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[fpb]

One person I met on someone else's LJ called Sarah Palin a Nazi. This person, luckily, is already banned from my LJ.

Another, at the same time, showed a picture of an eleven-year-old girl with an AK-47 and thought it cute. This person also suggested that the ability to use such implements should be a test of citizenship.

Needless to say, I defriended this person on the spot. I try to understand Americans, but there is a limit.

Comments

[oscillon.livejournal.com]

"eleven-year-old girl with an AK-47"
Not that it matters but it's an AR-15, the U.S. military's primary rifle.

"This has been coming for a while. The video was the last straw."
I have debated the same thing many times with John. He doesn't seem to know where the line of polite discussion is.

"to find a child playing with them while she is much too young for any kind of responsibility anything but a repulsive image is even sicker."

(disclaimer: I don't mean any of this as sarcastic, angry, etc. It is meant as calm, sincere discussion. My email and blogs writing is often misinterpreted)
I can understand your view. The video doesn't bother me really. I am not a gun nut at all like John. I don't currently own one. I would like to see sensible restraints on them here in the U.S. (like requiring people to report them lost or stolen). I do support the right to bear arms.
I do not see the video in the same context as you though. I think it is because I spent so many hours doing exactly the exercise she is doing (on the same weapon) as a soldier. It is an exercise to create competency.
From the comments above, I assume you have no problem with an 11 year old using a rifle for hunting. I assume also you have no problem with them being trained to use it (that just wouldn't make sense). So I have to assume the line here is that this weapon is for defense (or offense) against people.
I'm not sure I have a problem with 11 year olds being trained to defend the house. Where is the line? 13, 15, 18?
Or if you are ok with 11 year old being trained on a weapon, is it the 'glorification' of the act the issue?

As an aside, I think the line about citizenship is just a joke.