04/09/2008 / USA
I got it in my head that I should paint [a rifle] in some sort of girlie
colours and give it to my daughters. The Hello Kitty thing has been done to
death, so I'm thinking Care Bears or My Little Pony. Of course, I have a
plethora of themes to choose from off [the website] Noggin. Wow Wow Wubbzy could be
kind of cool.
Do we feel
that 11 year-olds in this country need to be doing Tactical Response training
with handguns? No. Do we feel that 11 year-olds need to know how to
field strip AR-15 rifles? No. Do we feel that there are potential
safety risks to having children around firearms with this type of
frequency? Absolutely. Particularly when you might be building a
false confidence in them that they can safely handle firearms in all situations
even when an adult is not present.
The first
time I shot I was around 6 years old. My family always had guns in the
house, not handguns, (...) only rifles and shotguns. I knew where they were
and I knew where the ammunition was kept. (...) Guns were not made
mysterious or glamorous, but were just a tool. It is my belief that the
current push to "keep guns out of the hands of kids" is actually
making kids more curious about guns, and less able to handle them safely.
McKenzie, the 11-year-old who can field strip and reassemble a rifle in 53 secs
This video may prove shocking if you're not accustomed to seeing children handling guns. On the American blogosphere however, 11-year-old McKenzie has attracted great admiration.
The video of an eleven-year-old girl assembling a rifle in record time is causing a stir on the web. Largely admired in the US, the video has attracted such comments as "beware terrorists", "don't break her heart or she'll murder your whole family" and "this girl is awesome". However, in places where learning to use a gun at a tender age is not exactly commonplace the video has raised concern over children's access to guns - particularly since it involves a country infamous for its school shootings. Despite 1989 Child Access Prevention laws in place in many states, nearly 12 times more under-14-year-olds die from firearms incidents in the US compared with 25 other developed countries combined [according to the anti-gun violence Brady Campaign]. Nonetheless, owning a gun is a fundamental right in the US, and protected by the Second Amendment. Our Observers explain why.
Eleven-year-old McKenzie's record. Posted 12 January 08 by "gixxerguy811".
"Would your child do the same?"
Blogger Robb Allen, from Tampa Florida, is currently in the process of teaching his daughters, 3 and 6, about guns.
I got it in my head that I should paint [a rifle] in some sort of girlie
colours and give it to my daughters. The Hello Kitty thing has been done to
death, so I'm thinking Care Bears or My Little Pony. Of course, I have a
plethora of themes to choose from off [the website] Noggin. Wow Wow Wubbzy could be
kind of cool.
Anyway, I was working on pulling it apart when I heard my oldest daughter yell "Daddy! I found a gun!!! I'm leaving the room!" (...) Luckily for me, it was just the gun case for the .22, but she knew enough not to get near it. (...) Though only 5, my daughter knew not to touch what she thought was a gun. The very first thing she did was tell an adult. The next thing she did was leave the room. Would your child do the same?"
"A mentality of fear and distrust, not understanding"
Ladd Everitt works for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.
Do we feel
that 11 year-olds in this country need to be doing Tactical Response training
with handguns? No. Do we feel that 11 year-olds need to know how to
field strip AR-15 rifles? No. Do we feel that there are potential
safety risks to having children around firearms with this type of
frequency? Absolutely. Particularly when you might be building a
false confidence in them that they can safely handle firearms in all situations
even when an adult is not present.
I think what you are seeing here is a product of a paranoid gun culture that has begun teaching even children that they must be armed and ready at all times to defend against not only their fellow citizens, but their democratic government as well. That breeds a mentality of fear and distrust, not understanding."
"Guns were not made mysterious or glamorous [to me]"
Kent McManigal is a blogger who "loves guns, swords and knives, hiking, and primitive wilderness survival". He runs the blog Kent's "Hooligan Libertarian" Blog.
The first
time I shot I was around 6 years old. My family always had guns in the
house, not handguns, (...) only rifles and shotguns. I knew where they were
and I knew where the ammunition was kept. (...) Guns were not made
mysterious or glamorous, but were just a tool. It is my belief that the
current push to "keep guns out of the hands of kids" is actually
making kids more curious about guns, and less able to handle them safely.
I [take my children] out shooting with me. We go out into the back-country with several guns and "targets" (usually aluminium cans). My oldest daughter would hold and shoot a .22 revolver (with a LOT of help from me) when she was about three or four years old. Using .22 shot shells she could hit the can (just a few feet in front of her) and make it bounce. You could see the satisfaction in her eyes."
