Newspaper headlines: Gun licence questions after 'senseless massacre'
UnknownThe shootings in Plymouth are the main story for most of the papers.
"Gunned down walking in the street," is the headline for the Daily Express.
The Daily Mirror describes the attack as a "massacre of innocents".
Across the front pages are pictures of the victims of gunman Jake Davison, among them, his mother, Maxine Davison, who the Times says had become increasingly concerned about his behaviour.
Others focus on three-year-old Sophie Martyn, who's shown being carried in a sling by her father, Lee, who also died.
"Killed as he tried to save his little girl," is the Sun's headline. The Guardian says police will face an investigation over their dealings with Davison after it emerged that he held a firearm licence.
Other papers also focus on that permit being revoked last December - and then returned to him last month.
The Daily Mail says the police watchdog has launched an urgent inquiry into why the weapon was given back despite mounting concerns about Davison's mental health.
It says it's understood police were satisfied he was fit to possess a shotgun again after he agreed to attend an anger management course.
According to the Express, Davison's family had pleaded for an NHS assessment as his condition deteriorated and his hatred of women grew.
The Daily Telegraph adds that neighbours claimed his family had contacted the police about his behaviour.
The Times says there are questions about why his attack is not being treated as terrorism when he had a clear interest in the "incel" movement, clearly referenced their narrative and was deeply misogynistic.
Meanwhile, there's widespread alarm at the Taliban's offensive in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US forces.
"Abandoned to savagery," is one headline in the Mail's coverage.
Patrick Cockburn, writing in the i, says the fact that everything the US and Britain fought for in Afghanistan over two decades is collapsing at such a pace underlines the extent of the Western defeat.
He adds that the defeat is more complete than that suffered by the Soviet Union in the 1980s because after the Soviet withdrawal, the Communist government in Kabul survived for several years, in contrast to the present situation.
Finally, a number of papers report concerns about empty shelves in the shops at Christmas.
The i says the festive season is "at risk" from the nationwide shortage of lorry drivers, who transport goods to retail depots, stores and customers' homes.
It says shoppers could face shortages of goods from toys and clothes to electronics.
According to the Telegraph, retailers and shipping chiefs are scrambling to avoid a "Christmas goods crisis" after a Covid outbreak closed the world's third-biggest cargo port in China.
The chief executive of one online retailer that buys goods from China is quoted as saying: "This is not a good sign for a happy Christmas or even Black Friday."
