CHO Seung-Hui, Virginia, USA, 2007, and Thomas Hamilton, Dunblane, UK, 1996, were known as threats to the public.

People close to them raised concerns as to their mental stability, by stating that they were misfits, loners and oddballs, who repelled most people. Yet, in both countries no preventative action was taken by the authorities that we rely on to protect us.

Hamilton was known as a problem in 1989. His firearms certificate should have been revoked or, at any rate, not renewed on two occasions - 1992 and 1995.

Cho Seung-Hui obtained his firearms in America, simply because he was old enough to purchase them.

In the report of the shootings at Dunblane, (section 6.51, page 73), Mr Campbell, QC, submitted that "the central Scotland police had failed to take the whole picture together. But for their collective failures, the shootings on March 13, 1996, could not have occurred.'' The British authorities amended the Firearms Act to prohibit the authorised possession of handguns.

What actions, I wonder, will the American authorities take as a result of their collective failures?

J POPE, Southampton.