Town mayor fires 400-year-old gun firing tradition because it might scare children (UK)
A market town's 400-year-old Christmas custom of firing muskets into the sky has been banned because of fears the noise will scare children.
Wimborne council in Dorset has told the town's Militia, which re-enacts traditions dating back to the 17th century, that it can no longer fire muskets over the Christmas tree.
The council said the noise of the blank shots would be too loud for children and would keep families away from the annual event to mark the switching on of the lights.
But members of the Militia said the council was "mollycoddling" children.
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
Wimborne council in Dorset has told the town's Militia, which re-enacts traditions dating back to the 17th century, that it can no longer fire muskets over the Christmas tree.
The council said the noise of the blank shots would be too loud for children and would keep families away from the annual event to mark the switching on of the lights.
But members of the Militia said the council was "mollycoddling" children.