Hollywood star and pro-gun campaigner Charlton Heston today defended the right of Americans to bear arms in the wake of the latest massacre in the US.

Mr Heston's comments came after Atlanta stock trader Mark Barton battered to death his wife and two children, then shot nine other people before killing himself when caught by US police.

Mr Heston, 75, who is president of the pro-gun US-based National Rifle Association, said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "There are 22,000 gun control laws in America.

"There are approximately 240 million firearms in private hands in the US.

"This is a figure that has held more or less constant since 1950 when records began.

"During that period, the crime rate has been going steadily down. Not least because there are a number of American citizens who are trained and comfortable carrying firearms.

"The Second Amendment of the constitution protects the right for American citizens to carry arms."

Asked if a Bill of Rights written in 1781 was relevant today, Mr Heston said: "Yes, to 80% of Americans."

He rejected claims that US society was in crisis, saying: "America is in good shape. Giving up our guns is not going to happen."

The problem was not guns, but some of the people holding them, said the actor, who is currently starring in a play in London.

Mr Heston said: "Even with draconian laws against owning firearms in Britain you had a newscaster [Jill Dando] shot."

Asked for his reaction to the shooting in Atlanta, he said: "I'm glad he shot himself."

He added: "Support for the right of Americans to hold guns is shared by a surprising number of Britons."