Boy Scouts

Re “Jamboree Instruction,” Letters to the Valley Edition, June 6.

I was a Boy Scout a long time ago and one of the missions of this organization then, as apparently now, is to teach young people “pioneering arts.” These traditionally are camping, open-fire cooking and other outdoor skills. I don’t think the training a Scout receives in using the bow and throwing tomahawks could even be classified as a sport. However it is an art and requires much more skill and dexterity then operating a Glock 10 or even a Ruger .357 revolver.

Our model airplane club, throughout the year and in this instance the Scout Jamboree, assists young people in building a small stick and tissue rubberband-powered airplane called a Delta Dart. This, for the children, is a very successful endeavor, and one or two of our students have gone on to become world champions, but most just turn out to be good citizens like nearly everyone else.

I personally was pleased to be a small part of this effort and was surprised to see so many families still involved in Scouts. As a participant I resent the insinuation that what young people are learning at this Jamboree will transfer to these items being passed through school metal detectors.

For your information Mr. [Rick] Rofman, I think there are more former Boy Scouts who are policemen than jailbirds.

TED DAVIS, West Hills