Arizona gun club lets children hold high-powered guns while posing for Christmas pictures

[cheneyschernobyl]

"A local gun club in Scottsdale, Arizona is hosting an event for parents and their children to pose for pictures with Santa Claus while holding machine guns they would not be allowed to legally own. Even toddlers are permitted to hold high-powered firearms in the photos. Organizers say the event has so far attracted hundreds of participants."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/arizona-gun-club-lets-children-hold-high-powered-173027276.html

Wow; I'm scared to think what nonsense the rethugs will stoop to next.



:scared: :hide: :wtf: :crazy: :eyes:

[Township75]

1. Oh, big fucking deal.

"an event for parents and their children to pose for pictures with Santa Claus while holding machine guns they would not be allowed to legally own."

Kids can pose in front of sports cars they can't legally drive. WHO THE FUCK CARES?!?!

[cheneyschernobyl]

2. Apparently you're an ideal candidate for

responsible gun ownership. Welcome to my ignore list.

[Rebubula]

11. LOL

Add me to your Ignore list....


Silly thing, that ignore list. If that one post is all it takes to get on your ignore list - I suspect that you have a long list and are incapable of vigorous debate.

[Lasher]

21. Might as well put me on there too.

I feel exactly the same as Rebubula.

[BiggJawn]

31. Add me too.

Yeah, by all means, put me on your ignore list, because I don't see what's so clutch-the-pearls bad about this.

[joeglow3]

45. Add me to your ignore list

But, PLEASE announce it to everyone first.

In high school, a group of my classmates got a hold of someone's parents rifle. They were all fascinated with it and checking it out, when it discharged and literally blew a kid's head off. My son is 8 and will be getting a bb gun for christmas. This will only be allowed to be used with me present, but I intend to teach him to respect guns. Hopefully, when he is presented with this same situation in 8 years, he will either step in and put the gun away, if stopped, recognize the danger and leave the setting. I do not intend to create some forbidden fruit that he HAS to check out at his friend's house when he is in high schoo.

[cherokeeprogressive]

52. Add me.

[Orrex]

3. Are the guns loaded? No? Are the parents present? Yes?

I don't see the problem.

[Brickbat]

6. This.

[Capitalocracy]

43. I agree, but with a caveat

Bullet fragments in an unloaded gun have fired and killed people, so they have to be I guess cleaned first (I'm not a gun expert).

But as long as it really is safe, well, it's creepy and reflects a brainwashed mindset I certainly don't share, but whatever, have fun.

[Lance_Boyle]

49. You need to cough up a cite for this:

"Bullet fragments in an unloaded gun have fired and killed people"

because I'm calling it purely made-up. What are "bullet fragments?" If they are present, is the gun unloaded? Is there any documented evidence of the veracity of this completely made-up fairy tale?

[deaniac21]

53. Bullet fragments in an unloaded gun have fired?????

Not in this dimension

[MilesColtrane]

54. "I'm not a gun expert"

That's an unnecessary statement given your preceding sentence.

[Capitalocracy]

61. Yeah, I don't know, I heard that somewhere

Whatever.

[Cassandra]

4. Because nothing says Peace on Earth...

like an M60.

[Rainbowreflect]

36. My thoughts as well.

Santa, check ~ smiling child, check ~ M60, check.
We are so ready for Christmas.

[phantom power]

58. The spirit of Christmas == assault weapons

:woohoo:

[Quantess]

5. I think it's ridiculous!

I'm not anti-gun, but I don't understand the zeal. I think the topic of guns is really boring, but this was funny, like people on Jerry Springer can be funny.

[zinnisking]

15. LOL! My thoughts exactly.

It doesn't get more white trash than this.

Jerry! Jerry!

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[zinnisking]

27. It's gaudy.

I like exercising. I don't take holiday photos of myself while doing jumping jacks.

I am not proud of tasteless loudmouths.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. The dads are getting wood for Christmas

Sweet.

