Toronto un-invites then re-invites target shooters to public event

It's been said that crises don't develop character, but reveal character.

If that's the case, the Scarborough shootings have revealed some City of Toronto officials as 'nervous ninnies.'

According to an article in the National Post, two teenage amateur athletes were sent an email last Tuesday telling them they were no longer welcome to be on stage at an event to promote the upcoming Ontario Summer Games. Their indiscretion: they were competitive rifle shooters.

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"Unfortunately due to the untimely shootings that have taken place in Scarborough and the City recently, we have received a directive that we can no longer have the Sporting Rifle Athlete Ambassadors present on stage at the World Record Camp Games event," noted the email from an unnamed city official.

"We realize that gun violence has nothing to do with the sport of Sporting Rifle or any of your Athletes and that your sport promotes the safe and responsible use of rifles."

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While the teenagers' sponsoring organization — the Canadian Sports Shooting Association — is a pro-gun group, being publicly shunned by a City government for participating in an Olympic sanctioned sporting event seemed like a bit of an overreaction.

But just hours after the Post story was published, the city officials came to their senses.

"Upon further reflection, and discussion with the Games Organizing Committee, the City of Toronto regrets the decision that was communicated to the Canadian Shooting Sports Association and supports the participation of all athlete ambassadors in the on stage welcoming ceremony of the World Record Camp Games," said the second email.

"The athlete ambassadors representing the sport shooting have been invited to participate in the welcoming ceremony at the World Record Camp Games."

At least, in the end, they did the right thing.