share.triangle.com - Should students be allowed to shoot? - Comments

Pink AR-15

CalicoBullet — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:45:06 -0400

Awesome!

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." Thomas Jefferson, 1791

Accountability

Bruce — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:59:19 -0400

This was not just a case of poor judgement but an unjust and unacceptable interpretation of school "campus" regulations to fulfill their personal beliefs.

Principal Sebastion Shipp and Area Superintendant Danny Barns should be held accountable for their disrespectful, unilateral, dictitorial actions.

We must not only teach our young people respect but, as exambly setters, we must earn their respect as well. This is especially important for those in positions of leadership.

High school shooting teams

Ed — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:11:21 -0400

I was on my high school ROTC rifle team back in the '40s before the anti-gun crazies came along. I also shot in statewide competitions, winning my first trophy when I was 16. By forbidding the East Wake team from competing in an off-campus event based on a personal-ideology "interpretation" of a rule, Shipp and Barnes have cast serious doubt on their ethics and professionalism. This should be taken into account when considering them for any future assignments or promotions.

High School Markenship Program

John B. Hagler — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:15:00 -0400

In case you missed it, a letter I wrote was published in The People`s Forum on Tuesday April 15 that they entitled RIDING SHOTGUN (which to my way of thinking made no sense) and it said: Your April 9 article "Dueling priorties" reminded me how times have changed. As a preteen living up in the mountains, I learned gun safety at the hands of my father. On those early hunting expeditions I was not allowed to carry a gun - only to stay quiet, close and observe. I was allowed to carry a shotgun when I became 13 and continued to hunt with my father and some of his friends. Then we moved to Carthage which is the county seat of Moore County. I hunted and fished and apparently acquired a reputation as a sportsman. On occasion when in high school, I received invitations to spend Friday nights in the homes of a couple classmates in order that we could hunt on Saturdays. I`d go to our principle ahead of time and inform him that I`d be bringing to his office my hunting clothes, gun and shells on Friday morning and pick them up when school let out. I then rode the school bus to where my friends lived out on Deep River, and no one thought a thing about it.

Shooting Club

Visitor — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:48:39 -0400

Ah, yes, the ever-popular, "what if?" Rather than speculating about what might happen, how about looking at what has happened. I suggest that if you check the injury rate of sanctioned sports in high school (and college) you will find the shooting sports at the bottom of the injury list. Football players die every year. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, shooting teams are the only sport that has never had an injury in the history of the sport. What other sport can make that claim?

As for those placing absolute faith in school administrators (the guys who suspend elementary school students for drawing a gun, not from a holster but with a pencil,) at a school here this week school officials decided to ban the dangerous practice of ----- playing tag.

If you check East Wake's web site, you will understand that these morons should be concentrating on teaching grammar, syntax, and the difference between "complementary" and "complimentary," rather than forbidding students to engage in safe competition.

Shooting Sports in Schools

T. Patterson — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:56:40 -0400

I have been actively involved in the NCWRC Hunter Safety Team Competition since the fall of 2001. My son was in middle school and had attended competitions that my nephews were participants. My son was in the sixth grade and wanted to know how to get a program started in our county. Thanks to the NCWRC, my husband and I became certified instructors and coaced a team for three years while he was in middle school. During his 8th grade year, a high school within our county wanted to add this to the FFA Club team events. We jumped on the bandwagon and luckily were blessed with an FFA advisor, a principal, supertindent, and school board members who all supported this program. This program was approved for all four of our county high schoold. Today, (7) years later, at our school alone, we have grown from two volunteers at our school location to (14) Certified Instructors. We have seen approximately 300 kids participate in our program with 37 this year. Our kids have competed at district and state levels. We meet on Sunday afternoons from 2-5. To my knowledge, only (1) child during this time has been in ISS, In-School-Supension and this incident was not associated with the Hunter Safety Team. We know where these kids are. They are with their parents and the quality time they share is immeasurable.
My heart goes out to the East Wake Team. Many months of practice take place to get to the point they were at prior to having the "permission strings cut". I do hope that as parents of these children, they will begin an all out campaign to alert their voting citizens that changes need to take place. Not everyone can be on the football, basketball, soccer, wrestling or baseball teams. In fact, the Hunter Safety Team is not an athletic team supported by the schools. I have to challenge those who made this decision as to it not being a part of the FFA curriculum. Then, please explain to me why the National FFA organization has "pins" for the local, state, and national chapters to present if it is not recognized?
To the team members, I wish you well in your future endeavors and please don't let this one incident overshadow your high school days. I'm sure it was a big let down, however, you will encounter many such opinated persons in your pursuit of dreams....just proceed to attain your next goal and hope that one day those key people involved, will be big enough to realize they have made a mistake and will regret their decisions. Show them you are achievers and make the best of this situation. We will miss seeing you at the State Tournament on the 26th!

