March without your guns, says mayor
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:55 pm
March without your guns, says mayor
Nov 8 2007 by Our Correspondent, Western Mail
A MAYOR sparked a row by asking soldiers to lay down their guns before marching in this Sunday’s Remembrance Day parade.
Chepstow town councillor Hilary Beach says the 1 Rifles Army regiment, based at nearby Beachley Barracks, should not carry their weapons during the ceremony because of the rising tide of gun crime across the country.
Veterans’ groups criticised her comments as “ridiculous” .
Ms Beach said the ceremony should be a time for peace and not conflict.
She said, “I would prefer there not be any guns at the Remembrance Day parade – it is a personal issue for me.
“I want to make it clear that I hold Remembrance Day as extremely important and it is vital that members of the Armed Forces are in attendance.
“However, I have always thought about Remembrance Day as a time for peace and to remember those who have lost their lives in combat.”
Ms Beach said her proposal was not supported by fellow members at a recent town council meeting but that she stood by her convictions.
Tom King, president of the Chepstow branch of the Royal British Legion, which is organising the town’s ceremony, said the mayor’s idea was political correctness gone mad.
“What she said is ridiculous. It is nonsense,” he said.
“The regiment is called the Rifles, and rifles are an important part of their uniform and their kit – they would feel naked without them.”
An Army spokesperson said, “Weapons are normally carried by Army personnel when on any kind of parade. Members of the 1 Rifles will be carrying weapons in the Chepstow Remembrance Day parade and this has been agreed by the event’s organisers.”
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wal ... -20078458/
Nov 8 2007 by Our Correspondent, Western Mail
A MAYOR sparked a row by asking soldiers to lay down their guns before marching in this Sunday’s Remembrance Day parade.
Chepstow town councillor Hilary Beach says the 1 Rifles Army regiment, based at nearby Beachley Barracks, should not carry their weapons during the ceremony because of the rising tide of gun crime across the country.
Veterans’ groups criticised her comments as “ridiculous” .
Ms Beach said the ceremony should be a time for peace and not conflict.
She said, “I would prefer there not be any guns at the Remembrance Day parade – it is a personal issue for me.
“I want to make it clear that I hold Remembrance Day as extremely important and it is vital that members of the Armed Forces are in attendance.
“However, I have always thought about Remembrance Day as a time for peace and to remember those who have lost their lives in combat.”
Ms Beach said her proposal was not supported by fellow members at a recent town council meeting but that she stood by her convictions.
Tom King, president of the Chepstow branch of the Royal British Legion, which is organising the town’s ceremony, said the mayor’s idea was political correctness gone mad.
“What she said is ridiculous. It is nonsense,” he said.
“The regiment is called the Rifles, and rifles are an important part of their uniform and their kit – they would feel naked without them.”
An Army spokesperson said, “Weapons are normally carried by Army personnel when on any kind of parade. Members of the 1 Rifles will be carrying weapons in the Chepstow Remembrance Day parade and this has been agreed by the event’s organisers.”
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wal ... -20078458/
