I was taught that "research" means a critical examination of primary sources. A careful selection of newspaper articles (which are, at best, secondary sources...if that) is not research.

Much as I hate to say it, if I were on guard someplace, in a combat zone, and a fifteen year old picked up a big rock and was about to throw it at me, I'd probably shoot him. What would the alternative be? Turning the other cheek is an impractical response. Isn't that how David killed Goliath? No, sorry, that was with a small rock.