*Children (under 18) should not be allowed to hunt-be it with a gun or bow & arrow. Especially NOT in recreational areas-no question & an insane proposal. The brain is still developing. "Scientists have identified a specific region of the brain called the amygdala which is responsible for instinctual reactions including fear and aggressive behavior. This region develops early. However, the frontal cortex, the area of the brain that controls reasoning and helps us think before we act, develops later. This part of the brain is still changing and maturing well into adulthood.
Based on the stage of their brain development, adolescents are more likely to:
* act on impulse * misread or misinterpret social cues and emotions * get into accidents of all kinds * get involved in fights * engage in dangerous or risky behavior
Adolescents are less likely to:
* think before they act * pause to consider the potential consequences of their actions * modify their dangerous or inappropriate behaviors"
One poster defended the deaths of some teenagers by saying that it was because the children were playing with guns. Yes...hello...CHILDREN do PLAY!! Guns and children DO NOT MIX!!
Also, I believe there would be a high proportion of gun weilding adults that don't teach their children enough responsibility, respect or humaneness when it comes to shooting animals. Alot of rednecks out there.
It's funny some of the comments here that in the one breath are so anti-green then in the next trying to make out they are doing it for the protection of the native animals lol.
*Hunters (adults) could be taught & tested for a special culling license. They could be paid per feral animal-emphasis on killing humanely and respectfully. Animals too large for collection could be tagged, photographed & supply GPS location for payment.
*Hunting should not be regarded as a sport. Those that do (and many have conveyed this on this thread) ARE rednecks and probably afflicted with DMGD "Diminutive male genitalia disorder (DMGD) has, until this month, been considered only a theory in the scientific world, but now the long-suspected link between hunting and unusually small penis size has been established as scientific fact" http://www.dmgd.org/
* Being a "country kid" and being taught to hunt does not prevent them from alcohol/drug abuse and violence as some here have said. "Proportionally, there are more alcohol consumers and more hazardous and harmful drinkers among youth in rural Australia compared to urban Australia." (aside from indiginous children/teenagers) Australian Institute of Criminology
* I have 3 well rounded teenagers who have to do their fair share of jobs around the house-including putting the bin out! Although not country kids, mine can also swim, sail, do basic car mechanics, are accomplished musicians and have earned their SLSC bronze medallions. Instead of killing on weekends they do voluntary patrols with our local surf club to help save lives!
