London schoolchildren are eligible for 125,000 Olympic tickets but these will not include any featuring guns, as Games organisers and City Hall fear a backlash from the anti-gun lobby.Those opposed to the decision, such as Georgina Geikie, 26, pictured above, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and Olympic pistol hopeful, feel it's wrong because it would give kids an opportunity to see guns in a different light, something not related to violence and crime.
Giving children tickets to the events, at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, could have appeared at odds with Mayor Boris Johnson's bid to quell teenage gun and knife crime.
A source said: "We decided it would not be appropriate. It's the only sport children will not be able to go to as part of the Ticketshare scheme."
But, would it really? I'm not convinced. My idea has always been that shooting sports are nothing more than simulated killing. Often the targets are in human shape, for crying out loud. The Olympics probably doesn't use the human silhouette for its competitions, but the idea is still there.
Guns were not made for shooting paper targets or clay disks. They were made for shooting living beings and no matter how much one tries to disguise the fact, this is the underlying truth.
What's your opinion? Is participation in a shooting sport good innocent fun? Do children who watch and take part begin to see the connection with gun violence as they grow older? Is there a connection?
What do you think? Please leave a comment.
