Two Girls and a Machine Gun

Ditto to Rick's comment.Konical

I'm perfectly fine with kids and guns, as long as there is safety training involved. Eddie Eagle and the NRA have been doing it for years. You might notice that neither one of those kids has a finger in the trigger guard. That's a safety biggie. Lots of people who haven't been told immediately put their finger in the trigger guard since it seems natural, but these kids have been told.In many parts of the country kids train on guns as pre-teens if they seem like they will take to discipline. Teens of both sexes compete in shooting competitions, and some even get to the Olympics one day.Having said all that, I like the picture, but it would be better to know if there was some relationship between the girls and the gun. Army family? Some kind of social context is cool.

Aww, they don't look like they would hurt anyone

Some background on the photograph...

The photo was posted without prejudice. Meaning that no position was taken in any way regarding its real, or implied, or imposed, message. It just is what it is. To quote another member from a supportive PM I received, "...the juxtaposition of innocence and implied lethality." That is what I originally saw and hits the nail on the head.

The photo was made about three weeks ago at the annual Arlington Fly-In airshow in northwest Washington state. The context was a large display of vintage Army and Navy military vehicles and craft. Tanks, APCs, jeeps, support vehicles, things like that. Even a trailered Vietnam-era river patrol boat. The M60 was part of one of those displays.

The description of the weapon was included simply as a way of adding a measure of authenticity to the photo. Many of the "weapons" displayed on the restored military vehicles were, for obvious reasons, actually carved wooden replicas. This M60 was not. It and the ammunition were both the real deal.

I was walking behind two very young families with children. Parents in their mid-20s, attractive, nicely dressed and smiling. They were Russian, judging from their language and look. I don't speak Russian, but my grandmother did, and I can still recognize it.

When mom saw the machine gun she instantly instructed the girls to get on the ground and posed them as you see them. It was entirely her idea and she was crouching to my immediate right while instructing them to look directly down the gun barrel at her as she snapped away with a credit card style digital camera.

Permission to make this photo was asked by me and granted by the girl's father. Mom was too busy directing her kids. There was a language barrier, but when he saw the 4x5 Crown Graphic and my gestures, he understood and nodded yes.

By the time I moved into position and pulled the dark slide I had only one quick chance. Mom was already urging the girls to stand up. The younger sister in back had her head down. I waited momentarily until she looked up, then released the shutter, then they were gone. That the older sister in front happened to look directly up at me was pure luck. I then sat down and rechecked my hasty camera and flash settings and determined that they were, in fact, correct.

Everybody involved were total strangers to me, but the adults smiled their approval at both my camera and my photo. And mom appeared quite delighted with the new M60 machine gun photos of her children. The thought never even crossed my mind to interrupt her and tell her she was doing something wrong. They were her kids.

Does any of this change anybody's opinions in any direction?

If so, I'd be curious to know which direction, and why...

Ken Nadvornick said:

Some background on the photograph: The photo was posted without prejudice. ... Does any of this change anybody's opinions in any direction? If so, I'd be curious to know which direction, and why...

Click to expand...

The photo stands on its own merits. I think the posters that took you to task over it were a bit judgmental.

Ken, thanks for explaining the circumstances of the photo. This helps me understand why you took it, on its own merits it is well done. However, I question the wisdom of any mother encouraging young children to treat weapons intended for mass destruction as toys. Guess it is the time we live in today. Wayne

Ken, I stand on my original post and my private statement to you. No need for explanation for me, I see it for what it is and speaks to. Again, job well done.

Ken- the background you provided in your response makes the photo make a lot more sense - now I'm a bit disturbed by the mother's choice of photographic composition. Machine guns are NOT toys, and the mother was treating it as one. It's certainly thought-provoking, no matter how you slice it.

I agree with Aristotle80. In my part of rural America, firearms are among the tools needed on farms. As long as we persist in getting involved in wars, there is also a need for expert snipers (men or women) in our armed services. Hunting is a skill that can no more be acquired in a few weeks of training than proficiency on musical instruments. Famous military marksmen such as Alvin York, Carlos Hathcock, and Chris Kyle hunted when quite young. Of course proper training is important for young and old who use dangerous items, such as automobiles, farm machinery, firearms, and boiling water. Such expertise is not only for men. Lyudmila Pavilichenko is credited with over 300 kills for Russia, far more than any American sniper.