5th Grader Given Shake Down Over Paper Gun

[chiefTbon]

Sorry it's only a link .. but this is ridiculous. 2 Min Vid

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/video?aut...clipId=8219044

[pbaj12]

Age of paranoia.

[fenek]

I watched this new reality show Buckwild today. I thinks its supposed to be a new Jersey Shore, but with rednecks instead of Italians. The setting is different, but the plot is still basically the same - a bunch of jerk-off kids binge drinking and banging.

And then theres the above video, a story about a 5th grader who gets in serious trouble with her school for having a 'gun' made of computer paper (it resembles a gun in as much as a gun resembles the letter "L").

Regardless of what your stance is, the moral panic guns is disgusting. Obviously anyone who is anti-gun should by all means state their case as gun violence has once again been brought to the forefront. But in the scheme of things, which kills more people in the US annually, guns or alcohol? I'm not saying this to prove that we shouldnt care about gun violence. In fact, just because more people die of alcohol related deaths a year doesnt mean gun related deaths arent a serious, serious issue. Its the outrage thats awful. A massacre is inherently more sensational than a drunk driver killing someone, but for every massacre there are thousands and thousands of alcohol related accidents that result in death. Its so gross when people react based on their stupid, populist, moral panic nonsense instead of actually giving a certain thing any thought. How many parents are writing their senator about the dangerous effects of violent media right now while their kids are in the next room watching goddamn Buckwild? Because the very fictional Call of Duty inspires mass murderers, but its ok for the kids to watch whatever 'this is what cool teens do!' reality show (arguably fictional...but you know what I mean) on mtv.

I made about 4 scattered, unfocused points in that rant. I'd tighten it up if it hadn't just exhausted me...

[GlassToTheArson]

Daw beat me to it!

[Insideoutbodies]

fuck man and yet some asshole in texas can walk up to a school and tell them what he going to do.... what the fuck man

[chiefTbon]

Originally Posted by fenek

I made about 4 scattered, unfocused points in that rant. I'd tighten it up if it hadn't just exhausted me...

Please do 'tighten it up'. The reason i made this thread was to highlight the fact that a young child has been violated for having a piece of paper on her person, and the subsequent overreaction. You seem to be rambling on about alcohol for some reason, maybe you have been partaking of some yourself.

[carkees]

Americans think they need armed guards in their schools, to keep their kids safe. We have NEVER even thought about something like that. is wrong with the US. Maybe take a second look at gun laws? Not such a bad idea after all!

[fenek]

Originally Posted by chiefTbon

Please do 'tighten it up'. The reason i made this thread was to highlight the fact that a young child has been violated for having a piece of paper on her person, and the subsequent overreaction. You seem to be rambling on about alcohol for some reason, maybe you have been partaking of some yourself.

Strangely hostile. But nevertheless, no, I don't drink.

The point I was trying to make is that the reaction the administration had to this little girl is representative of a reaction many take towards young people and guns; that is, what happened to this individual could happen anywhere and to anyone. Like lets say a teacher overhears a student talk about guns and how awesome they are, that kid could very well be sent to the guidance consular to be evaluated. If on the other hand that same teacher overhears a student talk about how awesome it is to be drunk, compared to the former, the chances are that kid would not face the same level of scrutiny. However, the chances that the kid will die as a result of gun related violence are much, much lower than an alcohol related accident. And so, the teacher is reacting based not on which is kills more, but what is the more sensational of the two.

My point has to do with how we deal with two problems in this country, and what is or isn't socially acceptable. People are more interested in a deliberate act than one that is accidental, and as a result, it instantly becomes the focus of attention, regardless of how unlikely it is (unlikely doesnt mean it shouldnt be cause for concern, by the way). Moral panic drives us more than reason does.

Listen, while my previous point was unfocused and read like a rant, my point still came through, I think, because I feel like I'm making myself redundant now.

[Sharon]

That is beyond ludicrous