Students issued guns!

[SkyPiggie 0]

News:

Quote

Armed for first day of school

Hundreds of thousands of students had their first day of school on Monday. Some of them had to learn to carry guns and be prepared to shoot -- polar bears.

Students on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard aren't allowed to leave their village without a shotgun and ammunition. That's because hungry polar bears can be behind every swing on the island. So everyone on Svalbard needs to be able defend him- or herself, and students undergo weapons training every year.

The school lends out weapons, ammunition, tents, sleeping bags, survival suits, snow scooters and other equipment that's essential in the Arctic landscape.

Story: http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1948234.ece

[beowulf 1]

The crime must be sky high there with that many armed children.
[please note the SARCASM that might not be apparent to everyone]

[Channman 2]

Quote

The crime must be sky high there with that many armed children.
[please note the SARCASM that might not be apparent to everyone]

Has PETA signed off on this policy?

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

Arctic archipelago of Svalbard ....... hungry polar bears can be behind every swing

"Hey, look. Hungry Polar Bears everywhere."
"Cool, let's build a bunch of playgrounds."

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[billvon 3,120]

>That's because hungry polar bears can be behind every swing on the island.

If there are really hungry polar bears that can hide behind swings up there - I'd think a golf club would work better than a shotgun! Besides, what are those little things going to do - bite your ankles?

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

>If there are really hungry polar bears that can hide behind swings up there - I'd think a golf club would work better than a shotgun! Besides, what are those little things going to do - bite your ankles?

it could get infected

bad

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[JohnRich 4]

Quote

If there are really hungry polar bears that can hide behind swings up there...

Obviously, the word "swing" has some different kind of meaning in Norway, than a playground toy. Maybe it means something like the meandering bends of a river or valley.

[Zipp0 1]

Kids in the USA used to bring their guns to school for hunting after school and school marksmanship clubs. At some point people decided that this was a bad idea, and soon after this gun mystification/fear mongering the school shootings started.

And for polar bear, does a shotgun really cut the mustard? I'd probably want a 700 nitro express with those things roaming the playground.

--------------------------
Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[billvon 3,120]

>Obviously, the word "swing" has some different kind of meaning
>in Norway, than a playground toy.

Or a really big swing. Otherwise, would be hard to see how the polar bear could sit on it.

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

Kids in the USA used to bring their guns to school for hunting after school and school marksmanship clubs. At some point people decided that this was a bad idea, and soon after this gun mystification/fear mongering the school shootings started.

We brought them to school - the secretaries in the office would keep them for us. No biggie, everyone knew how to shoot and was comfortable and respectful about guns.

Quote

And for polar bear, does a shotgun really cut the mustard?

Not so good for dressing sandwiches, the shotgun does make a very loud and startling noise.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

>Or a really big swing. Otherwise, would be hard to see how the polar bear could sit on it.

Oddly enough, in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, there are a great deal of overloaded and broken swings needing constant maintenance by public works deparment repair team.

Many swings are damaged by stray shotgun fire.

Bears tend to be attracted by roast beef sandwiches sloppily smeared with mustard.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

Quote

If there are really hungry polar bears that can hide behind swings up there...

Obviously, the word "swing" has some different kind of meaning in Norway, than a playground toy. Maybe it means something like the meandering bends of a river or valley.

humor alert?! You have to have a little fun with this.

[masterrig 1]

When I was in school... we had to supply our own!


Chuck

[ryoder 1,590]

Quote

And for polar bear, does a shotgun really cut the mustard? I'd probably want a 700 nitro express with those things roaming the playground.

Pretty sure the author is clueless about the difference between a shotgun and a rifle. Even the photo appears to show a rifle.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Erroll 80]

Quote

When I was in school... we had to supply our own..

Bears?

[1969912 0]

Armed students. There must be several student massacres every year. Call HCI immediately.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[steve1 5]

Quote

Quote

And for polar bear, does a shotgun really cut the mustard? I'd probably want a 700 nitro express with those things roaming the playground.

Pretty sure the author is clueless about the difference between a shotgun and a rifle. Even the photo appears to show a rifle.

I've carried a 12 guage (three inch magnum) with slugs for bear protection in Alaska. It would be a whole lot better than nothing. This is a very large caliber weapon that might have good stopping power. It won't penetrate as well as many other magnum rifles though. Buckshot would penetrate even less well than slugs. Penetration is important if you want to reach the vitals on a charging animal. A lot of people pack a shotgun for bear protection, but I'd rather have a large caliber magnum for that.

