Scouts Train to Fight Terrorists, and More

[Breathless Horror]

It's just like playing paintball with scenarios rather than just a free for all. Sounds like fun, though I can think of scenarios I'd rather do than Border Patrol. Doing CT or Hostage Rescue paintball would kick ass, especially if you had access to actual locations rather than a tiny field with ply-wood cover.

[Colonel]

and the gunman, a disgruntled Iraq war veteran, has already taken out two people, one slumped in his desk, the other covered in blood on the floor.

That's the only thing I'm appalled at. Way to respect our veterans, NY Times.

[PortraitOfSanity]

Originally Posted by Colonel

That's the only thing I'm appalled at. Way to respect our veterans, NY Times.

Because veterans can do no wrong?

[Colonel]

Not saying they can do no wrong (especially given the recent tragedy of Camp Liberty), but I think the sacrifices the good ones make are going largely unnoticed and unappreciated these days. I think it's sad.

[HavelockV]

Originally Posted by Colonel

and the gunman, a disgruntled Iraq war veteran, has already taken out two people, one slumped in his desk, the other covered in blood on the floor.

I agree, Colonel, it seems like an odd choice of scenario. Not completely unrealistic, but presenting such a prompt to the Explorers does run the risk of cultivating the perception that this is a situation that occurs with greater frequency than is actually true.

[Deadmanwalking_05]

It's on it's way.

Freedom of Speech is going even further out the window,if you say something ONLINE that another person finds offensive you can be put in jail for up to two years.

The Fed's can ban a person from owning a firearm,and no flying on airplanes if your name happens to be on their "No Fly No Buy" list.

Anyone remember the "Right Wing Extremist" mentioned in the Department Of Homeland Security.

It isn't just racists on the list either,it calls gun owners,Ron Paul Supporters,Pot heads,and anyone that insist they have rights under the U.S. Constitution are now seen as Enemies of the State.

Now we see them raise another Hitler Youth.

Button up everybody this shit is going to get evil.

Take Care.

[Despanan]

Deadman, do you realize how Batshit insane you sound right now?

[Deadmanwalking_05]

Originally Posted by Despanan

Deadman, do you realize how Batshit insane you sound right now?

I sound insane?

Okay Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are being trained in police/para-military tactics.

Some of those kids are barely out of middle school for fuck sake,and they are being trained on how to take down gun owning U.S. Citizens,and Vets.

Yet I sound insane....I think you need to put your priorities in order man.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Where the fuck did you read "kids trained to kill war veterans and gun owners"?

[HavelockV]

Originally Posted by Deadmanwalking_05

I sound insane?

Okay Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are being trained in police/para-military tactics.

Some of those kids are barely out of middle school for fuck sake,and they are being trained on how to take down gun owning U.S. Citizens,and Vets.

Yet I sound insane....I think you need to put your priorities in order man.

I suspect that you did not thoroughly read the article, as it clearly states that the Explorers enrolled in this program are being trained to respond, albeit in a military/police fashion, to dangerous situations such as Border Patrol duty, drug-related violence, terrorists attacks, and school shootings. The example of a 'disguntled Iraq war veteran' is based on those rare instances where servicemen, as a result of psychological trauma or other related issues, turn to senseless violence, such as in the unfortunate case at Camp Liberty.

There is nothing here to suggest that these young individuals are bound and contracted to become state-controlled paramilitary forces used to oppress American citizens. One of the children involved in the program even made of point of saying that she would like to eventually work in the medical field. In my opinion, you are overreacting to a program that encourages young people to at least consider a career serving and protecting their country in the military or law enforcement, which, if handled properly, is an admirable goal.

[Deadmanwalking_05]

Yes if Handled properly it's a good idea for the kids.

The main problem I have with that is,the program has a huge risk of backfiring on the American public.

[Deadmanwalking_05]

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

Where the fuck did you read "kids trained to kill war veterans and gun owners"?

Well they aren't exactly going door to door selling cookies now are they champ?

