FOLLOWING the deaths of cousins Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare in Birmingham on New Year's Eve, there has been widespread support for the current national gun amnesty, which aims to tackle the escalating gun crime on Britain's streets.

In South Worcestershire alone, 20 firearms, including eight hand guns and 635 rounds of ammunition have so far been handed in to police.

A gun by its very nature is for the purpose of killing, but as I found out from visiting a shooting club in Worcestershire, responsible gun ownership and safe use is not something to fear.

For instance, normally you would expect a nine-year-old girl to spend her Sunday mornings watching television or playing with dolls, but not at a gun club.

However, before those of a liberal mind reach for the phone and call social services they must believe me when I tell them that Lauren Croxton, from Bromsgrove, is a true reflection of the Worcester Norton Gun Club.

Men, women and even children use the club. It has a real family atmosphere, which is not what the average person on the street would expect, especially in recent years.

Lauren was the youngest shooter I met at the club, which is just off Brockhill Lane. She has been coming for more than two years with her dad, Bob, and older brother Robert.

And it's not as if she is dragged along at gunpoint - if you pardon the pun.

"She's always wanted to come," said Bob, "I've never had to push her in to coming."

That seems to be backed up by Lauren, who says there is no other pastime she enjoys more.

"I thought it would be fun and it is lots of fun," she told me.

The responsibility and maturity in Lauren is clear and she almost certainly knows more about gun safety than most adults do.

She is aiming to win competitions like her 20-year-old-sister Claire, who won the President Cup for 50-yard shooting with 2.2 rim fire rifle a few years ago. Bearing in mind that Lauren can hit a one-inch wide target from a distance of 25 yards, it is likely there will be a few trophies going her way.

Lauren shoots air pistols, not rifles or shotguns, not being of a sturdy enough frame to handle a shotgun yet.

Wandering around the club, you could not help but be impressed with the feeling of safety. Graham Lane, chairman of the club and one of the founders, takes pride in the fact that they have never had any accidents.

"We have a perfect safety record," said Graham, aged 58. "There has never been any gun-related accidents on any of the ranges.

"Not even a football club has such a thing as a perfect safety record."

He added the club is licensed by the Home Office and subject to health and safety requirements. They also operate their own rules.

Graham, who is an electrical technician from Crown Street, Worcester, has had an interest in guns for 40 years and helped found the club in 1983 on part of the former site of the 60-acre barracks of the Military Signals Regiment.

They bought a 15-acre site from the MoD for £50,000, which was given to them as a grant from the Sports Council.

During my tour around the ranges, Graham told me that the club was very strict about who it allows to become a member. Applicants have background checks carried out by the police and once given the all clear they begin a probationary period.

This is a 13-week formal training programme in which new members are given one to one instructions from Range Officers about how to use guns properly.

During a break in the training, I spoke to Glynis Humphreys, from Droitwich. She has been coming to the club for six weeks and says she is enjoying it immensely.

"A lot of people do not understand guns," she said. "They thinks it is a no-no."

Next to her on the range was Jo Smith, a recruitment consultant from Norton. She has been coming for 10 weeks and is impressed with the welcoming environment.

"It is a nice social thing to do," said Jo, "You get to meet new people."

However, the person I was most impressed with meeting was 11-year-old Steven Shirley. He travels with his father each week from Alcester, Warwickshire. He is regarded by many at the club as a natural talent in clay pigeon shooting.

Steven has a 90 per cent accuracy rate and the club is trying to find him sponsorship and send him to an England selection trials.

Graham maintains that the public never sees a gun club correctly portrayed in the media, even though shooting is a big national sport.

"I think if people would be surprised to see the safety rules enforced at a club and the types of people who go there," he says.