I am not ashamed (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

I am not ashamed

6:00pm Thursday 21st June 2012 in Letters

I have just read the letter, published on June 14, regarding dress standards at the end of season presentation evening of the Devizes & District Miniature Rifle League.

There was no formal dress requirement for the evening, which was a friendly and relaxed presentation of prizes, with those attending wearing smart casual clothing.

The tattoos on ‘display’ were worn by ex-servicemen who by their service have helped defend the author of the letter’s right to express an opinion, no matter how trivial, petty or ill-judged. The ‘yobs’ the writer refers to are responsible adults handling and shooting rifles in a league that was established in 1906 to teach marksmanship.

I do not query the writer’s right to hold or express an opinion. I do exercise my right to comment that the writer cannot have anything more important to be offended by. Why did the writer not stand up and express displeasure or censure openly to members on the night?

I am neither ashamed to identify the league, nor myself. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, if I valued the writer’s opinion, I might feel insulted.

Ron Fraser MVO, Captain, Potterne Rifle Club.