I would say this must take the moron award for the year quite frankly. We know how in the US pocket (see here also) our government/corporation is witness the recent goings on with the weapons giants (known more popularly and respectably as ‘defense’ corporations) like the one that is financially partnering with the rocket base operation in Mahia, also funded with $15 mill of your tax dollars). Then we had war celebrations last year that pretty much buried our nuclear free status. All advertised with a touch of bling. Follow the money trail. Our esteemed leaders recently gave $20 billion to the ‘defense’ industry, whilst ignoring 41K homeless & our new status on the UNICEF’s child poverty index. No shame whatsoever.

So why are they taking weapons to primary school children? What springs to mind for me is preparing the young mind (early) for recruitment although that is quickly dismissed as the motive in the news item. Part of a leadership course they say. Sure, teach kids to lead … with GUNS? Really? Why is the military teaching leadership & why

with guns? Hasn’t there been enough strife in schools with guns? Who needs them? Watch the video and see the kids’ reactions. “Amazing and cool” (to hold the weapons). Very young and impressionable minds. Note they are not being shown images of bloody children and their families from war torn countries. Or told (presumably) of the remote killing done by drones … from an armchair. Just the glitzy, amazing, cool weapons … for now.

The other rationale for this that occurs is ‘normalizing’ and ‘glorifying’ the presence of guns and military. We’ve seen this in recent years more and more with the many drills we have going on with troops from all over the planet (the new global village – interdependence it’s called) playing out war games right in our midst. The new global village is simply the new world order announced publicly by US president Bush Snr after the Gulf War, and other world leaders since then. This new presence of the military in the public’s midst is totally unnecessary. We can be defended quite adequately without all of that publicity. I recall as a child passing through the Desert Road occasionally, when we looked out excitedly for the possible (and rare) sighting of a tank doing war practice. Now they are venturing into our towns with their war ‘games’, making it look like fun. We need to be asking ourselves ‘why?’ Our esteemed Police have morphed from the friendly country constable to something out of star wars, storm troopers with flak jackets and weapons. Witness the Tuhoe raids in 2007 where these characters not only stopped and entered school buses frightening the life out of little school kids, they also escorted young children outside with guns to their heads and detained them in their garage without food or water for nine hours. (Note though, they did bring in a van load of provisions but only for themselves. Great leadership skills guys). Watch the video at the link. Far from the public eye they were basically traumatizing and ill treating young impressionable kids. A far cry from the so-called ‘leadership training’ touted as the rationale for handing guns out at primary schools. Okay this was the Police and not the military but you would have to be blind not to see the blurring of lines occurring.

 

Our esteemed Police have morphed from the friendly country constable to something out of star wars

So … guns in primary schools? Not a good sign in my opinion. Call me paranoid if you will but I see it as very sinister. They might have squeaked by in upper level high school but primary? Not good & I’m pleased to hear they’re nipping it in the bud. Read the article and hold those who are molding the minds of your kids accountable.

 

 

EnvirowatchRangitikei

 

The article from stuff

Education Minister to shut down guns in schools after army gave rifles to children

Kids using rifles in schools is completely legal – for now.

But that is set to change in about four months time when Education Minister Nikki Kaye introduces clear guidelines outlining when it’s appropriate for firearms to be on school grounds.

Several MPs raised the issue of guns in schools with Kaye after a Stuff story in April revealed the army allowed 9 to 13-year-olds to get their hands on unloaded guns and learn how to assemble and fire an assault rifle. However Kaye says she’s “pretty conservative” when it comes to guns in schools and as a “general rule” she doesn’t support it.

“It was drawn to my attention that there was a situation the other day where the army brought some rifles into schools and that’s absolutely allowed under the law.

“I’ve asked whether there are any guidelines in this area and it’s clear there aren’t, so I’ve asked the Ministry of Education and NZSTA (New Zealand School Trustees Association) to work on some guidelines.”

At the time of the school visit Corporal Israel McNicholl said, “kids just love the guns, you know what kids are like … but they are not toys”.

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