It was an embarrassment the British Government could have done without as a group of Tory MPs this week jumped the gun and, following their own inquiry into the Dunblane massacre, came out against the banning of pistols in Britain.
Five months to the day since Thomas Hamilton went crazy in the local primary school and shot dead 16 children and their teacher, six members of the Home Affairs select committee decided a ban on handguns would be a bad thing.
The minority five Labour members of the committee thought otherwise, published their own report recommending a ban and Labour leaders made clear that if they win the general election they will bring in legislation for one.
The Tories' decision was met by shock, disgust and revulsion in the Scottish town. John Crozier, whose daughter Emma was a victim, said the committee had bowed to the gun lobby. 'I cannot believe this insult to the children and their teacher,' he said.
The irony is that when Lord Cullen, who has been carrying out the official inquiry into the massacre, produces his own report next month he may very well recommend a ban on handguns, and if he does so then the government and all its MPs will be expected to duly vote in favour.
The conclusions of the select committee have been met by a barrage of complaints from police officers, doctors, other MPs and the public where an opinion poll showed 79 per cent favour blanket legislation against handguns.