THE father of a victim of the Dunblane massacre yesterday vowed to take the anti-gun campaign to the United States.
Mr Charlie Clydesdale, whose five-year-old daughter Victoria was among 16 children killed by Thomas Hamilton two years ago, said he would lobby US politicians to persuade them that a firearms ban would save lives.
The pledge follows this week's incident in Oregon which left two children dead and more than 20 injured after a 15-year-old gunman ran amok in a crowded school cafeteria.
Speaking at his home in Falkirk, Mr Clydesdale, 42, said if ''gun-happy'' Americans had followed the example of the Dunblane parents and UK public in demanding tighter gun controls, recent tragedies may not have happened.
He went on: ''I am quite prepared to go to America and talk some sense into the politicians who seem to be doing nothing to get guns off their streets.
''How many more children need to die before something is done? I want to go over there and give these people a shake and tell them of the pain guns can cause.
''Gun legislation in the States needs to be addressed now, and if it means I have to sit and tell them how it feels to lose a child, then I am prepared to do that as well, because maybe that is the only way they will listen.''
Mr Clydesdale was also one of 16 Dunblane parents to sign a letter to The Herald, calling on the Government to tighten further the UK ban on handguns.
Their concerns were raised by a Channel 4 documentary which put forward evidence that gun enthusiasts are exploiting loopholes in the law to continue their hobby.
It claimed that members of gun clubs are customising legal weapons by shortening the barrels and stocks. It also found evidence that a muzzle-loading handgun is being imported which is a rapid firing, quick loading and deadly weapon, yet it is legal.
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