With reference to the report on the AFM Open Day (TMID, 3 October), which event was held at Luqa Barracks on Sunday 2 October, and especially the accompanying photos to the article, may it be stated for the record that the children depicted behind weapons were not handling AFM small arms, but are seen behind World War II re-enactors deactivated period weapons.

As a matter of fact, HQ AFM staff had purposely pointed out to the WW2 re-enactors in the early throes of the day, the need to abide by the AFM’s policy to cordon off the items they were exhibiting, to which they immediately complied to.

The AFM applies the standard that young children are not authorised to handle any small arms, and the calibre .22 air rifles utilised on a small miniature range that was set up, was only for those persons of age 16 and above.

Major Ivan Consiglio

AFM

Editor’s note: One cannot understand the paranoia. Would one expect to sit in for a knitting session at an army open day? One thinks not.