killagee 0 Posted April 17, 2003 There are up to 300000 child soldiers , boys and girls (girls usually as forced concubines), under the age of 14, in the service of recognised governments all over the world. Only 50 countries have signed the UN Child Combatant Clause, making it illegal for anyone under 18 to bear arms. Many of the governments that emloy children for combat or rape are still sold weapons by the 5 permanent members of the security council....Sick OK. Thats 300000 in the employ of "recognised' governments. Imagine how many there are with rebel or subversive groups all over the world... I dunno why I am saying this, I guess I got all worked up by an interview I just heard on BBC world... If only they could play OFP instead... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Col. Kurtz 0 Posted April 17, 2003 Yes, I must say that forcing young children and teenagers to go and fight is a very disgusting thing to do. If only the UN had more power to end the use of child soldiers... The main problem with the UN: The fact that it is made of nations. Nations will most likely always querral and as Killagee's post mentioned, some of the nations that use child soldiers happen to be recognised nations and have economic ties with big players who aren't likely to cut off a source of income for something as petty as thousands of young people been used as cannon fodder. They have more important things to think about like playing golf. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jinef 2 Posted April 17, 2003 And what is worse is fighting them, Sierre Leone is a good example. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
killagee 0 Posted April 18, 2003 Yeah, I imagine having to shoot children would be one of those things you would never forget. This is what nightmares are made of. There is a great book i read just before I left school 12 years ago (cant remember author or title ) about a german who was drafted at the age of 14 in early 1945. Later he moved to Algeria as a government official. Caught up in the colonial wars there he endied up shooting a 14year boy who attacked their embassy. Full circle I suppose... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Balschoiw 0 Posted April 18, 2003 Well it´s a question of moral in general. Is it good to give children access to weapons anyway ? This is Texas. This is Al-Aqsa. Child soldiers are in fact one of the most disturbing things. But they are a result of war. War that lasts for long time in their home countries. It is our responsibility that these wars are still fought. It´s not the children to blame but the grown ups who drive them into fighting and gun training. A children may need a gun in certain countries to defend it´s own life, but Texas does not seem to be on the list of current wars. So why train children on weapons in so called civilized countries ? Anyone remember Kayla Rolland ? She was shot by a six year old child. Full story I guess no kid on earth should be forced to practise with weapons or use them. No matter if the kid is in Kabul or the USA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Necromancer- 0 Posted April 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Balschoiw @ April 18 2003,12:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I guess no kid on earth should be forced to practise with weapons or use them. No matter if the kid is in Kabul or the USA.<span id='postcolor'> but what if the kid wants to? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-TU--33ker 0 Posted April 18, 2003 tht's a pretty sad story. children should never have access to firerams. some parents say it's just to train their children to defend themselves. but i don't think this is just for self defence. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cloney 0 Posted April 18, 2003 LOL... How did I know that it would only be a matter of time before someone manages to relate the US and child soldiers. Its really incredible how everyone likes to paint the US as the source of all evil in the world. Balschoiw, Germany doesn't have a perfect record either, remember the Hitler Youth. That was the epitome of child soldiers to the point where they are fanatasized because they were children. It is very easy to mold the mind of a child simply because they are so naive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallenPaladin 0 Posted April 18, 2003 Balschoiw didn`t relate the US to the child soldier problematics. He just pointed out that weapons should better be taken away from children, no matter in which country. Everything more is just your interpretation, Cloney. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theavonlady 2 Posted April 18, 2003 I don't see anything wrong with child soldier's toys. Actually......................... I do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theavonlady 2 Posted April 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (theavonlady @ April 18 2003,15:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I don't see anything wrong with child soldier's toys. Actually......................... I do. <span id='postcolor'> We have defeated them, if fact we have crushed them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Balschoiw 0 Posted April 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Balschoiw, Germany doesn't have a perfect record either, remember the Hitler Youth.<span id='postcolor'> Yes we actually remember that here in germany. We don´t give firearms to children or train them on them. There is also a common sense amongst parents that war toys are not a good way for educating your children. We have learnt from the faults made in the past. Obviously some others haven´t. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ex-RoNiN 0 Posted April 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Necromancer- @ April 18 2003,13:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Balschoiw @ April 18 2003,12:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I guess no kid on earth should be forced to practise with weapons or use them. No matter if the kid is in Kabul or the USA.<span id='postcolor'> but what if the kid wants to?<span id='postcolor'> Then it gets a slap from the parents? What kind of question is that?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sanctuary 19 Posted April 18, 2003 0--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Ex-RoNiN @ April 18 2003,160)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Necromancer- @ April 18 2003,13:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Balschoiw @ April 18 2003,12:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I guess no kid on earth should be forced to practise with weapons or use them. No matter if the kid is in Kabul or the USA.<span id='postcolor'> but what if the kid wants to?<span id='postcolor'> Then it gets a slap from the parents? What kind of question is that??