[Logical]

8. As a pro-gun person, this seems odd. I would never do this with my kids.

[woodsprite]

9. And on my 10yo nephew's xmas list under heading called "army toys I'd like to get"

* Civil War Musket, Wood & Steel Frontier Rifle Designed After The Original Rifle, Fires #917 Pull Off Caps
* Kentucky Flintlock Rifle - Frontier Replica
* Extreme Comfort Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH)Brownband
* Spring Loaded Full Metal Gear Pistol Airsoft Gun
* Havahart 0745 Live Animal Professional Style One-Door Chimpunk, Squirrel, Rat, and Weasel Trap
* Airsoft Assault Rifle With FREE Pistol HY911 Air soft Gun AK look alike airsoft gun 250-FPS With FREE Pistol
* New Hunting / Paintball / Airsoft / Hiking ACU Digital Molle Web Tactical Vest
* Coolest Ak47 Toy Machine Gun for Kids
* 32" AK47 SWAT Team Assault Rifle Machine Gun Toy with Light Scope & Shooting Sounds
* AK74 Assault Rifle with Firing sounds, lights, and vibrations
* AK-47 Ak47 Toy Machine Gun Weapon With Shooting Sounds Police Swat Assault Team Rifle
* Spring M249 MKII Full Scale SAW Machine Gun Flashlight, Bipod, Full Stock Airsoft Gun
* Israeli Issue Gas Mask with Drinking Tube & Sealed Filter
* Black GI Style ABS Plastic Helmet
* Replica M9 US Army Plastic Helmet, Black
* Silenced AK-47 with Working Flashlight
* 1/1 Scale Realistic Looking Toy AK-47 Machine Gun
* Special Ops Ghillie Suit boys size 10-12

..... He's getting Luke Skywalker and AT-RT Driver figures from me. Hubby and I decided to ignore the scary part of his list. All of his brothers asked for Nerf stuff to play army outside at night. No Nerf on this kid's list. And what's up with the animal trap and gas mask? Geez!

Forgot to add that they fit in the conservo repub line of thinking.

[Ilsa]

19. I bet his parents made this list to spread the cost of outfitting

their kids for the post-apocalyptic period for which they are probably hoarding.

[michreject]

28. The kid wants a official Red Ryder BB gun

And you get him a pink bunny suit.

I'm sure he'll remember you.

[Capitalocracy]

42. Star Wars toys are no pink bunny suit.

:P

[woodsprite]

50. But the items I got the his brothers include....

night vision goggles and a laser site (for nerf). My kids were laughing at my selections saying I was giving the other boys 'unfair advantage'. :evilgrin:

My first thought when I saw the list was that my BIL had put his stuff on it by mistake - especially with the trap (he hates furry animals) and the gas mask.

[a la izquierda]

63. Does your nephew happen to live in MS?

Because this is exactly what would be on my nephew's list (my niece's too).
Luckily, they know better than to ask liberal Aunt and Uncle a la izquierda for guns for a 7 year old, because they're not getting them from us. I don't care if the older kids or parents own guns. I'm not anti-gun. I'm anti-7-year-olds having guns.

[elocs]

10. Careful now, you'll give the Gungeon a collective mass orgasm. n/t

[Obamanaut]

12. At air shows it is not uncommon for kids to have photos made of them in, around, or

on airplanes.

Or auto shows. Or in the driveways of their own homes.

What is the problem, really?

Sometimes politicians hold children who are not allowed to vote.

All photo ops. Nothing more.

[surrealAmerican]

13. It's going to make for some pretty disturbing photos.

Some people, I just don't understand.

[-..__...]

14. Let the hand wringing commence...

More pics here...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2066860/Scottsdale-Gun-Club-Arizona-invites-children-pose-Santa--arm.html









This is the club that runs the event...

http://www.scottsdalegunclub.com

I had heard/read about this place before.

It takes the shooting experience to a different level in the sense that it's not the traditional type of range/gun club myself (and others), are used to.

It has more of a family friendly (clean, well kept), almost country club atmosphere (showers, locker rooms, etc), and they have an incredible selection of full-auto firearms for rent...

http://www.scottsdalegunclub.com/index.php?option=com_rentals&view=category&id=6&Itemid=17

Seems like a really nice place, but not really my cup of tea (expensive and just a little to refined).

[lbrtbell]

26. Thanks for the link

Now I know the club you're referring to. When I was visiting Scottsdale, I passed that place a number of times.

Indeed, it's not white-trashy at all. It's in a VERY wealthy part of North Scottsdale. There were a lot of Mercedes and BMW's in the parking lot. Too rich for my blood, that's for sure.

Definitely not the kind of place where they'd let things get out of hand. After all, they wouldn't want to risk getting a chip or a ding in one of their cars, LOL.

