MP John Hume is alarmed by the number of licensed gun clubs in Northern Ireland.
John Hume expresses his anxiety at the growth in the number of gun clubs in Northern Ireland. Many of these clubs have been established since present conflict began.
A register of gun clubs between 1945 and 1971 lists 108 gun clubs in total. 30 of these clubs have been registered in the last three years.
This is an alarming increase.
John Hume describes the government's argument that these are legitimate guns and therefore are under control as "ridiculous".
I don’t need to remind anyone in Ireland, north or south, that it was legal guns that did a lot of the damage in August 1969. A legal gun is just as lethal as an illegal one.
He is also concerned that one out of every seven males in Northern Ireland possesses a licensed legal gun.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 February 1971.
