Today's yobs, tomorrow's gunmen

On my way in I came across a group of four young boys (all under 14 I think), who were having a high old time firing BB gun pellets at each other.

This was on the flat surface at the top steps leading from Montague Street to the AMF Bowl and its multi-storey car park.

As I passed through, one of them was giving it to a young mother who was protesting that one of the pellets came dangerously close to her and her baby in a pushchair.

This young lad was having none of it.

As I came out after my visit, they were still there firing their pellets all over the place.

I tried to engage them in conversation about the dangers of what they were doing, both to themselves and to others.

I tried to suggest they find somewhere a little more secluded but they were not convinced.

I then went on to encourage them to consider the personal risk to themselves.

One proceeded to demonstrate the "safety" by firing a pellet at his friend's head from a few centimetres away, the pellet passing close to his eye.

I then did an unforgivable thing '“ I raised my index finger to demonstrate my point.

At this, one of them, pointing his gun directly at me, reminded me that raising my finger at his friend was not allowed.

He was right, of course.

Having got nowhere I turned to leave, whereby a BB pellet whizzed past my left leg.

I turned to remonstrate with the boys, but was rescued by a gent who took over the situation, thus protecting me from an "assault on a minor" charge which I would have inevitably received had I remonstrated in what used to be the time-honoured way.

This letter is written, not about me or even the boys, but to the parents of these boys who have allowed this situation to develop.

I do hope for all our sakes that these boys soon see for themselves the danger they bring on themselves and the, innocent passers-by.

Otherwise, goodness knows what will happen, particularly in view of the killings that have been happening in several of our cities, and the age of the perpetrators.

Name

and address supplied