"John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>I'm watching _Primetime_ on ABC right now. They conducted an experiment
>by placing hidden cameras and disabled handguns in a room where teenagers
>will discover them. The reaction of the kids is appallling.
Dateline (?) did the same thing last year with 5-year-olds. Same results.
Whether or not the kids had been shown an NRA gun safety video just minutes
before, the kids would almost invariably pick up the guns and play
Cops&Robbers.
The one that sticks in my mind is the child that rooted around in the
classroom until they found bullets (which I can only assume were dummies) in
the teacher's desk and started to load the revolver.
Perhaps a standard part of kindergarden should be placing each child alone
in a room with a gun, letting them discover it, then severely traumatize by
playing a recording of a gunshot, and running in and screaming at them.
Until they have a solid negative experience they won't overcome the
repetitive training of mass media - guns are for picking up, pointing, and
shooting.
I resented my parents never letting me play with toy guns, but it seems to
have been somewhat successful.
Joshua
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