Reading Writing and Stupidity

AW Guy — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:21:46 -0400

I wonder if those narrow minded wonks that come up with these policies are even remotely capable of independent thought. If this school district has a principal who cannot tell the difference between responsible students participating in an Olympic sport under adult supervision, and “gang bangers” “Busting caps” they should be removed from office and the profession immediately! What many schools are want to forget is that PARENTS are the final arbiters on what is safe for their children, not district appointees. I would assume that all student sports and activities require parental permission. If the parents approved the activity, who does this guy think he is to overrule them? Principals and superintendents work FOR the parents, not the other way around.

As of the time I submitted this, there was not a single comment supporting this irrational decision. I hope this clown can read this paper and realizes what he has done. Bet he thought he would get an award for his actions to protect students!

An embarrassment to the profession

Visitor — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:54:42 -0400

As a professor of education I should be immune to the anti-intellectual silliness masquerading as concern in my profession. And yet ...

Students Should Shoot

Michael Z. Williamson — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 07:59:40 -0400

http://olegvolk.net/gallery/d/2779-4/pinkrifles0511.jpg My 10 year old daughter (eight in this picture) thinks the principal is a pansy.

You folks are crazy...

Visitor — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:49:49 -0400

At 11:18pm Jim writes: "You folks are crazy." And he goes on to say: "If you want the rules changed, you should petition the school board.".

What a wonderful embracement of tolerance Jim! Anyone voicing disagreement with a school board rule (which you likely agree with), is "crazy"!?? You are a perfect example of a person who hates the message, can't/won't debate the facts, so you attack the messenger.

Shooting & The Olympic Program

Visitor — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:18:38 -0400

I agree with you. The marksmanship program has nothing to do with gun violence. Punish the violators and not the law- abiding. What a better way for the youth to learn the proper way. It's just the sign of the Anti's and their narrow minding way. I guess if we all lived in our own bubbles, no one can do harm. That's where this nation is heading. We got so far from our roots of being upstanding neighbors and citizens that we have argued for the rights of idiots over law-abiding people. Times have certainly changed...

Junior Olympic GOLD Winner on April 9 - Woman's Rifle

Karen — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:59:20 -0400

It’s a real shame to see this team banned from an Olympic sport that they have trained so hard for. They are responsible shooters with firearms they respect and should be treated with that same respect.

Kids and ammo do mix if the recipe is right!!! If you don’t know what that recipe is, just ask a Junior Marksmen. It takes a LOT to earn that title and takes more than just pulling the trigger to earn it.

My daughter just spent the last week at the Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs (Olympic Training Center) shooting in the woman’s rifle championships.

She brought home the GOLD for her division and has her sights on next year.

I am proud to say that her school, Holly Ridge Middle School in Holly Springs has recognized many of her achievements in shooting and now her GOLD. The staff, administration and students have made her feel proud of her accomplishments and the hard work she has done to get to the Junior Olympics.

It takes a lot of determination, responsibility and hard work in this sport, and if you take a look at the grades of most of these shooters, you will see their grades are as high as their scores in shooting. They are all top achievers!

Dumb control

Jesse — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:15:19 -0400

The principal, sirs and madams, is an ass.

Of course, what else would one expect from a public government school?

Lesson to be learned...don't put your kids in the hands of such idiots. They are far more dangerous than guns in the hands of educated citizens.

RE: shooting club

James — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:02:28 -0400

First Point
Federal Law trumps State Law, and State Law trumps any school board "policy". Which by definition is not a law.
Typically the way the Feds and State handle school boards that break the law by imposing a policy such as this is by with holding funding.

Second Point
RTFA - this is not a school sponsored event it was not held on school grounds or during shool hours so your second paragraph is without merit. Also studies have shown that firearms training reduces accidents... just like drivers education does. If you follow the 3 rules of firearm safty you will never have an accident.
1. Treat every gun as loaded until proven otherwise.
2. Never point a gun as something you don't intend to shoot
3. Never put your finger on the trigger until the sights are on the target.

Third Point
Clearly you have more faith in the school board and the public education system then is justified by their perfomance at their primary functions. Just look at the literacy rate and the drop out rates in NC.

competitive Shooting stymied in th SOUTH?!

JimmyD — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:44:06 -0400

This sort of testicular degeneration I would expect from one of our gentled Northeastern or Pacific Coastal States, but never in South. It appears that the party responsible for this decision is another person who thinks that the "Bill of Rights" is more of a guideline. Then again what else would you expect from an education system that believes that its purpose is to empower itself, rather than actually educate students.

Should students be allowed to shoot?

mwilliam — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:04:44 -0400

Should Wake County students who are members of a school-approved club be allowed to participate in a shooting tournament sponsored by a state agency and supervised by adults?

Should Wake County students who are members of a school-approved club be allowed to participate in a shooting tournament sponsored by a state agency and…