[MilesColtrane]

55. The kid in the last picture has the gun pointed away from people and his finger off the trigger.

He gets it, and obviously didn't learn that in a vacuum.

[freeplessinseattle]

64. That is just bizarre

My friend's son had wedding photos with the happy couple holding their huge guns, an I thought that was more than a little warped, but this takes the cake.

btw, when I saw those wedding pics I thought to myself, I'll bet that marriage isn't going to last more than a few years, they don't seem to take their vows all that seriously. Lo and behold, after only 3 years of marriage they are getting divorced.

[Upton]

16. Big deal....who cares?

Perhaps you'd prefer the parents give their kids a couple rocks and teach them how to smoke crack for Christmas. These guns aren't loaded, let the families have some fun. Just because it's not your idea of a family outing is really irrelevant..since it's not any of your business.

[WinkyDink]

24. Oh, so YOU can express your "perhaps you'd prefer" irrelevant opinion, but others should not?

[marmar]

18. Santa, you better give me everything on my Christmas list.....OR ELSE, MOFO.

This country has descended into nuttiness.

[City Lights]

20. Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like AK47s, grenade launchers and assault rifles.

Ho ho ho!

[WinkyDink]

22. People HERE are actually trying to equate airplanes with HIGH-POWERED RIFLES?? AT CHRISTMAS?

Children HOLDING WEAPONS WITH SANTA = posing in front of an airplane??

Oh, and SHOW ME THE PHOTO OF A KID IN AN F-1 CAR. PLEASE.

And THEN explain to me how a sports car is classified as a weapon, you know, by the Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Automobile Bureau.

[lbrtbell]

25. Cars kill more people than guns do

Someone driving while drunk, stoned, inattentive, enraged, using a cell phone, texting, etc., is every bit as dangerous as someone irresponsibly using a gun.

People need to stop panicking at the sight of guns. Gun owners or aficianados aren't out to kill you. I've never fired a gun in my life, but I am interested in them. The pioneers could not have tamed this country without them (hunting, defending one's home).

So yes, people are interested in guns. With the wars going on, and so many military families out there, it's only natural for them (yes, including the kids) to be interested in guns.

By holding an event like this, it helps destigmatize guns, enabling people to teach kids to be RESPONSIBLE gun owners who have RESPECT for guns. Because it's a lot more dangerous to treat guns as forbidden fruit, which only has the effect of making kids want to see and handle them without any supervision. That is far more dangerous.

[pipi_k]

30. That may be true, but...

cars aren't made to specifically kill other people (or any living creature), and that, for me, is the big difference.


I'm on the fence about guns. We have a few of them here at my house, but they're all Mr Pipi's (except for my little Daisy BB gun). Not Pro-gun, not Anti-gun.

But I think it's inappropriate, at the very best, for little kids to be posing with real guns of any type.


I wonder if anyone who doesn't see a problem with this would also extend the same understanding to people who might want to pose their kids in objectionable ways with regards to, oh, dressing them up in little KKK sheets, or sporting shirts with swastikas on them, or showing a smiling family holding up nooses while a Confederate flag hangs in the background.

[Brickbat]

32. Because yeah, holding guns = wearing swastikas.

:rofl:

[pipi_k]

35. Actually, it doesn't but that's not the point I'm trying to make...

My point here is that people claiming it's just a bit of "family fun" for kids to be holding/posing with weapons of death would probably have shit fits if those kids were posing with anything THEY personally found disgusting.



Like swastikas. Or nooses holding effigies of black men. Or white hooded sheets. Or stupid white guys in blackface. Or priests holding the hands of young boys. Or having the family...including kids...mimicking addicts shooting up heroin.


Pick any situation you find utterly disgusting, then try laugh along with someone who insists that posing his family like that is just "good clean family fun".

[LanternWaste]

38. I'm afraid I don't see the panic you alluded to...

I'm afraid I don't see the panic you alluded to... :shrug:

Or is that one of the things we may see anywhere-- even in places where they don't exist if they better validate our own biases?

However, though I do understand the desire to conflate prudence and panic in these conversations as it adds that tasty bit of melodrama to our positions and in doing so, trivializes concern and prudence of others.