That brings up the question if a youngster can shoot a large caliber, heavy recoiling rifle well....Probably not. My daughter shot her first turkey when she was around ten with a 12 guage, three inch. She shot from a kneeling position to get above the grass. It nocked her over backwards....but she got the turkey. That was the first time she had fired a shotgun that big. A lot more recoil than her 20 guage.

I read a story recently, of a young boy, who's mother handed him a M-1 garand every morning, before he walked to school in remote Alaska. Some kids have been doing this for years.

When I was in High School, (back in the olden days) we often brought our guns to school with us, and left them in our vehicles. We planned on hunting after school. This was okay with parents and school administrators because there was never a problem....Steve1

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

My daughter shot her first turkey when she was around ten with a 12 guage, three inch. She shot from a kneeling position to get above the grass. It nocked her over backwards....but she got the turkey. That was the first time she had fired a shotgun that big.

ya know, there's at least 5 things in that paragraphs there that "today's" liberals would have you arrested for

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Zipp0 1]

Quote

Quote

My daughter shot her first turkey when she was around ten with a 12 guage, three inch. She shot from a kneeling position to get above the grass. It nocked her over backwards....but she got the turkey. That was the first time she had fired a shotgun that big.

ya know, there's at least 5 things in that paragraphs there that "today's" liberals would have you arrested for

What about people like me who are liberal on some issues, but not on others? For instance, I would rather leave the abortion issue alone for a woman to decide, but I am totally against gun control.

The powers that be have been very successful in splitting us right down the middle, when in fact it is much more complex than that.
It is neat and tidy for them though.

--------------------------
Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[masterrig 1]

Quote

Quote

When I was in school... we had to supply our own..

Bears?

Chuck

[1969912 0]

Quote

Quote

And for polar bear, does a shotgun really cut the mustard? I'd probably want a 700 nitro express with those things roaming the playground.

Pretty sure the author is clueless about the difference between a shotgun and a rifle. Even the photo appears to show a rifle.

Looks like it could be .410 side-by-side maybe. No matter what it is It's too small. it might have just been for the pic.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[JohnRich 4]

Two people have voted that these students should NOT be armed to protect themselves against polar bears.

Please come forward and explain why.

[steve1 5]

]

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

Two people have voted that these students should NOT be armed to protect themselves against polar bears.

Please come forward and explain why.

Bears are people too.
We need to ensure that slavering, gun toting, redneck, gun nuts aren't running around driving bears off of dedicated tax payer funded bear-playgrounds.

We also need to reinforce our swingsets.

Drink Coke

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[steve1 5]

This is a little off subject, but the gun phobia in schools today is a very real thing. I work in a school and have seen some of it first hand. There's been some really tragic incidents over recent years, so some of it is warranted. Some of it is also rediculous.

I grew up with guns, and I don't consider them evil. Most homes in Montana have plenty of guns that are used for everything from hunting to butchering a steer. So, when I look at a gun it's often with fondness not fear. For many people this isn't the case.

The other day I was leaving the school, at the end of the day, when a teacher approached me with a problem she was having. She went on to tell me about this boy in her class who was playing with leggos. She went on to tell me of how this boy must surely have serious problems needing my counseling services. The boy was actually taking his leggos and building a gun!

I about started laughing. I then tried to explain that is what boys often do and it's not a serious concern. She then went on to explain to me that in light of the recent shootings in schools we need to just say "no" to all guns. It makes me wonder if she would have been happier if that boy was playing with dolls instead of a make believe gun.

About then this teacher looked down at some of the things I was hauling out of my office. One of the items was a rifle stock with a wooden barrel. I use this for teaching gun safety in the school. Her eyes suddenly widened in fear, and she didn't have anything further to say.

So anyhow, I agree....It's truly a crazy world that we live in, with plenty of crazy people who I agree shouldn't have access to guns. Yet, I want to hang onto my rights to own a firearm. I can't see how condemning all guns as evil is going to help. I don't think that honest gun owners should be looked upon as wrong and penalized with further gun laws that do little to help the violence problem in our country.

I know that firearms are dangerous. That's one reason I teach gun safety in a school. It's another way to keep kids safe....Steve1