Steve 41oo wrote:OmSigDAVID wrote:
Its been well over 50 years, but I began attending school in Arizona
with my .38 revolver when I was 8 years of age...
David
I believe you. Though I can assure you most people here would find that quite unbelievable.
Just shows was different countries/societies we live in...divided by the same language.
You were obviously trained to handle a fire-arm at a young age.
The government here is about to extend its "sure-start" scheme for disadvantaged young kids...
would you advocate fire-arm training for 6-7 year olds?
It wudn 't hurt anything; like bowling or swimming,
under supervised conditions, at first, showing them what happens to
various targets when thay get shot; perhaps some military film footage.
I consider it to be a very individual matter, as to each student.
As a libertarian, I am loathe to coerce them against their will in this matter,
tho their safety from predatory violence is important.
I have no particular number of years of maturity in mind as being ideal for
the start of training in safety, proficiency and tactical defenses with firearms.
In my opinion, thay shud be
INVITED to begin training,
under supervised conditions in a classroom, to learn theory,
then at a gunnery range for practical application, when thay so choose.
Early training in safe handling of firearms will serve to reduce
casualties from accidental discharges. Thay might prefer to start learning about
the practical applications of Newton 's 3rd Law of Motion, with little .22 caliber revolvers.
In America, children have become victims of predatory violence too ofen,
by criminals of all ages.
Thay do not always survive; thay have as much moral right to defend
their lives as anyone else.
Note that we very frequently see little boys ( some hardly more than babies ) in the news on TV
in the Mid East, large crowds of them, armed with firearms, including submachineguns
and fully automatic rifles, such as the ubiquitous AK 47.
NEVER ONCE,
have I heard a news story of any of those little boys being so injudicious
as to open up on his companions, causing bloodshed; not once.
Have u ever heard of any such stories of their breaking fire discipline
and opening up on one another with an SMG, AK 47, or even just a revolver, Steve ??
During my childhood in Arizona, we never had any complaints
in my neighborhood of any person of any age having bad manners
with firearms, nor did the police ever arrive with flashing lites & sirens.
David