Mr. Michael Tope:

I would like to make two points. We were asked why sportsmen and sportswomen needed semi-automatic firearms or rifles. We use the Ruger 10/22 in many cases, particularly for gallery rifle shooting, in which our team has been successful. If one uses a semi-automatic rifle, one does not have to change one's shooting position when firing. Typically, one can be more accurate, particularly in gallery rifle shooting, provided one has made the investment. My colleague shoots to 1,000 yards, which is slightly different.

The second point I want to make is that the design of target firearms is evolving. The equipment used in this sport is evolving like the equipment used in any other sport. Many of the platforms on which target firearms are now being manufactured could be said to look like assault firearms to the untrained eye. The German sporting company Anschütz makes the MSR 22 rifle. When I was having one of these firearms licensed recently, I had to obtain a restricted licence simply because it had a pistol whip.

Anschütz never made a military firearm. It only makes target firearms and this is its latest. I take on board completely the points made on appearance, but appearance means nothing. My MSR .22 is no more lethal than the Ruger 10/22 with the wooden stock and it probably has a lower magazine capacity. It is as simple as that.