Nearly Smacked a Boy Scout Leader

[Glock Fan]

On Saturday afternoon, my 7 year old and I went shopping at one of the military commissaries. At the entrance, there were a bunch of DAV people handing out "poppies"(tiny red silk flowers). Among the group were a couple of teenaged Boy Scouts and a middle aged scout leader.

As we were walking into the commissary, I politely declined the poppy, and my son was about a half step behind me. I was in a hurry as I had to get to work among other things going on. I glanced over to check on my son, and saw him frozen with a look of horror on his face. The Scout Leader had his arm around my son's neck, and was wrapping his other arm around my son saying something stupid like "look at this young fellow, I'll bet he wants one". Before he could finish his hideous perverted laugh or speak any more words, I went ballistic and told him to let my boy go in some very direct and explicit terms. Once I secured my boy behind me, I told the guy off, telling him how stupid it was to touch another person's child without permission, much less the violation of several Boy Scout policies. I proceeded to talk with the store manager, who informed me that he wouldn't be able to tell them to leave, however the pervert took off before the store manager arrived.

I have since written to the Boy Scout Headquarters informing them of the pervert that they have representing them. My son had a couple of nightmares on Saturday night, and another one again last night. Had the pervert refused to let go of my son, he would have gotten a serious butt whipping.

I'm appalled at how some folks simply don't think before doing something so incredibly stupid, especially with the required BSA "Youth Protection" training and several policies in place against the practice of randomly grabbing children.

[twotonevert]

I am very sorry this happened. I was not there or can not explain why he did what he did. But as a Boy Scout leader for many years, we never ever touch a child except maybe to pat them on the back for a job well done. No adult leader will be alone with any child but their own at any time. If this was truly something you feel needs to be addressed, find out where the council HQ is and file a complaint.

[Babarock]

Absolutely contact the Council. Any reason you didn't call the MPs/Police?

[Phillip Gain]

You showed incredible restraint. I would likely have decked the guy rather than talk to him.

[mappow]

Any reason you didn't call the MPs/Police? I also know that red poppies are a European symbol for Vets. Was this CONUS?

[cmhbob]

As a Scout, Scouter and parent, I'd like to encourage you to do more here.

Contacting National was a good start, but it'll take forever for your message to get routed to the right place, them to figure out which troop was there, then contact that troop.

Jump on the web and Google "Boy Scouts (island)" You'll get a Council name. Start there. If you have the troop number, even better. Tell them exactly what you've told us. There was no excuse for this Scouter to touch your son. With recent news stories, he should have been even more aware of proper behavior.

[Drunkbeater]

The Boy Scouts of America is a great organization. I believe the left hates the BSA because they teach responsibility and morality. The leftists are trying to take them down from the inside by getting these perverts to become scout leaders. We need to root out these sick freaks before the leftists do because they will use that as an excuse to shut down the scouts.

[cmhbob]

I don't think this Scouter was necessarily a pervert. I think he exercised horrendous judgement though, and needs to step back from any leadership position for a while. The District and the Council need to know about the incident though, so they can start dealing with it.

[Glock Fan]

Due to the APEC activities in Hawaii, response time was expected to be at least 45 minutes. I needed to get to work, and the guy had already ran off. I was able to get enough personal info to track him down.

[Glock Fan]

Was at Hickam AFB in Hawaii