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​A Brexit Party candidate in Sunderland who thinks it should be easier to own a gun in the UK has defended his views.

Kevin Yuill will stand for Nigel Farage's pro-Leave party in the Houghton and Sunderland South constituency at the next election.

The 56-year-old, who teaches American history at the University of Sunderland , has previously written extensively in support of firearm ownership and has criticised calls for gun control in the wake of mass shootings in the US.

The issue of gun violence in America is in the spotlight once again following two deadly attacks within 24 hours of each other over the weekend.

A lone gunman killed 22 people at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, and another nine people died in a massacre at a bar in Dayton, Ohio.

Mr Yuill has stated he does not believe restricting gun ownership would prevent violence - and would like laws to be relaxed in this country.

Liberal Democrat opponent Paul Edgeworth said he was "absolutely out of touch with people" in the constituency they're both contesting and said "the last thing we need is Brexit Party MPs in Parliament promoting the relaxation of gun ownership in the UK".

But the Canadian-born academic - who has lived in the North East for almost 20 years - hit back. He said: "It's my personal perspective that we should relax gun laws.

"Ours are the most onerous in Europe and North America so I think they could be relaxed here but I don't advocate everybody owning a gun."

He points to the 2010 Cumbria shootings, where a lone gunman killed 12 people, as evidence restrictive gun laws don't prevent massacres.

Asked about gun massacres in the US, he said: "I'm not a big fan of assault weapons because they are macho but at the same time I don't think it would help to restrict them.

He added: "The US is a big country - in the 48 hours after the two gun attacks far more people died in traffic accidents. Gun massacres are very dramatic and newsworthy and those ordinary deaths are not."

Mr Yuill clarified that he does not personally own a gun.

An article he wrote about trophy hunting also drew the ire of his political opponent. On March 4, 2019, he published an article under the headline 'In defence of trophy hunters' on website spiked-online.com .

Mr Edgeworth called him to step aside as a candidate over the article, saying: "It is really is horrifying and beyond belief that someone who wants to be an MP thinks trophy hunting is acceptable.

"It is nothing more than the senseless killing of magnificent animals just because people like Kevin Yuill want a story to tell in the pub and a photo for their mantelpiece and for their Facebook page."

But Mr Yuill defended himself and slammed his opponent, saying: "I'm an academic and I write various articles on controversial and nuanced issues.

"The article made the point that trophy hunting is no worse than ordinary hunting - and ordinary hunting isn't much worse than eating a bacon sandwich.

"I wouldn't expect a Liberal Democrat to get beyond the headline. Perhaps that man is particularly dimwitted."

He added: "I didn't write the headline...the article is a bit more nuanced."

Mr Yuill accused the Lib Dems of "attacking the man rather than the ball".

He said he has never been trophy hunting but has previously hunted deer in his native Canada, pointing out he has always ate what he has killed.

Mr Yuill was born in Canada but is able to vote and stand for election in the UK by virtue of his Commonwealth citizenship.

Talking about his candidacy, he said: "The biggest issue we face is do we honour the biggest mandate in British history or do we ignore the vote and give up on democracy?"

He added: "I've raised my children in the North East and am very connected to the region. I've got a stake in this place because I've lived here so long."

The sitting MP in the Houghton and Sunderland South constituency is Labour's Bridget Phillipson.