Owners defend rifle use as gardaí urge ban

Gun owners have defended their right to use semi-automatic rifles despite Garda calls that they be banned for fear they could fall into the hands of criminals or the mentally unstable.

They told TDs and senators at a day-long hearing they need semi-automatics to give them a competitive edge in shooting contests as the slightest move to manually reload could put them a fraction off target.

And they say the fast-acting guns are necessary to enable them deliver a swift repeat shot to an injured animal where their first shot fails to kill.