Shooting range that used image of Shamima Begum is a LONG way off-target
The target: Using an image of Shamima Begum in this way may be seen as racist, Islamophobic, and misogynist.
It’s one thing to suggest that IS defector Shamima Begum should not be allowed to return to the UK – but putting her face on a target in a shooting range is completely beyond the pale.
You may recall that This Site ran a poll to gauge public feeling on Ms Begum’s request to return and Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s decision to revoke her citizenship of the UK instead.
After nearly nine days – and 2,151 votes – the result was relatively close, with around 56 per cent saying she should be stripped of citizenship and 44 per cent saying she should keep it.
But there is a world of difference between wanting that young woman to face the consequences of her actions and wishing actual harm upon her, of course – and this is why the decision of the Ultimate Airsoft Range in Wallasey, Merseyside, is unacceptable.
By using an image of Ms Begum as a target on the shooting range, it is encouraging unhealthy fantasies of harming her – and people like her.
We’re looking at racism, Islamophobia, possibly also misogyny. None are welcome.
Amazingly, a spokesperson for the centre actually said the decision to use her as a target allows children as young as six to “have some light-hearted fun bringing out the inner child in all”!
As one commenter in the Mirror‘s version of this story stated: “That’s the ‘inner child?’ Blimey. Wouldn’t want to meet the inner parents.”
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Shocking, or it should be, but we live ina highly controlled propagandised and dysfunctional quasi-fascist state now. A govt that can’t be removed because of a unanimously supine press, the demonisation of the sick, the poor, the elderly, the left, and the opposition, as well as the return of discrimination against women, and simple racism, are all signs that we have already sleep walked to the edge.
The attacks from within Labour are a bitter pill, and the ultimate Mccarthyite febrile atmosphere now needs addressing, and hard and fast. The members wanted a democratic party, lead by the members. Well it has to go beyond OMOV on elections, it needs to now include mass mobilisation against the totalitarians – whoever and where ever they are.
F complete FS just turn it in with the ‘offence for offence’s sake’ ,will ya?
This is someone who believes our kids are fair game for REAL bombs and bullets – by it’s own words. And dont give us that ‘it’ll allow her to be deradicalised’ crap – if it wanted to come back because it realised it’s mistake, that’d NEVER have been said.
You’re complaining about it’s representation on a piece of paper being shot at with air rifles? We wouldn’t complain about thatcher’s, hitler’s or savile’s representation on the target…
…Or would we?
It seems demonstrate two obvious points to me .
1. The fact that this is in any way acceptable demonstrates a worrying right-wing hate fuelled biased in our society.
2. The millions spent on the Tory de-radicalisation programmes were a waste of money as the Government obviously have no faith in them working with such people.
Sorry but British humour is well and truly dead. Airsoft gun and ranges require no licensing. The range being criticised also has Thatcher targets.
I am 70 years old and putting faces political or otherwise on real gun range figure 11 targets is fairly common. (There is even one of Elvis.)
When I was a kid my mum caught me firing an air pistol at a picture of Margaret Thatcher. I learned a lot on that day, about tolerance to those who deserved it, and compassion towards those who needed it.
I also learned how easy it was to teach my mum to shoot an air pistol at a picture of thatcher…..
I don’t condone this sort of behaviour.
As one of the 44% I find this abhorrent.