[Godslayer Jillian]

They are trained in "skills used to confront terrorism, illegal immigration and escalating border violence" and I'd be surprised if you actually don't like that.

[Deadmanwalking_05]

They should be learning about wilderness survival,Knots,how to hunt,First Aid, I do agree that they should be taught how to use a firearm (What happened to the single shot Marlin's?)...But not with MP-5 smg's and learning how to stack up in a staggered line formation.

If you can't see the writing on the wall then man I wish you the best of luck.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Let me ask you something. What do you think of Alex Jones?

[Deadmanwalking_05]

What does that have to do with anything?

[KontanKarite]

Now see, that bullshit is what I was trying to avoid. Deadman, stop falling for Sternn's insinuations. He's an interesting liberal, but he's almost always wrong.

[Delkaetre]

I'm... not happy with this.
I will now admit that I have not sat down and wiki'd the thing, only read the article and resulting thread.

Younger people are more impressionable- it's part of growing up and learning to interact with the rest of the species. So giving them all these highly violent scenarios seems a bit unwise. Dealing with drugs is not all rushing in, guns raised, burning fields of poppy or marijuana. Illegal immigrants are often poor and desperate, and reacting with serious force toward people who are most likely tired, hungry, under-educated and only here because they need to feed their families back home does not offer a good reputation to the country. Using high stress and high-violence training scenarios as you would for fully formed adult police or SWAT does not really seem that likely to teach kids a healthy respect for different cultural origins or situations no matter what is said about 'learning discipline'.

I'd like to know how much of their time is devoted to understanding *why* these things happen, what the root causes of immigration, terrorism, drug use, etc are and how they can be combated with a minimum loss of life. I'd like to know how they're taught to judge a situation, and what they're taught about dealing with victims, and whether they get any training on subtle approaches. The article presents it as teaching teenagers how to be fully grown border police, which seems likely to be misleading. Without the other half of the story, I can only voice my objections to the half I've got here.

For the moment, it seems like a wonderful to teach kids how to violently overreact if they have energetic imaginations or are naturally suspicious.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Originally Posted by Deadmanwalking_05

What does that have to do with anything?

Why does it have to do with anything? What's your opinion of Alex Jones?

[Despanan]

Originally Posted by KontanKarite

Now see, that bullshit is what I was trying to avoid. Deadman, stop falling for Sternn's insinuations. He's an idiot, and he's always wrong.

Look I fixed it.

Seriously Deadman, You sound insane and paranoid. You just compared a voluntary game of cops and robbers carried out by a private organization to Hitler Youth, and then claimed that the government is carrying out a secret agenda against supporters of a failed republican candidate.

You've invoked Godwin's Law on page 2. Thread over.

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by Deadmanwalking_05

MP-5 smg's and learning how to stack up in a staggered line formation.

Loads of kids already do that in airsoft. I did, as did several of my friends. My site even had some SAS guys run a game day once, I missed that but it was open to the same age range as always. Which I think is 14+ with parental consent. Using scenarios rather than just a team battle is pretty common.

This is exactly the same as that, except they also shoot real weapons on a range (which Kontan already said kids can do anyway, and you said you agree with it). And the kids are doing it as part of explorers instead of on their own. As explorers is a voluntary club, it doesn't really matter.

[Deadmanwalking_05]

Yes they do that in airsoft games,and that is fine and dandy the problem I have with it is they are being trained by a GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

[KontanKarite]

Sorry, Deadman... But the article sounds like it's more locally ran by private individuals and the police departments that are augmenting the program. It doesn't sound like a government program at all.

Deadman, this is NOT in any shape or form another version of Hitler Youth.

It's voluntary
It's ran by the boy scouts
It's augmented by the police and firefighters
They can stop anytime they want to

THIS. IS. NOT. A. YOUTH. MILITIA.

[Deadmanwalking_05]

I guess that we will just have to wait and see then won't we.

I still think this will come back to haunt us on down the line.

[KontanKarite]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

Be my guest, Deadman. Be paranoid.