Re: You want to know the ugly truth?

"I can see why limit gun exposure to children in a generally safe society; but in a society with so active dangers to children, at some point you risk the accident so as not to risk the kidnapping."

Yes, and people on the ground and in that situation are less likely to mistake a bystander for an opponent than an outside intervention force is likely to do.

I will also note that although I have no problem with older children having access to firearms, in most of Africa it would be more important to arm women, who are also at a natural strength disadvantage to men. If just a few women in every hamlet were armed, the various soldier-bandits roaming many of those countries would suddenly find that they could no longer act with impunity, and most would suddenly discover other, more promising careers.