McKenzie at the shooting range
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Not a big deal
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 17/09/2008 - 23:38.I dont see why this should be that big of a deal. I live in an area where a lot of people hunt. The adults that hunt who have children , have their children do it with them. Learning how to do something like that is a skill. I wish I knew how to strip a rifle like that.
Unregistered user
Public Opinion in America
Submitted by Ladd Everitt on Wed, 10/09/2008 - 08:24.For those visiting this webpage, you should not think that the comments you see here are reflective of American opinion as a whole:
* 71% of Americans supported renewing the Assault Weapons Ban when it expired in September 2004: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=498
* 87% of Americans support closing the Gun Show Loophole, which allows firearms to be sold by private sellers without conducting background checks on purchasers: http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/downloads/pdf/polling_memo.pdf
And so on and so on...
Most Americans viewing these videos would be disturbed and appalled by what they see, and there is a broad awareness in this country that kids and guns are a toxic mix. It is also now common for parents to inquire about whether there are guns in the homes where their children play - something that was relatively unheard of just a generation ago.
PAX has put together some good data on this topic through their ASK (Asking Saves Kids) campaign:
http://www.paxusa.org/ask/index.html
http://www.paxusa.org/ask/statistics.html
So while gun rights advocates are well organized in the United States and active on the Internet (and backed by a powerful and well-funded lobby), drawing broad conclusions from a YouTube video or certain blog comments does a disservice to the millions of Americans who are concerned about gun violence and in favor of sensible laws that deny children and criminals access to firearms.
Ladd Everitt
Your polls are
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 11/09/2008 - 20:14.Your polls are meaningless....The Harris Poll of 1,018 U.S. adults surveyed by telephone by Harris Interactive® between September 9 and 13, 2004.
meaningless...The following are key findings from a national survey of 800 Americans conducted March 31 –
April 3, 2008
Unregistered user
Fortunately, the founders of
Submitted by Kent McManigal on Wed, 10/09/2008 - 17:50.Fortunately, the founders of America were wise enough to write The Bill of Rights, which not only protects us from over-reaching government, but from the tyranny of the majority. Rights are not subject to a vote. Even if every person in America, except for one, desired to violate the rights of the one, they have no authority to do so, no matter if they hold a vote on it or not. However, whether you have a Bill of Rights or not, everyone has the exact same rights no matter whether "your" government recognizes the rights or not.
While it may be possible that many parents now ask whether there are guns in the homes of their childrens' friends, that does not mean that it is a reasonable thing to do. There are many things, both good and ridiculous, that people do now that they didn't do a generation ago. A more productive path would be to make certain that your children understand how guns function, and can recognize unsafe gun handling when they see it. That would make them actually safe instead of simply making the anti-gun parents FEEL good.
I am not backed by any organization of any sort and I receive no pay or benefits for my activism. In fact, I support gun rights (human rights) with my time and money while getting nothing in return. Nothing that is but the satisfaction of promoting ALL rights for ALL people EVERYwhere for ALL times. Regardless if it is popular or not.
Kent McManigal
We are proud of Mackenzie
Submitted by RAH (not verified) on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 02:35.She has been trained and schooled very well and she takes pride in her ability to stripe the rifle and show how it is done. We also take pride in her skill.
I have seen her before in the videos and I appreciate the practice it takes to be that good. I know her father is very proud also. She may be an Olympic shooter if she maintains the interest and practice.
I am amazed at those who are scared of the skill with tools our children are taught. I know girls that age who fence and are very good with rapiers. The hobby is no different unless a person has irrational fear of guns.
Boy Scouts are taught be prepared and learn rifle and shotgun along with other outdoors sports. Some of these young men go into the military and serve our country because they were taught a number of skills in Boy Scouts.
"Be Prepared"
Hopefully we will have a VP who is a woman and an expert shot with a rifle. Our women as girls are taught to be strong and capable. That is equality.
Unregistered user
Ladd Everitt
Submitted by Victim from D.C (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 21:25.About me :
I've served as the Director of Communications of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence since May 2006.
I also serve in a volunteer capacity with the D.C. Crisis Response Team, a group which offers comfort, support and referral services to victims and survivors of homicide in the District of Columbia.
