Child's play or something sinister?

The Editor, Sir:

This week, I happened to visit the community of Waterford, St Catherine, and some of the things that I saw and heard were unbelievable. While seated in my car, I noticed eight little boys, ranging between the ages of seven and 10, and in their hands were imitation guns of all calibre, such as M16, AK47, which are made from wood.

They were in combat styles, four opposing four, and they were running between the trees on the sidewalk and parked vehicles, including my car, pointing their 'weapons' at each other and some were falling as if being hit by the others. This was happening in the full view of adults, who appeared to be relatives and friends of these youngsters, and they were offering no sort of counsel, from my vantage point.

I took out my camera and secretly I tried to take snapshots of them to prove my point. I even braved it and came out of my car and tried to reason with two of the youngsters, and I was shocked to hear them say that they have witnessed this sort of thing in real life in their communities.

The question I ask is, where do we go from here? Is it a community by community education for adults and children by the church, government, private individuals and other organisations that will save this country? If not, sooner or later we are all going to be victims of this vicious cycle of gun violence.

I am, etc.,

DUDLEY A. BROWN

sharmanorton@yahoo.com

Kingston 5