Guns banned
ROYAL Marines on an annual visit to schools in Dunbeg and Oban have been banned from showing children their unloaded weapons.
A COUNCILLOR has defended triggering a ban on Royal Marines carrying unloaded weapons on their annual visits to Oban primary schools, arguing ‘there is no place for militarism in our schools’.
The Royal Marines, on an annual visit, were invited to talk to pupils at Dunbeg and Rockfield primary schools on Tuesday, but at the last minute were asked to leave their weapons outside.
The Royal Marines visit the two schools regularly in memory of Marine Gordon MacPherson, a former Dunbeg pupil killed on the last day of the Falklands conflict.
Like last year’s visit, organised by Gordon’s sister-in-law, Jean MacPherson, the marines were to receive a cheque to fund a memorial garden at the Marines’ HQ in Arbroath - this year for £5,000. On previous visits they were also allowed to show their guns to the ‘excited’ children.
Parents had received a letter leaving them free to decide whether to allow their children to attend, but when the marines arrived on the day, they were asked to leave the tools of their trade outside.
Oban North and Lorn councillor Julie McKenzie confirmed: ‘Following complaints from concerned parents, I raised questions with senior education officers around the policy of weaponry being taken into Argyll and Bute primary schools, and I welcomed the decision that was subsequently taken. There is no place for militarism in our schools.
‘There is already policy in place which prevents armed forces recruitment in our schools. As a parent of two young and impressionable boys myself, I can completely understand the concerns of the local parents who contacted me on this issue.’
Ms McKenzie pointed to Dunbeg Primary School’s Twitter page on September 19 which tweeted: ‘Great careers day finding out what it’s like to be a marine #skillsforlearninglifeandwork’.
She added: ‘Primary schools are for education and semi-automatic weapons have nothing to do with the education of under-12s or remembrance. The only issue some parents had with the visit was the involvement of weapons. To suggest any disrespect to our armed forces is utterly shameful.
‘I find it absolutely shameful local councillors have attempted to spin the facts of this issue beyond all recognition to the national press, in nothing more than a cynical attempt to gain divisive headlines and political capital.’
Councillor Kieron Green supported her stance, saying: ‘I just don’t understand the need or benefit of them bringing the weapons into schools.’
However, not all agreed on Ms McKenzie’s Facebook page. One person wrote: ‘For goodness sake, it’s a Royal Marine remembrance to Gordon, also to his brother and family for the charity work they do on behalf of the Royal Marines. The children love it.’
Another asked: ‘What next, not allowing the police to visit schools with hand-cuffs and truncheons?’ Another commented: ‘I’d ban all politicians and councillors from visiting schools, hospitals and prisons unless they were picking up kids or visiting family members. They surely don’t have any ulterior motives, do they?’
Argyll and Bute Council declined to explain why it had changed its mind over the ban, how long it would last and which schools it would cover. A spokesperson responded: ‘The school visits were a great success and we would like to thank the Royal Marines for attending.’