Yeah,all those D.C gun laws got you alot of..."victims and survivors of homicide in the District of Columbia." didnt they
expect no less from those like Ladd Everitt and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence [omitted].
Unregistered user
Omitted
Submitted by Sophie Team ... on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 08:14.Part of this comment has been omitted as it was a personal attack and therefore not interesting to the debate. Please refrain from making personal attacks.
Sophie Team ...
Yeah,the good part!
Submitted by Victim from D.C (not verified) on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 14:07.Yeah,the good part!
Unregistered user
Be nice
Submitted by Kent McManigal on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 22:07.While Mr. Everitt's activism is destructive and harmful, his appearance has nothing to do with it and insulting him in this way is not constructive or nice. If you disagree with the man use logic and rationality, not cheap insults.
Mr. Everitt, I apologize for my fellow freedom lovers.
Kent McManigal
Dont ever apologize for
Submitted by Victim from D.C (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 23:39.Dont ever apologize for me,as a "freedom fighter" you should know better than to attempt to speak for anyone other than yourself
Unregistered user
You are right
Submitted by Kent McManigal on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 01:57.I was wrong. I am sorry though that some "freedom fighters" choose to use the same tactics as those who, like Mr. Everitt, would enslave us. It is beneath me to act that way, and I would hope it would be beneath you as well.
Kent McManigal
Hey,If I have to look at
Submitted by Victim from D.C (not verified) on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 03:01.Hey,If I have to look at it,He's going to hear about it,besides,somebody has to get down in the trenches and do the dirty work others who think they're better than everyone else wont do,Nope,every person I visit in the hospital because they couldnt have a way to protect themselves against being robbed,beaten stabbed,raped and shot,because of knuckleheads like him ,they convince me,no.....no they DONT deserve respect,they deserve an ass whippin.
Unregistered user
Kids and dangerous tools
Submitted by Ted (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 18:57.Let's see, in my house, we have the following items:
Gasoline powered lawnmower
Gasoline powered chainsaw
Electric table saw
Electric circular saw
(bunch of other power tools)
Heck, we have a bunch of very nice (and very sharp) chef's knives in the kitchen.
Have I taught my children how to use these safely? Yes - teenage boys need to be able to safely use all of them.
I am currently teaching my oldest son (16 yrs old) to drive.
I'm also taught both sons how to shoot safely.
Today, they are boys. Soon (too soon), they will be grown men. It's my job to see that they know how to handle potentially dangerous tools safely, and to use them appropriately, to solve the problems they were designed to solve.
No, I'm not training them to be policemen. I'm not training them to be chefs, either. I'm training them so that they know what to do, if they need to do it.
Unregistered user
This is a girl who will never have a firearms-related accident
Submitted by slackmaster (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 18:27.I learned how to strip, clean, and reassemble firearms when I was 10. My brother learned when he was six years old. Neither of us has ever had any problem with a firearm. He's now a senior officer in the US Navy.
Familiarity and skill with weapons have always been a part of the US culture. Our nation was born in armed rebellion.
Unregistered user
guns
Submitted by DanDren (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 16:42.Here it is not uncommon for parents to teach their children how to safely handle firearms, so it is not as shocking as it might be to other readers. What IS shocking is the skill and speed at which this girl is able to complete the task!
Those children who are taught safe responsible handling are NOT the kids who go out and commit crimes with them. Generally the thugs & school shooters come from a very different background than the law abiding & responsible/safe majority of the gun owning community.
As you may or may not know, children in America have no lawful means of acquiring or accessing firearms unless their parent is there with them assisting. Properly supervised, handling a firearm is not a danger to a child. Even improperly used and with safety rules & the law ignored, guns pose a much smaller threat statistically to children in American than do swimming pools, automobiles, household cleaners and accidents while playing.
Unregistered user
I see a bright intelligent
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 16:39.I see a bright intelligent inquisitive girl that enjoys a hobby. She has clearly been taught how to safely handle firearms. Guns are a part of the American Culture an hopefully always will be. I commend her parents for raising her to respect firearms as the tools that they are an not some inanimate object to be afraid of.
Unregistered user
Ladd Everitt...
Submitted by Rustmeister (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 15:35.... seems to be the only one harboring a mentality of fear and distrust. Why else would be oppose the possession of inanimate objects?
