Does a STARTER pistol scare you??

[no1_vern]

Traditional starting pistol banned from school's sports day because gunshot sound might FRIGHTEN children | Mail Online

It's the traditional sound which has greeted the start of children's sack races, sprints and egg and spoon challenges for generations.

And when Gartocharn Primary School in Dunbartonshire secured the services of the London Olympics chief starter for their own sports day, the school must have thought it would be an extra special occasion.

But the school had not reckoned with the administrative power of health and safety council officials, who banned Alan Bell from firing a pistol at the event in case the sound frightened the school's children.

I really am speechless at this attempt to "protect the children".

[surreal]

Your question really isn't relative because none of us are children. Glad to see you so empathetic, but I guess if it's tradition it must be good right?

[sharder8]

I thought the starters pistol had been replaced by the starter horn a while ago.


Harder

[pickel]

I thought the starters pistol had been replaced by the starter horn a while ago.


Harder

LOL

The "Horn" signifies the END of the game!!

[tony_j15]

Well, it's a Mail article, so YMMV.

Logically, they don't have a leg to stand on when they say the sound is the issue then propose a solution that involves the same sound.

Your question really isn't relative because none of us are children. Glad to see you so empathetic, but I guess if it's tradition it must be good right?

As a kid, I ran a few races that all were started with a track pistol. I suffered no issues, and neither have the millions of other kids who started races this same manner, or the millions of kids in ages past who had a gun put in their hands from a young age in order to put food on the table. Your point was?

[bigBonehead]

Having been shot, yes the sound scares me. That said, I'm not running any races

[sharder8]

Having been shot, yes the sound scares me. That said, I'm not running any races

I still get a huge adrenalin surge when a car back fires near me . . . or any sudden loud sharp report sound I'm not expecting. And I got out in '88.


Harder

[surreal]

Well, it's a Mail article, so YMMV.

Logically, they don't have a leg to stand on when they say the sound is the issue then propose a solution that involves the same sound.


As a kid, I ran a few races that all were started with a track pistol. I suffered no issues, and neither have the millions of other kids who started races this same manner, or the millions of kids in ages past who had a gun put in their hands from a young age in order to put food on the table. Your point was?

I wasn't thinking of the runners, I was thinking of the younger siblings in the audience...ya think a lot of kids from the track team are using guns to put food on the table? Maybe if they're drug dealers in Detroit... hmmm

[tony_j15]

If a gunshot scares these kids, god forbid a car backfires. They'll probably be in a coma for a week.
Most smaller kids are scared of loud noises. It's nature. But I wouldn't demand that NASCAR install mufflers on the race vehicles just because I brought my two-year old to the track.

I guess my point is: people are being over-sensitive, squeamish, illogical, and anti-historical about this. It should make for excellent coffee talk tomorrow at the office.

[surreal]

and you totally ignored my hilarious remark about the kid using guns to put food on the table being a drug dealer...

[Epidemic]

If a gunshot scares these kids, god forbid a car backfires. They'll probably be in a coma for a week.
Most smaller kids are scared of loud noises. It's nature. But I wouldn't demand that NASCAR install mufflers on the race vehicles just because I brought my two-year old to the track.

I guess my point is: people are being over-sensitive, squeamish, illogical, and anti-historical about this. It should make for excellent coffee talk tomorrow at the office.

if they want to use a bicycle bell more power to them. I would only be upset if it was the government doing it.

I think it is a weenie move but what ever floats their boat.

[azher91]

just loll

[tony_j15]

and you totally ignored my hilarious remark about the kid using guns to put food on the table being a drug dealer...

I missed it, my bad.