Cam_in_Cornwall Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 The London Evening Standard is carrying the story that Mayor Boris has decreed free tickets for Olympic events will not be available for shooting sports as they think - But Danny Bryan, founder of Communities Against Gun and Knife Crime said: "I agree with Boris. It is good kids should enjoy the Games but there's no way we should glorify guns." Well perhaps they should ban them from watching racing events as it will teach them how to run away after looting a shop, or the shot putt as it will teach them how to chuck bricks through windows!! Honestly this country really is turning into a pathetic nanny state where they tell us what to do and when - sorry rant over :-( Full story here:http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23980400-children-banned-from-shooting-events-in-2012-ticket-giveaway.do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angrymallard Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 It is ridiculous and it is a shame considering England's success in shooting sports at the last olympic games and commonwealth games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam_in_Cornwall Posted August 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 It is ridiculous and it is a shame considering England's success in shooting sports at the last olympic games and commonwealth games. Absolutely, as the article states how can we educate children that guns can be used in a responsible sporting way, after all like cars guns arent dangerous people are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloke Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 (edited) If you read the article fully, I think it actually says that children are not being banned from competing, just from getting free tickets to the gun events (Still not good though). My brother's stepgranddaughter is on the tryouts for the junior Olympic Tri/Bi/Pent athlon team (not sure which)and although it is air pistols , she is still chuffed to show off her shooting skill to her peers. good luck to all the U.K. shooters! Edited August 23, 2011 by Bloke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam_in_Cornwall Posted August 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 If you read the article fully, I think it actually says that children are not being banned from competing, just from getting free tickets to the gun events (Still not good though). My brother's stepgranddaughter is on the tryouts for the junior Olympic Tri/Bi/Pent athlon team (not sure which)and although it is air pistols , she is still chuffed to show off her shooting skill to her peers. good luck to all the U.K. shooters! Yes you are right they are not been granted the free tickets for any shooting events, we need to promote these "minority" sports and shooting and sailing which also suffers from little coverage, we happen to be very good at, but if youngsters dont get to see them then where will the next generation come from? Well done and good luck to your brothers stepgranddaughter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolhead Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 Can anyone see an irrational bias here based on pure phobia? Bozza is well known for being a nut-job. Archery - Derived from a weapon or combat Boxing - Derived from a weapon or combat Fencing - Derived from a weapon or combat Judo - Derived from a weapon or combat Shooting - Derived from a weapon or combat Tae kwon do - Derived from a weapon or combat Track and field; Discus - Derived from a weapon or combat Hammer - Derived from a weapon or combat Javelin - Derived from a weapon or combat Shot put - Derived from a weapon or combat Wrestling - Derived from a weapon or combat They may miss out in bonkers Bozzer's scheme but there will be plenty of other kids who are not discriminated against and will get to see elite skills used on tools not designed to be weapons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam_in_Cornwall Posted August 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 Can anyone see an irrational bias here based on pure phobia? Bozza is well known for being a nut-job. Archery - Derived from a weapon or combat Boxing - Derived from a weapon or combat Fencing - Derived from a weapon or combat Judo - Derived from a weapon or combat Shooting - Derived from a weapon or combat Tae kwon do - Derived from a weapon or combat Track and field; Discus - Derived from a weapon or combat Hammer - Derived from a weapon or combat Javelin - Derived from a weapon or combat Shot put - Derived from a weapon or combat Wrestling - Derived from a weapon or combat They may miss out in bonkers Bozzer's scheme but there will be plenty of other kids who are not discriminated against and will get to see elite skills used on tools not designed to be weapons. Well pointed out, anyway they can always blow each other to bits on their X boxes and PS3's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allthegearandnoidea Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Could you cut and paste the open letter into the thread, my work ban access to any shooting related sites (except this one, must be considered bird watching site not shooting site!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattr Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Dear Mayor, I am writing to express concern at the reported decision to exclude Shooting Events from the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic Ticket giveaway for London schoolchildren – the Ticketshare scheme – as reported in the London Evening Standard. I understand that you believe that including these sports would be at odds with your efforts to reduce gun and knife crime, which we wholeheartedly support and endorse. However, the decision to exclude the target and shotgun sports from Ticketshare must be reconsidered: It will be very disappointing for the athletes preparing to compete in Shooting sports at London 2012, by creating an association between those athletes and the criminals who illegally use firearms. It compounds the decision already made to leave no legacy for shooting sports by staging the events at Woolwich rather than the existing National Shooting Center at Bisley – by discouraging the general public from supporting the shooting sports. It is particularly disappointing to the Team GB athletes who will be training for London 2012 knowing that their sport has been omitted from a scheme to promote the next generation of athletes. Many of the British shooters are young themselves and have been encouraged by previous Team GB medals in shooting sports – what hope do we have for the continued patronage of a sport that Great Britain has enjoyed much success at? The decision creates a spurious and inaccurate connection between the shooting sports and the criminal use of firearms. Are we going to see the same exclusion for Fencing