'Ko I' - you haven't heard of Harry Stanley - shot dead for carrying a straight piece of wood in London. He was carrying a table leg home, wrapped in a bag. He stopped off for a drink in a pub. Someone in the pub phoned the police and told them that there was an Irishman armed with a shotgun. Harry, a Scot, went on his way, and was ambushed from behind by two armed police officers who called out to him - he, unaware as to what was going on (as anyone would be) turned around, and was shot by both officers, who claimed that they believed he was pointing a shotgun at them. A dreadful case, and as usual little appears to have been done to learn from it, and no one has been punished.

Andrew, London, UK

The paranoia of the UK police, when it comes to guns, is getting to the point that sooner or later, someone's going to get gunned down in a hail of bullets by machinegun wielding cops over a stick bent at a 90 degree angle.

Ko I, St Louis, Missouri

I question why parents are allowing toy guns to be purchased. Guns kill. Do parents really think it's a healthy pastime for a child to pretend to be killing someone or something? We desensitizing our children.

Jane Nedley, Cleveland,, Ohio - USA

What has this country come too?...........MAD.

Shane Farmer, Blackburn, Lancs

Whatever happened to COMMON SENSE? Why does it take several police officers half an hour to determine that a kid's plastic toy is not a dangerous firearm? Personally, I suspect that they were killing time over this storm in a teacup rather than face the daunting prospect of having to confront actual law-breakers, who regularly abuse and disrespect them in the knowledge that they will be let off with a caution or, if convicted, just be given a slap on the wrist. Pathetic.

lost in purgatory (ex-pat), Los Angeles,

Wow, how long until you ban harsh language?

T Dougherty, San Jose, California, USA

Please God give me strength?

swilly, london, uk

WelI guess it would be ok if he was waiving a prayer rug and a Koran. Not acting like a normal child. NO more cops and robbers, indians and cowboys of other childhood games. From reading the paper today it appears you have more of a serious problem than a 10 year old with a toy gun to report. I wish you well in your fight on terrorism.

BB, Houston, USA/ Tx

Ko I from Missouri - you obviously haven't heard of the case of Harry Stanley - shot dead for carrying a straight piece of wood in London. He was innocently carrying a repaired table leg home, wrapped up in a bag. He stopped off for a drink in a pub. Someone in the pub phoned the police and told them that there was an Irishman armed with a shotgun. Harry, a Scot, went on his way, and was ambushed from behind by two armed police officers who called out to him - he, quite unaware as to what was going on (as anyone would be) turned around, and was shot by both officers, who claimed that they believed he was pointing a shotgun at them. A dreadful case, and as usual little appears to have been done to learn from it, and no one has been punished, least of all the control room staff who I reckon are most to blame for placing too much credence on a call from a pub and sending out armed officers without allowing for an innocent explanation of poor Harry's movements. Very sad.

Andrew, London, UK

What right to the police have from banning a 10yearold from taking a plastic gun out on public after harassing him in his own home.

If the Government is that scared of toy guns then they should come out and ban the sale of them, and sticks - ban sticks, they can look like a gun when held correctly, Oh and what about bows and arrows - look menacing to me.

Its whoever reported the youth's had firearms that should be sent for an eyesight test, it was a market toy, not a replica!

Antony Holloway, Eastleigh, Hants