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Children Soldiers

Children are guided by adults, unfortunately some adult societies will have their children hold a gun at a young age. What do you think should be the minimum age to be part of any military service and why?

Soldiers Children

One might consider the reverse - the immorality of not teaching a child (or removing the means) whereby they can defend themselves.

I remember reading a story in the US about a household that gun-carrying criminals broke into. The parents were out and the children were shot dead. There were guns in the house but they were locked up for the the children's "safety".

"Child" also needs defining, different times and places have culturally varying views on what childhood is and when it ends.

It is certainly not a happy image to see children with machine guns, war itself should not be. But is is.

I think parents must be the ones which determine how and when they teach and train their own flesh and blood; that's the bottom line. It's not a question for governments or for do-gooder lobby groups who vary rarely have any concept of reality and who try to use the force of government to impose their every pet theory and confused morality.

So, I am not sure I agree with your belief that it is unfortunate to carry a gun at a young age (if taught responsibly). As far as the army in concerned, I think the US Constitution defines the age of the militia - but even those younger must fight should the need arise.

I have read of a very outstanding young man who had enough military experience by the age of 15 to command an entire nation's army - and very well too But I guess child labor laws would have prevented that from being so had it been in our confused modern world...


Dubhdara.

Children Soldiers History & Civil Business Politics

I would add a story I heard a long time ago, from various newspapers, of a young man, 12 or 13 years old. Criminals broke into his house while the parents were away, the boy snuck away and got his father's hunting shotgun. He then subdued either 2 or 3 armed men with it.

On the other side of the coin, in the 1980s, Iraq invaded Iran. After several years of war, the majority of Iran's young adult men were casualties. The world was horrified when we saw boys of 10 years age carrying AK-47s, in battle. The thing was, there wasn't much choice by that time.

Another picture is Israel. In the 1970s, nobody was allowed to own any type of guns, outside of the military. So, boys (and girls) didn't get training on how to use weapons until they were military age. Terrorists were essentially given free reign. Eventually, the people defied the law, started carrying weapons (men, women, older children). Suddenly terrorist attacks against schools, busses, and homes stopped.

So, I agree that children should be taught to use guns properly, and should be well schooled in using weapons for defense.

Saying all that, none of my children are. My wife is English, and carries the English hatred for guns into our home.

Soldiers Children

One of the new tactics the insurgents are using now on American Forces are using children. They will give children hand grenades to throw at U.S. truckers going under a overpass or just going up the street. Some soldier's can't see themself putting a bullet into a child. And some wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet into a child. If you were a soldier on a convoy. And you looked up and saw two young ( 10 years old) Iraqi boys about to drop hand grenades on to a U.S. truck from a overpass. Would you shoot the boys or would you freeze up and not shoot the boys ? Keep in mind if you freeze up , you just got your buddy blown up to pieces. Stuff like this goes on here in Iraq everyday. You are always making split second decisions like this. What would you do in a situation like this ? And if you did take out the boys , would it bother you for the rest of your life ?

Edited: darius on 7th Sep, 2004 - 5:36am

Soldiers Children

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Message Edited! Thanks Persephone, topic has been merged with this one. Darius, please keep in mind what Persephone has stated when starting new topics, thanks!

Edited: malexander on 7th Sep, 2004 - 11:28am