Party wants schools to train kids to shoot guns (Australia)

news.com.au ^ | June 02, 2007 | Marnie O'Neil

[Dundee]

CHILDREN should start firearms training from age 10 and shooting programs should be reinstated at schools, says the NSW gun lobby.

...children as young as 12 can gain a gun permit, allowing them to shoot semi-automatic pistols, bolt-action rifles and other firearms under supervision.

NSW Shooters Party MP Roy Smith said his group would lobby parliament to allow 10-year-olds to gain two years' experience with air rifles before they sat for gun licences.

"Kids these days get in trouble because we don't trust them with anything,"

"BB guns and air rifles now have to be registered when, in my day, all the boys were running around with them; we don't trust kids with pocket knives and we don't trust them with (fire) crackers.

"So essentially the first taste of responsibility kids get in Australia nowadays is when we hand them the keys to the car - often with tragic consequences."

Mr Smith said his party would also lobby for gun safety programs and shooting lessons to be reintroduced into school curriculums.

In contrast, the Coalition for Gun Control last week urged the State Government to abolish gun permits for minors...

Western Sydney schoolboy Matthew Woolnough, 12, earned his gun licence two months ago and goes to target practice with his brother Aaron, 14, at an SSAA indoor range.

"I enjoy it," he said. "It gives you confidence although the other kids say, 'you can't play soccer so you have to shoot guns instead'.

"I have a disease which makes my cartilage disintegrate so I can't (run around on the field)."

Ashleigh Bell, 17, took up shooting initially because of her dream of becoming a policewoman.

"You feel really strong and confident when you know how to use a gun and the other kids think it's pretty cool," she said...

[Dundee]

The Shooters Party are fighting a loosing battle, but at least they're fighting.

[ovrtaxt]

One word:

PAINTBALL!

[visualops]

the other kids say, 'you can't play soccer so you have to shoot guns instead'

Something just ain't right if that's a schoolyard taunt.

[TLI]

"I enjoy it," he said. "It gives you confidence although the other kids say, 'you can't play soccer so you have to shoot guns instead'.

"You can't play soccer"

whoooo, ain't that just the end, eh? Sounds a little faggy to me...