tragedies as well as academics and lawyers, insisted: ``This is no time for a timid response.''
Organisers of the Snowdrop petition against private ownership of handguns voiced disappointment at the expected findings and promised their campaign would continue. ``We are very disappointed at their expected findings and I am sure the families will feel the same,'' said spokeswoman Jacqueline Walsh. ``We expected they might ban some classes of handguns but they have not gone that far.''
The organisers are now pinning their hopes on Lord Cullen.
SNP leader Alex Salmond said the Tories should ``hang their heads in shame''. However, he added: ``With our own legal system, there is nothing to stop Scotland leading the way if the Home Office decide not to take this action.'' He urged Scottish Secretary Michael Forsyth to legislate for a handgun ban in Scotland.
The Shooters' Rights Association said it was pleased the majority view was against a gun ban and for tightening certificate procedures. However, it acknowledged committee members had split on party lines and had missed an opportunity by merely ``tinkering'' with issues of concern.
Liberal Democrat MP Nick Harvey said it was regrettable that gun control had become a party political issue.
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