Firearms? Think Again
Interestingly, someone wrote in to question the rationale behind firearms training conducted in NS camps. Having been following closely on the developments of Virginia Tech’s killings, I can see where that was coming from. No one is safe when there’s a really sick dude around. What more with a gun in hand?
How prepared are our NS trainers for such incidents? Do they check if any of the trainees have a history of mental illness? And if anything happens, do we have medical assistance on stand-by? Well, how does firearm training contribute towards national unity anyway? The amount of money spent on ammunition alone is mind blowing. Is it worth it?
I’m sorry but reading bout the V. Tech massacre has been no less than depressing. YouTube has a number of videos recorded during the shootings as well - they’re among the most-viewed yesterday and today. Imagine each gunshot meant one person dead. Absolutely disturbing.
My heart goes out to those who lost their friends and loved ones on that day.
P/s. A little unrelated: I find sensationalizing a story to the extent of compromising journalistic ethics distasteful.
18 Apr 2007 narrowband

Wah liao… the cerita really became so pusing-ed!
And there goes our reputation for the yellow skin in these coutries, just make sure our NS dun show off their shooting skills in public ei? That would be devastating..
Yes I don’t get it either. Why should our NS trainees have firearms training? What’s the use man. Why don’t they make use of that time to learn stuff like bonding, co-operation, unity, etc.
i always think this will happen… with games like counter strike… it’s just gonna be more rampant.
I have read the newspaper report, and these are my 2 cents..
Some reporters tend to exaggerate the story.. to made it sounds more interesting..
I have seen several instances whereby the news published is totally a different thing altogether than the one happened. That’s why I never believe 100% what are reported in the news..
“I find sensationalizing a story to the extent of compromising journalistic ethics distasteful.”
Same thing with the Mat Rempit thing..
The more the journalists write about them being this and that, the more a nuisance they are.
Angel - Now you know!!
Jian - No lah I don’t that would affect “yellow skin”. Our NS trainees will have been ‘experienced’ in handling firearms, that’s for sure. Whether they’ll make use of this ‘experience’ (whatever way they choose to ‘make use’, I don’t know)… I hope not.
Che-cheh - Yea loh. Dunno what’s going through the gahmen’s mind. But then.. many times, they do things where got reason one. Like sending an angkasawan into space?
Zewt - We’ll just hope for the best ;)
Chen - That’s why everybody turns to the internet!
Deng - I think it’s in their minds. Even if the media stop talking about them, Mat Rempit nuisance would still continue, I believe.
My thoughts exactly. I did receive weapons training because I was in the army cadet corps but I am totally against any weapons training for the NS.
Read my post on the incident here: http://ok-lah.blogspot.com/2007/04/virginia-tech-shootings.html
[…] wrote about the Virginia Tech shootings and wonders a few things. I wonder too if there’s a better way to keep guns out of the hands […]