[jberryhill]

60. How about in the fire control room of a battleship?

We don't own guns, so we have to go out and borrow these:

[Lasher]

23. Nothing new.

And those Hatfield guns were probably all loaded at the time.

[michreject]

29. Nothing wrong with it

But then I don't fear inanimate objects.

My kids were shooting .22 at age 6 and full power rifles and handguns by the age of 10.

They're well adjusted and contributing members of society.

[JVS]

33. Incredibly lame, but not of concern to me.

Of course, when these morons fuck up and some kid ends up dead, I'm not going to pretend that it was an unpreventable tragedy.

[pipi_k]

37. Just like a few years ago in my area

When the 8 year old boy accidentally shot himself in the head with an Uzi at a sportsmans club

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/boy8_accidentally_shoots_himse.html?category=Westfield


That was just a tragedy waiting to happen, and I don't care how many people were "supervising" the kid, if I had been there that day, I would have left after seeing a kid being allowed to shoot. It would be bad enough with other adults around, but a kid?

He was allowed to do it by his father, who then brought charges against the owner of the club. The owner, quite rightly, I thought, was found NOT guilty.

So anyway, yeah...I agree with you. No sense in being all surprised when people do stupid things and something awful happens.

[Edweird]

34. If only they were sensible like Europeans....

[Yo_Mama]

39. So?

[T S Justly]

40. that's gun crazy (nt)

[NeedleCast]

41. Doesn't Bother Me - Assuming The Weapons are Not Loaded

I was shooting rifles under careful adult supervision by the time I was seven or eight years old. Don't really get the whole "kids with guns" image thing, but if some parent wants that, I don't see how it's damaging anyone.

[pipi_k]

48. The problem I have with that

is the "assuming" thing.

OK, so this past Sunday we did the breakfast in town thing, and the owner of the restaurant brought his handgun in to show Mr Pipi. He stood there as we sat in the booth and whipped that thing around in a disturbing way. He is a long-time hunter, BTW.

I felt very uncomfortable. No...scared...at the seemingly careless way the guy was handling it. A couple of times the barrel was pointed in my direction.

On the way home I remarked how scared I was, and Mr Pipi said, "Oh, it wasn't loaded". I said that wasn't the point. The point is that HE himself had told me on many occasions to ALWAYS handle a gun with the assumption that it is loaded.

Because, you know, it could be loaded...plus...handling a gun as if it's loaded then becomes a habit. That means one doesn't have to remember whether a gun really is loaded or not. And there can be no accidents.

Shit...I have a Daisy BB (co2 canister-powered) handgun that I always treat as if it's a real gun that's loaded with real bullets. That way I make it a habit to handle the Big Boys with the same respect.


PS...Mr Pipi still has the scar on his arm from when, as a teenager, he was cleaning/handling a gun he assumed was not loaded. He shot himself in the arm and nearly shot his little sister as well.

[DefenseLawyer]

44. For what it's worth

I grew up on a farm in Indiana in a house with lots of firearms. I was around guns all the time and learned to shoot at at early age. As an adult I have never owned a gun and have no interest in firearms at all. I'm not sure it's that big of a deal.

[NoGOPZone]

46. Preparing the youth for the War on Christmas, perhaps nt

[Zoeisright]

47. Who would Jesus shoot?

I'm sure these are the same people screaming about "taking the Christ out of Christmas".

Assholes.

[kctim]

51. What business is it of yours?

Oh, and it's not a "rethug" thing, it's a freedom loving American thing and most Dems in the real world fully support it.

[Celebration]

56. when I was in fifth grade

I shot a machine gun at the official FBI firing range in the basement of a building in DC. However, it was only set to shoot one bullet at a time. :)

Human looking target too............I actually got a few of my shots onto the black human part of it.

So my mom's cousin was some sort of bigwig at the Justice Department. Then we saw J Edgar Hoover when we were at the cafeteria where the elite ate lunch. He signed my human looking target "certified as shot", with his signature. I think I must have that thing somewhere in my house. I certainly wouldn't have given it away!

So far this experience hasn't turned me into a criminal. Kinda creepy about the Hoover part.

[Sabriel]

57. They're lighter than chainsaws. n/t

[bigwillq]

59. No problem with it.

Not my business anyway. Not my kids.

[reggie the dog]

62. look like nice family photos to me

some people like going to the gun range, i have done it as a family outing for over 25 years now. great times with the family.