given the ‘clear association’ with illegal use of swords or Archery because of the ‘dangerous connection’ with violence from bows and arrows? Are you also going to exclude the Modern Pentathlon from Ticketshare as it includes pistol shooting as a component sport? Will boxing be excluded because it ‘promotes’ physical violence? I am certain that you do not view these connections as valid, so why are you allowing this peculiar decision to stand? Allowing children to attend these events will ensure that they observe shotgun and target shooting performed at the highest international level, with a high degree of discipline and excellent safety standards. It will also allow them to celebrate a sport that Team GB excels at whilst competing across the world. Ensuring these events are included will send a signal that you support Team GB and the worlds athletes competing at London 2012. Excluding these sports will diminish London 2012 in the eyes of the global shooting and sporting community. We urge you to clarify your position in regards to this decision and reverse the exclusion at the earliest opportunity – the shotgun and target shooting community looks forward to your respons Yours faithfully, Matt Rutherford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattr Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 I'm also hopeful that the Daily Telegraph will carry an article written by me at least online tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allthegearandnoidea Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Thanks for posting that. There were quite a few comments on the Evening Standard website yesterday about the article all saying the same thing. I will have a look and see if any are published in the letters page, or elsewhere, in the paper this evening when I'm on my way home and if there is I'll stick it up here tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam_in_Cornwall Posted August 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Dear Mayor, I am writing to express concern at the reported decision to exclude Shooting Events from the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic Ticket giveaway for London schoolchildren – the Ticketshare scheme – as reported in the London Evening Standard. I understand that you believe that including these sports would be at odds with your efforts to reduce gun and knife crime, which we wholeheartedly support and endorse. However, the decision to exclude the target and shotgun sports from Ticketshare must be reconsidered: It will be very disappointing for the athletes preparing to compete in Shooting sports at London 2012, by creating an association between those athletes and the criminals who illegally use firearms. It compounds the decision already made to leave no legacy for shooting sports by staging the events at Woolwich rather than the existing National Shooting Center at Bisley – by discouraging the general public from supporting the shooting sports. It is particularly disappointing to the Team GB athletes who will be training for London 2012 knowing that their sport has been omitted from a scheme to promote the next generation of athletes. Many of the British shooters are young themselves and have been encouraged by previous Team GB medals in shooting sports – what hope do we have for the continued patronage of a sport that Great Britain has enjoyed much success at? The decision creates a spurious and inaccurate connection between the shooting sports and the criminal use of firearms. Are we going to see the same exclusion for Fencing given the ‘clear association’ with illegal use of swords or Archery because of the ‘dangerous connection’ with violence from bows and arrows? Are you also going to exclude the Modern Pentathlon from Ticketshare as it includes pistol shooting as a component sport? Will boxing be excluded because it ‘promotes’ physical violence? I am certain that you do not view these connections as valid, so why are you allowing this peculiar decision to stand? Allowing children to attend these events will ensure that they observe shotgun and target shooting performed at the highest international level, with a high degree of discipline and excellent safety standards. It will also allow them to celebrate a sport that Team GB excels at whilst competing across the world. Ensuring these events are included will send a signal that you support Team GB and the worlds athletes competing at London 2012. Excluding these sports will diminish London 2012 in the eyes of the global shooting and sporting community. We urge you to clarify your position in regards to this decision and reverse the exclusion at the earliest opportunity – the shotgun and target shooting community looks forward to your respons Yours faithfully, Matt Rutherford Matt - an excellent and very well put together case for allowing allocation of tickets for school children to have an opportunity to watch a sport we excel at> I am sure many on here thank you for your time on this matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdSolomons Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Good man Matt! Didn't know you made a mag- is it on sale in shops or subscription only? Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolhead Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 The proposed policy has been roundly condemned internationally. I've yet to see one single comment in support of it. There is clearly no public support for vilifying organised sports shooting or making it a pariah. I think this is mostly down to apathy plus a resentment of any nannying from the authorities. Unfortunately the phobic antis make an awful lot of noise for their numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattr Posted September 10, 2011 Report Share Posted September 10, 2011 Just an update on ths - Boris Johnson replied to my open letter - I can't link to my site anymore - so the full text is here: Dear Mr Rutherford, Thank you for your email about the Evening Standard’s report that London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic shooting events would be excluded from the Get Set Ticketshare scheme. I understand your concerns and am happy to clariify that they are based on inaccurate reporting of my position. I do not support a ban on tickets for shooting or any other Olympic or Paralympic sports. It is in my view that is a school pupil can watch a sport on television they should be able to do it in our fantastic Olympic venues, and I have made this view clear to LOCOG. With more than 100,000 tickets available for the shooting events, which sold out very quickly, I have no doubt that the London 2012 Games will raise the profile of these demanding and tense sports in the UK and beyond. Thank you again for writing to me. Yours sincerely, Boris Johnson Mayor of London Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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