Guns and Military Exhibitions and children.

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**LordofHats**

Nostromodamus wrote:
icn1982 wrote:
With regards to gun shows, that is something very different (imo), you aren't showing off all these historic weapons with the history of when they were used and in which battles. You are showing off a product for people to buy. I freely admit living in the UK I have never been to a gun show, but having seen a few programmes on tv, it tends to be a case of showing off the power of the guns, not their history. US guys and gals, feel free to correct me on that if I'm way out.

Gun shows are a place where people buy, sell and trade. Mostly firearms, but also associated accoutrements. Not sure what you mean by "the power of the guns" (as there is no firing of weapons at shows), but you see the typical sales pitches you would see in a store.

However, there is a much more historical presence than you would find in most stores. Lots of people have military surplus to show and/or for sale. From WW1 rifles to Korean War medals, Civil War muskets to WW2 flags, all manner of historical items are floating around and most people are more than happy to go into great detail about their history and operation.

While the only gun shows I've ever been too are first and foremost events for sale, I've seen some historical stuff too. One show at Virginia had a whole Civil War display (everything had a price tag but the guy selling them was more than happy to talk about the guns themselves as historical artifacts). Also once saw a guy selling Japanese officer swords at another show, though he was less interested in talking about them

Aside from guns I've seen authentic and replica uniforms, tools, maps, and pop history books sold at gun shows. It's definitely a bit different from what I remember seeing in the UK though. The stuff there was a lot more about exhibition than anything.

**Lone Cat**

CptJake wrote:
Hell, I had my kids climbing all over tanks and cannon at various museums and similar places at very young ages, my sons and daughter.

Heck, my unit used to have 'family days' where we used cammo sticks to paint kids faces and gave them tank and scout hummer rides. They all had a blast.

Here is Daughter stomping on Saddam:

And on a tank:

At one point on the job I have now we had a couple Strykers to play with. I got permission to open up the bay on a Saturday to let my sons climb all over them.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
We also used to have a day on the tank ranges where families could come watch their troopers go through a gunnery table and share a meal with them afterwards.

We also sometimes were allowed to have families come watch some of the big combined arms live fire exercises (CALFEX) to see a lot of cool stuff in action. Kids love it, spouses got to see what their troopers do 'at work'.

We always had static displays so the kids could climb vehicles, see how they work, had small arms/machine guns they could handle and learn about.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Daughter 'piloting' a CH-47F:

Automatically Appended Next Post:
I've also taken the kids to gun shows.

Is that a shard of Saddam's Statue that had been brought down in 2003? And were you once a member of a unit that did this deed?

**CptJake**

Ys, it is from one of the statues toppled in 2003, other chunks are in the same lot.

No, I was not in the unit that got this one, this is behind the old/now moved 3ID museum on Ft Stewart. There were several other trophies there in the form of captured vehicles. Inside the museum were some of Saddam's gold plated weapons also captured by the Marne Division.

**MarsNZ**

Mr. Burning wrote:

This particular event is propaganda, the military exhibition and show is just extra icing on top of a larger Thai cake.

Would be interested to know how you came to that conclusion.

Thais are proud to be one of the few nations to resist European colonisation, all their western neighbours fell to Britain, their eastern neighbours, France. In spite of the military being a symbol of their self-sufficiency it is by far the most peaceful and friendliest place I have ever lived in. I will definitely miss it when I have to go back home next month.

**Frazzled**

I thought Thailand was a British colony for a bit. I thought some of the mua thai regs were British (to tone it down...you know you're badass when the guys who invented bear baiting think its a little bloody).

**MarsNZ**

Nope. Brits got Burma and the Indian subcontinent, as well as Malaya to the south. Frogs took Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Dutchies further south in Indonesia. Imperial Japan was the first country to really try anything serious.

I know MMA disallows a bunch of Muay Thai techniques because other fighting styles can't hang. Not sure if that's solely a British thing. The Japanese have had to rig showmatches in the past to spare their Karate Kids a savage hiding.

**Frazzled**

Good for Thailand!

**Kilkrazy**

Which side of the road do they drive on in Thailand?

**MarsNZ**

Left. Although here in Bangkok they're happy to improvise, motorbikes cruising down the sidewalk is pretty common and catches newbies out quite often.

**ZergSmasher**

My uncle has been to Thailand a few times as a missionary. From the pics and stuff he sent back while he was there it seemed like a cool place to visit.

**xKillGorex**

Been to Thailand myself while touring there and Vietnam. Was nice to visit, Bangkok had loads of nice sights to see, sadly when I went down to the south to the tourist islands it was just abot getting money out of you.

One the whole I preferred Vietnam.

**MarsNZ**

So you stuck to the tourist spots and were surprised that they weren't included in the price of your tickets. That attitude is really common among westerners here and never ceases to make me cringe. Especially seeing as the GBP trades at ~1:50 with the THB and most people live here on less than 5000THB a month.

**xKillGorex**

No I've travelled to many places all over that world in the past 11 years. So I know how the world works all to well thanks. That point I was trying to make which probably didn't come across very well was that I was having great fun until I went to the usual trourist trap that I try to stay away from.

Having said that I did prefer Vietnam, mostly from the historical interest I have in the country and that is seemed a little more relaxed. Apart from the scooters in hcm city.

Ps that aside let's not derail the thread over ethics of tourism.

**Jehan-reznor**

Went with my father to some airshows and even to an Dutch army base where we shot live guns, respect the Fal!
Also been to outskirts the awacs airbase somewhere in the 80's and where send away by the MP's

Even now i like the stuff, been to the open air show at Misawa air base and to the war museum in Saigon city.

**xKillGorex**

The Saigon museum is pretty good. Waiting to do a tour of Normandy for when my lads are a little older to take it all in. So much choice in France for different sites to visit for sure.

**oldravenman3025**

The Old Man was in Thailand during the war, back in 1970. Unlike most others in his squadron, he actually visited other places besides the bars, clubs, and cathouses. He thoroughly enjoyed taking the time to bask in the history, and indulging in the local cuisine. It was in the top five of his favorite places during his time in the service.

**redleger**

My kids have been on every piece of equipment in all my units. They have seen the Howitzers in my Battery live fire, they have been to the museums and read every plaque about every Artillery piece in the U S Army inventory in history here at Fort Sill, the home of the Field Artillery and lesser branch Air Defense.

My 3 daughters are the kindest, sweetest people I could never strive to be. So no, there is nothing inherently wrong with exhibitions. D-USA has I think for the second time said something that I agree with. Members of the Military live in town, shop where you shop, and live where you live. Other than a hair cut, and lack of pot belly, you might not even be able to tell. We are all citizens. So anything that can teach America not to fear its military is akin to teaching kids to respect and cherish law enforcement and EMS/Fire fighters.

Thailand's show may be propaganda, but do they not have the right to paint them selves well amongst their people? I mean if you are a country worried about Thailand's military might, I think you have other problems.