You bet. Venerable journalist Bill Deedes passed this information on toDaily Telegraph readers while reporting on child soldiers in SierraLeone.
What is the relevance to Britain? Lord Deedes is pointing to "theastonishingly young age" at which children can handle firearms. It is awarning, he says, to ministers who are talking of lowering the age atwhich carrying a gun attracts a penal offence. Automatic penalties forteenagers might mean drug-running gangs start employing nine-year-oldboys as gunmen.
Logical up to a point, m'Lud. But surely it is the drug-running gangsthat ought to be most wary. There are more immediate risks of handingover weaponry to children. The under-10s, newly endowed with power,might not give them back.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
