One of the founding members of anti-conscription group BAD, fresh on the heels of losing a court battle to get the Bermuda Regiment abolished, has threatened to go on a hunger strike should he be arrested by regiment officers.

Bermudian road running record breaker Lamont Marshall, along with his father Larry, are two of the founding members of Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD). The pair, along with a handful of other young Bermudian men have been trying for the past four years to get mandatory regiment service abolished from the Island.

On May 24 BAD lost its case at the Privy Council in London – Bermuda's highest court of appeal – to have the Regiment disbanded.

Lamont, who is refusing to enter the Regiment on religious and conscientious grounds is now planning to not eat should the regiment make good on their threat to arrest him and others.

Larry Marshall, who spoke on behalf of BAD and Lamont, said he stands behind his son's choice and supports his right to peacefully protest and object to conscription.

"He is prepared to use passive resistance because he is determined not to be broken by this system," said Mr. Larry Marshall. "Lamont is not doing this for himself or even for BAD. He is doing this for all those young men forced to serve in the regiment and the generations of conscripts to come."

He added: "When you have a young man prepared to take a stand like this it will surely motivate others to stand up and join this cause."

Mr. Marshall stated his belief that conscription into the Regiment is undemocratic. He alleged the Regiment uses "bullying" tactics to scare young men into cooperating.

"They (the Bermuda Regiment) have the attitude that they can boss people around and treat them unfairly," said Larry Marshall. "It is almost like they are thinking 'you better do what I say or we will get in our jeep, come to your house and lock you up'. A system like this has no place in a real and healthy democracy."

Mr. Marshall went on to claim that young men find being forced into the Regiment so distasteful that they would rather sustain an injury than show up for camp.

"I have heard of stories where young men have gotten into accidents and broken legs or arms or sustained other bad injuries and yet are thankful that they have been hurt so that they don't have to go into the Regiment," he said.

Mr. Marshall said he and his family are proud of Lamont for standing up for what he believes in.

"This whole situation has really strengthened his resolve," he said. "His mother, his brother and I are all behind him in this endeavour and we are very proud of the stand that he is taking."

Currently as one of the Island's top long distance runners, Lamont Marshall simultaneously holds the Bermudian national road records for 8K ,10K and point-to-point 5K.