Child soldiers

[Akira 0]

Here in Texas we have a nifty little bit of legislation called "The Concealed Handgun Law," and yes thats right, it allows some one to carry a concealed weapon.

But you have to show imminent need for it. What would that be you ask? Threats, job requirements, etc etc. Not everyone can just do it. You take a safety course, and get your little license and you can carry a concealed gun. But...you can't carry it where alcohol is served, or have it within 15 feet of a place. Nor can you carry it in government buildings (unless of course it is your job).

I learned about guns when I was no more than 6. That didn't stop me from being a normal little kid and liking to run around and "shoot" things with my plastic M16. My father and grandfather started me on a BB gun and showed me the basics and proper care. I "graduated" to a .22 or a 30-06 occasionally, when I was about 8. The "mystery" of guns and their fascination was never there for me because I learned very early all about them, and what they could do.

Most non-American's in this topic are making the US out to be a wild west like nation obsessed and paralyzed by fear. Again this is another incidence of over-sensationalizing. No there are not shooting rampages down the highway. Nor are there shooting rampages everyday (where innocents are harmed).  I do no live in perpetual fear for my life. And no I don't have a gun. Life like anywhere else is common sense. No you don't flash your diamond watch in a dark alley on a seedy part of town. No you don't leave your door open or unlocked (except in some small towns where I swear--I've seen it-- front doors are left open and car keys left in unlocked cars).

Yes you are going to be more careful in New York then you are in Buda, Texas. It's common sense.

Everyone has an agenda and the easy way out is to point fingers everywhere except back at yourself. Every tragedy has been grossly politized including Columbine with Moore's grossly distorted "Bowling For Columbine." The "blame" is always over there and not at the home. Where exactly responsibility went I'm not sure, but I have the idea it disappeared with the first multi-million lawsuit payout. But if you try to sue the gun manufacturer for not putting a safety catch on the gun, after you leave your .357 sittin' on the counter and in easy reach of your 5 year old, thats not common sense nor is it responsible. The problem isn't fear. The problem is the delusion that "whatever I do is alright and not my fault." The problem is lack of responsibility. The problem is people living with the misguided notion that whatever they want, to take it is their right. And the problem is parents not teaching their kids.

[110 0]

Its amazing how a thread about conscripted child soldiers has tranformed into a US 2nd amendment debate. WTF..Over? If you were to go around and ask most US gunowners. Even us "gun nut" types. we would well agree with you that children have no place in a combat zone.

If i have a child and he/she wants to shoot my AKM or M4 i would be more then happy to teach them how to handle the weapon. For defense? what about fun? I think shooting is fun. Firearm ownership is a responsibility, but you can not teach responsibility in a void. Only through excersising it can it be so.

Sometimes im glad i dont live in Europe with their excessive overprotective control freak attitude. It would be stiffling.

[Balschoiw 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Sometimes im glad i dont live in Europe with their excessive overprotective control freak attitude.<span id='postcolor'>

Well at least we don´t start wars cause we are afraid someone has WMD´s. Oh I forgot you are a peaceful nation.

[Akira 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Balschoiw @ April 23 2003,08:04)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Sometimes im glad i dont live in Europe with their excessive overprotective control freak attitude.<span id='postcolor'>

Well at least we don´t start wars cause we are afraid someone has WMD´s. Oh I forgot you are a peaceful nation.<span id='postcolor'>

Take it to the Iraq thread.

This one is about child soldiers and has some how transformed into a thread about gun ownership and responsibility.

[killagee 0]

While I am stoked people are enjoying this thread ( it is the only one I have started that got more than a dozen replies) could we please stear it back on topic.

We are here to discuss the employment of people under the age of 18 by Armed Forces the world over. While this is primarily a third world / african problem it is supported by many foreign powers that do nothing to stop it.

Would your girl want a diamond ring if she knew that the mine was dug by children with an average age of 11, paid 75 cents US$ per month, with a life expectancy of just 12 years, and guarded by 9 year old girl with one foot ( she accidentally blew her other foot off with her AK-47), who after serving her 12hour shift is used as a concubine by her commander ( a white european mercenary who is paid up 150000 pounds a year to train new staff).

I heard the story of this girl on TV. She is now 17, and living in sweden. They interviewed her, it was amazing.

[Longinius 1]

"If i have a child and he/she wants to shoot my AKM or M4 i would be more then happy to teach them how to handle the weapon. For defense? what about fun? I think shooting is fun. Firearm ownership is a responsibility, but you can not teach responsibility in a void. Only through excersising it can it be so."

So you think kids are responsible enough to handle guns? You do know that kids usually don't know jack about responsibility, right? They have a tendency to forget things, even if its important. They also do not have the same frame of reference and morality as an adult does.

No weapons should NOT be in the hands of kids, no matter where they live. The only exception I can see is for sports and hunting.

"Sometimes im glad i dont live in Europe with their excessive overprotective control freak attitude. It would be stiffling."

Atleast our kids dont have to worry about getting gunned down at school. Or having a kid their own age pull a gun on them when arguing over who should have the basketball court.

Overprotective? Maybe, but I dont think so. Preventing kids from using guns and keeping it off the street seems more natural than overprotective.

