Wonderful photos of people in Africa

[Dusty]

In many cultures, children grow up faster than we in the western world think they should, but that's a recent phenomenon even in the West. Only 150 - 200 years ago, our forefathers were getting married at 14 - 16, and striking out on their own to settle the land and raise a family. Today's 14- 16 year old, while often having babies, couldn't survive the frontier for a week on their own.

OK, Dusty, you asked for that...

Do you really think that a small boy holding an AK is OK to consider him a human being? I'm asking because declaring someone a human being presupposes such 'AK boy someone' to be a person who is allowed to some extent in the same community with the one who declares that.

So I ask you - are you ready to have your family and friends living in a community with 'AK boys' around?

Of course I consider him a human being. An I DO live in a community where people have AKs - I live in the 'hood!

I'm NOT uncomfortable with everyone having guns, as long as they are responsible. When out in the country, such as when hunting, I often see boys (and girls) as young as 10 carrying a rifle, and it gives me no worries. I taught my oldest girl to shoot when she was 10, and she's been hunting with me several times - using an SKS, a re-worked version of the AK.

My 7 year old now want me to teach her to shoot, so it's on the agenda this summer. RESPONSIBLE gun ownership and use is something I desire to proliferate, it's one of the reasons I support concealed carry, and lobbied heavily to get it passed in my state. It's the gang-bangers that I don't want to have guns, but until we treat those who abuse them like we should - and not let them off because "they grew up without a Daddy to love them and Mommy was on crack when they stole the car, shot 3 cops and ran over an old lady eluding police, we should give them probation."

No, don't let the irresponsible or criminal make an inanimate object the source of scorn. The automobile kills more people in the US than guns do every day, but we don't hear calls for banning them, do we?

Dusty

[agorabasta]

RESPONSIBLE gun ownership and use is something I desire to proliferate, it's one of the reasons I support concealed carry, and lobbied heavily to get it passed in my state.

OK, now you speak my language. I'm all for responsible ownership and use, as freedoms come with responsibilities.

But now come back to Earth and consider the modern-days Africa. "Responsible ownership and use" in Africa, now, really???

And about considering such an AK boy as a human being, I don't actually trust your words. It's all very easy to proclaim staying so far from them AK Africans, but it would be completely impossible to admit them in your immediate neighbourhood.
So there are only two logical possibilities - consider them as very bad humans by applying some 'common' moral norms, or deny them a human status altogether. The latter is impossible in modern political reality. So...