STEVE Lawson’s assumptions about my alleged beliefs force me to defend myself against his comments (HAS, Oct 12).

He wrongly assumes I side stepped his disability comments. I did not. I picked up on his wrongly assumed comment that an abusive lady must be a “pseudo Christian”. He goes on to attempt to justify his remarks but clearly fails.

Non-Christians and Christians abuse the laws of the land, including atheists, a point he clearly declines to make. Could not the woman have been an atheist?

I was a police officer for many years. I challenged prejudice along with seeing many abuses of power and violence by striking trade unionists and protesters.

Trade unions have a fantastic history of fighting for their members and improving work place conditions. They also have in the past abused their powers.

I have been a victim of strike violence and abuse like many others. Our governments rightly introduced legislation to curb such abuses, to protect industries and non-striking members of the public and to bring further legitimacy to union votes for industrial action. Any abuses by the state or arms of the state can be and are pursued through the courts. This is the system of our “flawed democracy”.

Mr Lawson makes comments but does not explain or give specifics. This weakens his arguments.

John Walker, Newton Aycliffe