Unregistered user
Irony
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 14:41.Leading with this header
"A mentality of fear and distrust, not understanding"
Ladd then goes on to endorse a lack of understanding of firearms while encouraging fear and mistrust w/ this line:
"Particularly when you might be building a false confidence in them that they can safely handle firearms in all situations even when an adult is not present."
Yep, leave your kids ignorant because otherwise they might build confidence and not want to rely on the authorities to coddle them their whole lives.
The real goal of the Coalition to Stop Gun Ownership.
Unregistered user
Mao said that "the ultimate
Submitted by macbug (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 05:39.Mao said that "the ultimate political power comes out of the barrel of a gun". If you do not own a gun you do not have any more political power than the powers that be... allow you to have. Since governments are being taken over by multinational corperations and international bankers, it is even more important that the people have guns and the right to use them.
Unregistered user
To be totally honest, I just
Submitted by PR (not verified) on Sun, 07/09/2008 - 16:44.To be totally honest, I just see a girl trying to bond with her dad as that is probably the voice in the background. It is somewhat shocking to see a young child handle a gun (is it due to the age or the gender?)
Unregistered user
It is somewhat shocking to
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 19:48.It is somewhat shocking to see a young child handle a gun (is it due to the age or the gender?) Neither,its due to your narrow mindedness and judgemental nature
Unregistered user
I have nothing against a
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Sun, 07/09/2008 - 01:38.I have nothing against a young girl who enjoy praticing a sport (Even if I would definitly prefered mine to orient herself to some more girly stuff)
only thing guns liberty of circulation will definitly never never make your streets safer....never, but will definitly raised the occassion of accident and/or shooting like it happen many times in US School.
I am use to go to the US and I am kind of scare to know that some freaks that lost his mind can shoot me cause he doesn't like my face or the way i looked at him.
Unregistered user
I am use to go to the US and
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 19:52.I am use to go to the US and I am kind of scare to know that some freaks that lost his mind can shoot me cause he doesn't like my face or the way i looked at him. this recently happend in France......AGAIN
Unregistered user
How often does this happen
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 11/09/2008 - 11:04.How often does this happen in France? Once per year?
Unregistered user
Then stay out of the U.S we
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 10/09/2008 - 14:55.Then stay out of the U.S we dont need or want ANYONE antiamerican
Unregistered user
I do not see how my comment
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 11/09/2008 - 11:03.I do not see how my comment above can be seen as anti-american....
Actually my wife is american...
Unregistered user
more guns make us unsafe?
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 16:50.Regarding the commenter that stated more guns will make us less safe and endager kids....
The fact is that just a generation ago, kids even in elementary schools were allowed to have guns - and there were never school shootings and accidents were far more rare than they are now (now that kids aren't taught gun safety).
My father and his classmates were allowed to buy guns out of catalogues with no ID, it was legal. They also were allowed to go shooting unsupervised. Their parents had loaded guns around the house without trigger locks. The kids were allowed to take their guns to school and leave them in their lockers until school let out, when they would head to the woods to go shoot.
With all of this, accidents were rare and school shootings were unheard of. So what is different today?
Unregistered user
girly stuff?
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 15:52.You'd rather she do "girly" stuff?
First off, I doubt she was forced to do what she was doing. I'm quite confident that if she'd preferred to be making mock-pastries in a lil' girls light bulb oven, she would have been doing that.
What else could "girly" stuff mean to say? Cheer leading perhaps? If there's any sport truly "girly", it must be cheer leading, it also happens one of the most dangerous sport out there.
The girl would be safer off at the range, which is right where she will be.
Unregistered user
Sexism
Submitted by Kent McManigal on Mon, 08/09/2008 - 17:23.It rears its head even in the most "progressive" people.
Kent McManigal
More guns = less crime
Submitted by Kent McManigal on Sun, 07/09/2008 - 03:38.Sorry, but yes, more guns in the hands of the good people WILL make the streets safer. Bad people will never obey the law OR basic moral or ethical codes. that is why we call them "bad people".
And we all KNOW freaks who lose their minds NEVER kill people with their hands, or knives, or boxcutters & airplanes, or Sarin, or sticks, or electricity, or ropes, or.......
A gun is the most effective tool for helping the small and/or weak defeat a bigger, stronger aggressor. Period.
Don't live in fear. Take control of your self defense. It is your responsibility no matter what the police may tell you. You can't delegate that responsibility any more than you can delegate any of your other bodily functions or responsibilities.
Kent McManigal