De Niro Starts Packing Heat

Just to confirm our suspicions that the US is a nation gone mad, a recent list released by the NYPD reveals that a number of Hollywood's stars are roaming the big apple with more than loose change in their pockets. Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel are among more than 3,600 stars who are permitted by law to carry a loaded handgun in public . The license apparently enables these 'privileged New Yorkers' to pack heat at their discretion, so if you plan to ask them for an autograph, you'd best avoid sudden movements. Celebrities that won't be popping caps in anyone's asses in the near future include Chazz Palminteri, Paul Sorvino, Joan Rivers and Steven Seagal, all of whom have had their permits yanked. No specific reason was divulged but Seagal's recent court appearance, where he calmly stated that he regularly 'carried' while walking the street (something not covered by his particular license) might have had something to do with it. Is it just us, or does this firearms for the rich and famous initiative not seem a little unwise? Mental even? Can you imagine what would happen if we tried that over here? You'd have members of Busted and Girls Aloud shooting it out in the streets and some washed-out Corrie star taking potshots at punters outside Leicester Square tube. God forbid the Gallaghers got hold of anything more dangerous than a potato gun - it'd be a bloodbath. Thanks to The New York Post.