[Jinef 2]

I think that you're all instantly making a links between guns and children = child soldiers.

To be ontopic for once i'm going to talk about child soldiers who don't use guns.

In Northern Ireland (lol i keep saying that, it's the "when i was a lad" syndrome) you would have teenagers chucking all kinds of shit at each other and the British squaddies. If they chucked a brick, they were not considered combatants, just angry. If they had nailbombs the soldiers did not shoot at them mainly because it would cause riots but soldiers were killed by them. Also you woudl have the good old tactic of a few teenage girls going up to a checkpoint or guardpost and flashing the soldiers while their friends planted bombs outside installations. You would then get a patrol going out and one coming in and 8 bodies strewn everywhere.

In Palestine, the children throw rocks. This is not an immediate threat and come on, the British have endured far worst for 70 years. It's not nice having last night's bucket of vomit or other excrement being chucked on you, but it's just going to make you smell, a lot! But soldiers should not engage them, i'm appalled when i see children being shot by this Israeli soldier, in 2 inch armour with an American rifle who says some bollocks about being under threat. If they have a rifle, by all means shoot them, they know the risks.

Let's take another example, a footie riot. I don't myself get invovled in these, but let's say 4000 or so really drunk and very angry people start beating the shit out of each other, vandalising, trying to rip policemen apart etc. Do you think that the police should run in and shoot them all, icluding the large amounts of teenagers that come along for the fun of it?

A lot of you talking about dealing with the threat, but very often it is not recognised and your little but of paper that tells you your limited ROE has no instructions at all for these minors which enter the arena just like a 30 year old IRA gunmen with a widowmaker and a thirst for blood.

[Die Alive 0]

Are there girl soldiers too? I mean soldiers that fight in wars, in front line units? Or are the girls used for other parts of the army?

I think they should be included. There are girls in the Boy Scouts, afterall.

-=Die Alive=-

[Jinef 2]

They are included in front line units in some countries like Sweden and Finnland i think. But not in the UK military in the infantry, the submariner people, or the armoured corps. But they are everywhere else i think.

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Jinef @ April 23 2003,17:29)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">They are included in front line units in some countries like Sweden and Finnland i think. But not in the UK military in the infantry, the submariner people, or the armoured corps. But they are everywhere else i think.<span id='postcolor'>

Not in all units. Mostly defense, logistics and support. And it is voluntary for them.

For instance in kustjägarna (costal rangers) we had no women. We did however train with a very hot Lt. from amfibiesoldaterna (marines) during basic training.

[Jinef 2]

Ahem, Swedish military chicks. I would envy you apart from the weather.

[Die Alive 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Longinius @ April 23 2003,05:41)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">So you think kids are responsible enough to handle guns? You do know that kids usually don't know jack about responsibility, right? They have a tendency to forget things, even if its important. They also do not have the same frame of reference and morality as an adult does.<span id='postcolor'>

Adults kill more people with guns per year than "kids" do.

-=Die Alive=-

[ran 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Die Alive @ April 23 2003,15:15)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Are there girl soldiers too? I mean soldiers that fight in wars, in front line units? Or are the girls used for other parts of the army?

I think they should be included.  There are girls in the Boy Scouts, afterall.

-=Die Alive=-<span id='postcolor'>

there's a female squad leader in my reserve platoon , she's in charge of one of the protection squads , i'm sure there are a lot more females in the regiment , but since i only do around 4 weeks a year ...

[Jinef 2]

Across the whole world?

You can't apply stats of one country that doesn't have child soldiers to other countries.

[Jinef 2]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">There are girls in the Boy Scouts, afterall.<span id='postcolor'>

I doubt there are any boys in Brownies though, i think that they should keep them seperate if they are going to have a name like Boy Scouts, it implies that it should only be made up of boys.

[Die Alive 0]

Yes Yes, i know there are female soldiers in normal armies.

I was refering to girls under the age of 14 with AKs, shooting at other boys and girls, also under the age of 14, becasue they're forced into the army.

-=Die Alive=-

[Jinef 2]

There is a famous picture of a girl in vietnam, in a trench with a rifle.

I'll try and find it

[DarkLight 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Die Alive @ April 22 2003,18:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Longinius @ April 23 2003,05:41)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">So you think kids are responsible enough to handle guns? You do know that kids usually don't know jack about responsibility, right? They have a tendency to forget things, even if its important. They also do not have the same frame of reference and morality as an adult does.<span id='postcolor'>

Adults kill more people with guns per year than "kids" do.

-=Die Alive=-<span id='postcolor'>

Um... well... don't you think that's VERY logical?

[Gollum1 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Die Alive @ 23 April 2003,18:39)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Longinius @ April 23 2003,05:41)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">So you think kids are responsible enough to handle guns? You do know that kids usually don't know jack about responsibility, right? They have a tendency to forget things, even if its important. They also do not have the same frame of reference and morality as an adult does.<span id='postcolor'>

Adults kill more people with guns per year than "kids" do.

-=Die Alive=-<span id='postcolor'>

Maybe because MOST people (glances at DieAlive) have the sense not to arm children?

also-what Darklight said

[Jinef 2]

Not really, it's not a fact of arming children, they are not seen as children, they are seen as capable of killing as adults, which in some aspects is true. It depends on the values of society.