I woke up to the terrible news coming in from America last Friday, and no doubt,like every other right thinking person around the world, I was left reeling from the horror of it all. I’ve had the extreme good fortune to have had two very well balanced, intelligent, and attractive children. They in their turn have both married and set out on their own journeys through life’s many twists and turns.

My son chose a life in New Zealand where he had met and fallen in love with a lovely woman who already had a son. He is now my son’s son too. My wife and I love them all and visit them as often as we can.

My daughter lives and works in London with her husband, and has had two fabulous children. My wife and I have two wonderful grandchildren. We love them all too and see them often.

The horror of last Friday drove home to me, and no doubt many other people, how important life is, and how precious our family is. We’re fortunate in the United Kingdom in that guns don’t play a part in everyday life. There are of course occasional incidents of brutality where guns play a part, but thankfully they are few. We really do need to make sure that we never give in to the suggestions that crop up from time to time that our police should be armed. Were that to happen, I’m convinced that criminals would see it as a necessity to arm themselves too.  I believe that the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut proves that the complete absence of guns could only be a good thing. Whilst that of course, is not really achievable, keeping the access to them at a minimum is the next best thing. we can only hope that Americans will realise this too and support President Obama’s efforts to reach such a goal in the United States.