<span id='postcolor'> /me totally agree with that To see weapons in child hands is disgusting , point I cant understand at all someone who is for giving right to children to use firearms , even for "practice" as they say Crazy world and people .... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphwiggum 6 Posted April 18, 2003 i used to play with toy guns that can fire stuffs as a kid, and i can honestly say that i enjoyed it. the questions is how to teach kids that real guns are meant for grave harm, while toy guns are just for fun(ok, the non-firing ones). i guess for guys, there is something about that little plastic flying across the room. but the problem is that some kids/adults can't understand that guns are tools. tools of destruction. so the appreciation of the use should be thought foremost. here in california, when you take HSC(Handgun Safety Course) there is a section devoted to teaching kids about guns. basically it boils down to, "Teach your kids that, if they see a gun, 1)don't touch it, 2)leave the room 3)tell an adult.". there were 4-5 steps, but you know me and safety don't quite get along but as Bal's article shows, teaching kids about similar, yet different concept is a hard task. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphwiggum 6 Posted April 18, 2003 my response following bal's post was posted on other page for some odd reason. and this post should be posted after the "kids and Gun's" thread in Bal's post. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted April 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Ex-RoNiN @ April 18 2003,16:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Necromancer- @ April 18 2003,13:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Balschoiw @ April 18 2003,12:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I guess no kid on earth should be forced to practise with weapons or use them. No matter if the kid is in Kabul or the USA.<span id='postcolor'> but what if the kid wants to?<span id='postcolor'> Then it gets a slap from the parents? What kind of question is that??<span id='postcolor'> Presenting Ex-Ronin's parenting FAQ. </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"> Q: My kid is crying a lot, what should I do? A: Slap it! Q: My kid is hungry, what should I do? A: Slap it! Q: My kid is ..... , what should I do? A: Post restrict it, then slap it! <span id='postcolor'> No but seriously on the guns and kids issue: First, I see no problem with children "playing war" with toy weapons. I have the same view on it as on violent computer games. It's a fantasy and as long they live in a safe violent-free world it's harmless. As for kids and real guns, I'm very much against it, but in countries with a hight gun/capita ratio it might not be so bad. If they end up owning a gun anyway, it's better that they are taught safe gun handling from young age from responsible parents. Now the problem is of course in that last part - anybody can be a parent and being a parent does not in any way automatically induce responsibility. If you have kids and you have guns then you must take extraordinary measures to keep them separated. A gun safe is a minumum. The best solution is to have one safe for the ammo and one for the gun itself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hit_Sqd_Maximus 0 Posted April 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Balschoiw @ April 18 2003,12:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Well it´s a question of moral in general. Is it good to give children access to weapons anyway ? http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/expo/expo2001/images/youthgun.jpg This is Texas. http://homepage.mac.com/cfj/.Pictures/al-aqsa-boy-01.jpg This is Al-Aqsa.<span id='postcolor'> Shooting a duck with a shotgun and shooting a person w/ an ak47 are two totaly different things bal. I dont have any problem with children taking firearm saftey classes so they can go hunting with their father. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winters 1 Posted April 18, 2003 Its up to Parents to teach their own kids not the media not the schools not the government and not a bunch of guys on a forum, whether to fear and respect guns or whether to avoid them altogether. Too many times when i kid gets shot the parents rush to place the blame everywhere else than where it truly belongs, on them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winters 1 Posted April 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Balschoiw @ April 18 2003,11:45)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Maybe an interesting read for people who intend to have children someday. Kids and guns<span id='postcolor'> My kid has no desire to pick up a gun, real or toy. Some of these "so-called" christian societies are a bunch of mularkey anyway. Teach you OWN kids, don't let society or so-called "watchdogs" do it for you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ran 0 Posted April 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (denoir @ April 18 2003,17:22)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">if you have kids and you have guns then you must take extraordinary measures to keep them separated. A gun safe is a minumum. The best solution is to have one safe for the ammo and one for the gun itself.<span id='postcolor'> i remember when i was young how my father used to disassemble his service pistols and hunting rifles before storing them in a large safe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bn880 5 Posted April 18, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Necromancer- @ April 18 2003,07:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Balschoiw @ April 18 2003,12:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I guess no kid on earth should be forced to practise with weapons or use them. No matter if the kid is in Kabul or the USA.<span id='postcolor'> but what if the kid wants to?<span id='postcolor'> That kind of a question worries me also, maybe you just asked it for fun, I do that pretty often... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Balschoiw 0 Posted April 18, 2003 Maybe an interesting read for people who intend to have children someday. Kids and guns Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
foxer 0 Posted April 18, 2003 I fired guns at 6. Maybe little younger,also my dad got me a .22 rifle ,when i was like 8.However he never did let me touch it without him there.Also he always locked  up his guns. --edit Also ,i'm not from texas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Epita 0 Posted April 18, 2003 Well, i have shot guns for a while, and I am 17. I have semi-advanced military training, and have shot many different rifles, around the world. I shoot .22 rifles all the time, and own my own BB gun. I live in the UK as well, where gun crime is becoming a bigger problem. Epita Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
