Mr. Michael Tope:

I agree with everything Mr. Costello has said. I absolutely take the point on the shotguns. From a home security point of view, every target shooter - I think that is everyone around the table - has invested very significant amounts of money in home security.

I have certainly invested over €10,000 in personal home security. I know my experience is mirrored by that of many others, because we all talk about security. Recently, I had a visit from a Garda Síochána crime prevention officer. We have had an excellent working relationship with the Garda in Kildare since the beginning of the licensing issue. Kildare is one of the few districts in which there is such a good working relationship, under Chief Superintendent Byrnes, for whom I have great respect and time. Unfortunately, he retired at Christmas. The crime prevention officer comes to our homes. In considering crime prevention, we must literally begin at our front gates and go through the entire home, and the officer checks everything. I do not want to go into the details of my personal security or those of any other shooter. However, the crime prevention officer spent 45 minutes in my house checking security, and I do not live in a mansion. He checked absolutely everything.

If stolen firearms are a concern, why were recommendations not made on improving security? This brings me to the question regarding the middle ground. The shooting community would be more than willing to discuss improved home security measures, but all stakeholders would have to be involved in that. As Mr. Costello said and as I pointed out in my submission, the country is, effectively, awash with stolen firearms and there are almost the same number of stolen firearms as licensed ones. We have a target-shooting community that is willing to engage in security and has invested greatly in it, yet there are shotguns in many houses that are relatively unprotected. Why, therefore, are the target shooters the focus of attention? This defies logic. However, in regard to whether there is a middle ground and whether we are prepared to discuss it, I am sure there is, and the NASRPC - and, I suspect, the other groups - are more than willing to discuss the issue.