Opinion: Why I’m rethinking Boy Scouts for my son

Editor’s Note: Naka Nathaniel is a former New York Times journalist and an Eagle Scout who was named Cubmaster of the Year in Atlanta in 2017. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

Waimea, Hawai’i
CNN
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An 11-year-old Boy Scout, Manuel ‘Manny’ Carvalho, was killed by a gunshot on August 28, at Camp Honokaia – where my son’s troop used to meet every week. A police investigation determined that during an official Boy Scouts of America (BSA) event at a scout camp rifle range, the boy was accidentally killed after he was shot by another unsupervised boy who was handling his parent’s loaded semi-automatic assault rifle. No charges have yet been filed related to the incident, though potential offenses against three adults are being reviewed by prosecutors.

In a statement to CNN, BSA said it has “provided support for the family and Scouting unit” in the wake of Carvalho’s death and noted that it is cooperating with law enforcement to investigate the incident.

Since Carvalho’s death, my family has had a serious debate about whether to continue in scouting. We have repeatedly questioned whether BSA’s values are in line with our values. We’ve participated in meetings with my son’s troop, and I’ve talked with scout executives.

While BSA has acknowledged that Carvalho’s death was “due to a reportedly accidental discharge of a firearm while involved in a Troop activity at Camp Honokaia,” its policy on firearms for scouts remains unchanged. (In response to outreach from CNN, BSA said: “Teaching youth and adults firearms safety has been a core of the Scouting program for over one hundred years. We constantly evaluate our programs to ensure that firearms safety and responsible use meet the highest standards.”)

Simply put, guns and children don’t go together. Children aren’t consistently responsible or vigilant enough to be trusted with weapons that can instantly kill. Yet, BSA’s “Guide to Safe Scouting” allows elementary-age school kids, including first graders, to use BB guns and air rifles (meanwhile, pocketknives aren’t allowed until third grade); middle schoolers can use .22 rifles, muzzleloaders and shotguns; and high schoolers can use pistols and large-bore rifles, and participate in “