BASC and all those who are active in legal shooting sports will be shocked and deeply concerned by the irresponsible portrayal of people involved in shooting in Barnardo’s latest awareness campaign. Shock advertisements such as this demean the cause of child protection.
Barnardos claims there is an unjustified and disturbing intolerance to children in modern society, and that they are demonised; yet the organisation thinks it acceptable to demonise people who lawfully shoot.
The film clearly shows sporting guns being used by the adults wearing country clothing. The style is graphic and realistic, and it makes no attempt to show the weapons are illegal. In fact it depicts extreme, Illegal and shocking behavior which risks encouraging precisely the behavior that Barnardo’s seeks to campaign against.
BASC director of communications, Christopher Graffius, said: “This film and the way it portrays people who are clearly involved in lawful sporting shooting, is totally unacceptable. BASC will be making an official complaint to Barnardos and if the film is not withdrawn we will be taking this to the Charities Commission. We are also urging our members, and others who support our position to also make their feelings known to Barnardos.”
ENDS