Should schools ban starter's pistol?

They don't fire any bullets, but deadly symbolism triggers call to keep them out of high school track meets

The starter's pistol is under the gun, facing a growing clamour to end its use at local high school track and field meets.

The movement to ban the gun because of its deadly symbolism includes someone who literally has pulled the trigger to start foot races for thousands of high school athletes across Ontario.

"We don't need people standing around with (pistols) – those days are done," said Brian Keaveney, a former teacher and an internationally ranked starter who has his own pistol.

Having guns in and around schools is bad optics, he added.

Keaveney has been joined in the call for the starter gun ban by some officials from the Toronto District School Board and Athletics Ontario, among others.

The push for a change comes almost two years after the May 2007 shooting death of 15-year-old Jordan Manners at Toronto's C.W. Jefferys high school.

A probe into school safety after the Grade 10 student's death raised troubling questions about safety levels in GTA schools and the threat of weapons on school property.

Starter pistols fire blanks, make lots of noise and set off a spark that triggers electronic timers.

Ontario Provincial Police say they have had no complaints about starter pistols, which are not prohibited weapons.

They are, however, regarded as firearms if they have been modified to fire bullets.

Keaveney is confident technology will supply suitable alternatives – without the appearance of a weapon – though he admits it may be costly and take three to five years to implement.

Starter pistols have been used for decades at track meets throughout the GTA, long before athletic associations and school boards changed from timing races by hand to electronics.

Track and field officials have looked at a gadget that sounds like a horn and has a sensor on the starter's wristband, which sets off the electronic timers.

Cap guns have also been used. Caps are cheaper than shells, but can misfire under wet conditions.

"Right now, other options to the starter pistol are expensive," said Chris Deighan, a teacher and convenor of the Cardinal Carter Track Classic, being held this week at York University.

"Athletes, particularly those in outside lanes, could also be at a disadvantage. With the noise from a pistol, kids react to the bang."

Chick Kennedy, athletic director of the Toronto District School Board, said elementary school meets changed to a horn from the pistol two years ago.

"The perception of guns with little kids didn't go well, so we were asked to change it," said Kennedy, who confirmed the board is in control of a dozen starter pistols.

"We need an alternative, but I believe the track and field sport governing body needs to make the initial change and, when they do, I am sure they won't get an argument."

Roman Olszewski, director of technical services for Athletics Ontario, believes a change is necessary and figures a creative manufacturer might come up with a good option.

"We shouldn't have a person with a gun, even though it fires blanks, near school children," he said.

"At the World Youth championships five years ago in Sherbrooke, they used a horn that sounded like it was someone smashing the tops of two metal garbage cans. It was terrible."

Chris Reid, convenor for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations track and field finals in June at the University of Toronto's Varsity Centre, said he's not impressed with the alternatives he's seen so far.

"The bang from a gun is distinctive, but I can understand a need for change – we just have to come up with something with sound that works, and that could take three to five years," said Reid.

Neil McNeil High School sprinter Dushane Farrier is upset with the thought of replacing the pistol.

"That's a huge step backwards," said Farrier, a medallist in the 100 metres at the provincial school finals last year. "We grew up running at the sound of those things. We're trained to hear the gun go off, then we explode."

"I understand people are antsy about guns, but if it's all right to use them at the Olympics, it should be fine at our meets, too."

Thoughts?