I recently came across some rather startling information which I think puts the recent Harry and Meghan debacle into perspective as a comparatively minor event not worthy of all the current press coverage compared to the following rather tragic story.
Whilst all the fuss and bother of Harry and his wife Meghan’s false claims have been taking the news headlines I came across a story of far more importance which has hardly been mentioned in the media at all.
The story I refer to is that of the 600 children in the UK who were arrested last year during the coronavirus pandemic for firearms offences, some as young as twelve years of age.
Figures which revealed two 12 year old boys were arrested for suspected firearms offences in the West Midlands, two 12 year old boys and a 13 year old boy were arrested in Hertfordshire for possession of firearms offences, a 14 year old girl was arrested for a suspected firearms offence in Merseyside all of which took place in 2020.
Further offences were committed in 2018/19, an 11 year old boy was arrested in Derbyshire on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and another 11 year old was charged with the same offence with an air weapon.
Amazingly enough more than two dozen suspected firearms were seized in a single week in London this February and Victim Support said it had seen an 85% increase in deaths from shootings in the last year.
Quite extraordinary that a child would carry a gun of any sort, be it imitation or real and leave themselves open to being shot by armed response Police teams who have no idea if the gun is real or fake.
I know I was born in simpler times but when I was an eleven year old the contents of my pocket were more likely to be a Wagon Wheel biscuit, a toy car and the most dangerous item might have be a conker on a string, my how times have changed.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
About The Diary of a Country Bumpkin
I am a retired actor, although to be honest I only retired because I wasn't getting any work due to losing my agent when I became a full time carer to my mother who had dementia. and the option of becoming an unemployed actor/waiter at my age was ludicrous, especially as my waiting skills are non-existent.
Having said I’m retired, I don’t think there really is such a thing as a retired actor for I am still available for work, I just don’t have an agent or any connections with regards to obtaining any worthwhile work.
I have over the years done student films when there is nothing else available, always low paid (if at all) the only incentive was always the promised copy of the finished film for your show reel which nine times out of ten always failed to materialise.
I spent many years looking after my aged mother and shortly after her death I was lucky enough to run into an ex-girlfriend of many years ago and our romance blossomed once again, resulting in us getting married in 2013.
My move to the countryside inspired me to write The Diary of a Country Bumpkin which tells of my continuing dilemmas in dealing with the rigors of the countryside from the unexpectedly large number of pollens, fungal moulds and hay products waiting to attack the unsuspecting townie.
I enjoy writing, see my play Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori on The Wireless Theatre Company, The Plays Wot I Wrote and The Battle of Barking Creek both available on Amazon.co.uk and am very fond of classic cars so my ideal occupation would be acting in a film I had written set in the 1930s/40s, we live in hopes.
I am delighted to say that since venturing to the countryside where space is not quite the premium it is in town, I have due to the availability of two double garages acquired more classic cars to form a small collection the pride of which are a 1947 Bentley Mk VI and a 2000 Bentley Arnage.
My various blogs and websites are continually evolving and I’m sure that by following the appropriate links you will find something which will edify or amuse.
I have written a number of different books all available on Amazon, so don't be shy should you feel the urge to purchase. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-Joe-Wells/e/B06XKWFQHT/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
The Diary of a Country Bumpkin 
…and a penknife of course – very dangerous!!!!
My parents were very protective of my brother and I, perhaps because we were adopted so I don’t think I would have been allowed a pen knife at eleven much as I think I probably would have wanted one!
I remember having a toy cowboy gun and playing cowboys and Indians in the woods. How the world has changed since those innocent days. Looking back i think I was a ‘Proper Tomboy’. Oh, is that word still allowed?
As for Meghan and Harry, they don’t appear to have learned any lessons from their last ‘performance’, Meghan is again commenting on private conversations.
I still try to live in the old more innocent times which may explain why I love my 1947 Bentley and dressing up to go to forties events.
In my world “tomboy” is perfectly acceptable but modern people would probably say you were a female who chose to identify as a boy called Tom!
Talking of which, have you tried the latest Census where you can answer whether you are still the same sex as you were born and what sex you identify as; I was tempted to put down, this week I am identifying as a female baboon but thought better of it as the more answers you put in the more questions it fires back at you
There is a vast chasm between the British and American way of doing things and without wishing to appear too snobbish I find the American way tacky and lacking in any form of class whatsoever. Unfortunately the British youth of today seem to be copying the American way more and more, I suppose it’s because they only watch American films, music and culture.
Somewhere in here there is a blog post………..
I love your Britishness and I agree with you completely… again!
My son and I were laughing at that question just the other day, but it wasn’t the census form, just can’t remember what it was.
My son is Gay and absolutely hates the phrase ‘I identify as’. He also dislikes the term LGBT that is used to group certain people together, he is an individual, a normal man who through no fault of his own is Gay. The term singles him out as not being normal and groups him against his will.
Unfortunately the powers that be seem to want to put all of us in a box nowadays. It’s strange how they keep adding letters to LGBT phrase and I see you have forgotten the Q on the end. It’s only a matter of time before everyone is added to the end and it will look like this, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
I find it hard to remember the letters as they were!
I love your last line – sounds like a Welsh town!
It is a Welsh town! I had another thought which may look odd as an answer here as it relates another comment you made elsewhere re tomboy etc. As someone who was brought up on the wonderful Round the Horne radio show with the brilliant camp humour of Hugh Paddock and Kenneth Williams playing Julian and Sandy. Bona to varda your eek, makes me laugh just writing it. However I digress, in olden times gay people were referred to as Nancy boys which always sounds such a wonderful way to describe someone but as you say I have no idea if it would offend nowadays. I have used it in my book as it’s set in 1947 and to me there is nothing worse when reading or watching a period piece where they use modern language, especially if like me, you are old enough to know the words they would have used. I suspect it would cause more offence to the snowflake generation than to any actual gay person. I must say the camp humour is something I miss from no longer being in the acting profession, generally the most amusing people on set would be gay. Ah, happy days!!