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Local newspaper takes up Land-Care's concern over
proper control of army cadets with guns
Dr James Irvine
Cultybraggan Farm, Comrie, by Crieff, Perthshire
Filed 15 Apr 04
©www.land-care.org.uk
Andrew Walsh, a journalist with the Strathearn
Herald, is clearly one of the many readers of the Land-Care website.
Writing in the Strathearn Herald of 15th Arpil, he refers to the
article I wrote on this website concerning my experience with army
cadet yougsters and their firing practice last Saturday afternoon
(Click
Here to View).
The MoD spokesperson's comments in reply to the
enquiry by the Strathearn Herald are published in Mr Walsh's article.
Sadly the MoD does not have a good reputation for being forthcoming
with information that is either comprehensive (i.e. economic with
the truth) or indeed accurate.
It is my belief that the MoD's claim that the
minimum age of cadets is 12 3/4 is not in keeping with what one
sees. I doubt if the nutrition of British school kids today is such
that many seem to be maturing so slowly if they are indeed as old
as the minimum age as stated by the MoD spokesperson.
The MoD's assertion about the quality of training
and supervision of these youngsters - be they under 12, just 12
or 12 and three quarters - clearly leaves something to be desired.
Their spokesperson is quoted as stating that a range of weapons
are used by the young school cadets, but omitted to mention a 12
bore rifle that was undoubtedly being used recklessly that Saturday
afternoon in a field adjacent to Cultybraggan Cadet Camp - not within
a structured firing range, but on a hillock firing down with a person
obviously in the immediately adjacent field but outwith the so-called
safety zone.
I have never been - and hope never again - to
be so close to the receving end of a 12 bore when one could hear
the shower of the shot landing. No amount of assertion from any
MoD spokesperson will persuade me that the MoD were behaving responsibly
in this instance. Their example to school kids under their charge
was appalling. Such behaviour appears to come from the MoD considering
itself above civil law.
©www.land-care.org.uk
Further reading recommended by Land-Care
 Editorial
(2001). School cadets - guns on the curriculum?
A view from Australia, published in Education Age 20th June 2001
http:/www.education.theage.com.au/pagedetail.asp?intpageid=27&strsection=students&intsectionid=0
Comment: the age of the youngsters shown in this article are
much older than many who were handling a 12 bore rifle under poor
supervision at Cultybraggan. Nevertheless the Australian Government
clearly had grave concerns about the wisdom of introducing guns
to youngsters, especially when supervision is poor.
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