general
Member
I hope General... is a good place for this.. just some musings..
Found this hiding in the paper the other day...
www.creators.com
FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2004
Dear Annie: My son just started first grade, and he is making new friends. I am thrilled that he is popular, but I have one concern. Some of these friends have guns in their homes, and I am worried sick that something could happen to my child.
I have heard so many horror stories of accidents happening when kids become curious about guns. How should I approach this with his friends' parents? Is it reasonable to tell my son that he cannot play at a home where the parents own guns, even if the guns are locked up? I realize I sound overprotective, but I don't want to take any chances with my child's life. -- Against Guns in Lawrence, Kan.
Dear Lawrence: Accidents with guns are not unheard of, and, yes, they can happen even if the guns are locked up. A first-grader sometimes knows where the keys are and where the bullets are kept. And while most gun owners teach their children about gun safety, you cannot know if someone is careless.
This isn't an issue of right or wrong. You are entitled to set the boundaries for your own child, even if others disagree. It is OK to tell these parents, "I know you are responsible gun owners, but I am uneasy having my child around guns. I hope you won't be offended if I ask the kids to play at our house instead."
__________________________________-
Felt I had to respond..
Dear Kathy and Marcy,
With all due respect, I never thought I'd live long enough to hear ignorance preferred over education. As you say "..most gun owners teach their children about gun safety..." and "You are entitled to set the boundaries for your own child." It would appear obvious to me that someone who truly cared about their child would stop at nothing to educate them to the dangers of the world. This would obviously include, but not be limited to, crossing the street, the dangers of drugs AND what to do about firearms. Granted, a gun is but a simple machine and I'm sure back in the early days of electricity you could hear parents voicing the same concerns about that great unknown entity, "You stay away from Bobby's house, I hear they got 'lectricity!"
From the basics of "don't touch, tell an adult", to more advanced education specific to each child depending upon the wishes of the parent, can be found at the one resource most ignored by the mainstream press. The National Rifle Association has been teaching about gun safety since its incorporation in 1871. The Eddie Eagle program has educated millions of children on gun safety.
It is plain to see that "Against guns in Lawrence, Kansas" is also against proper education of her child in the realities of the world. We can not hope to insulate our children against every danger of the modern world. That is completely unrealistic. I do hope she will not perpetuate the myth that guns are most dangerous to children. Electricity, bicycles and swimming pools still retain that title.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXX
But this did give me an idea...(a waking thought.. lot of that going around)
Why isn't gun education pushed by these "for the children" folk? I mean, yes, 'I' know that they aren't really interested in that.. but what about the vast majority of Americans. What if sending your kid to school with out at least a basic amount of firearms education was like sending your kid to school with out vaccinations or school supplies.. or properly dressed...?
I can hear the other Moms now... "Can you believe she sent her daughter to school without even showing her a revolver?!" Lord help us?!"
Then they would have no excuse... "kids' shouldn't handle guns"... But like other things, you can't watch them round the clock. The should be taught by their parents and siblings about guns just the way they are educated about other things they may encounter in their youth.
This kind of equates guns as something to be warned about? (like drugs?) that would be a bad association..
Well, that's all I've got... can anyone take it further or add to it in any way?
Good idea? Bad idea?
Found this hiding in the paper the other day...
www.creators.com
FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2004
Dear Annie: My son just started first grade, and he is making new friends. I am thrilled that he is popular, but I have one concern. Some of these friends have guns in their homes, and I am worried sick that something could happen to my child.
I have heard so many horror stories of accidents happening when kids become curious about guns. How should I approach this with his friends' parents? Is it reasonable to tell my son that he cannot play at a home where the parents own guns, even if the guns are locked up? I realize I sound overprotective, but I don't want to take any chances with my child's life. -- Against Guns in Lawrence, Kan.
Dear Lawrence: Accidents with guns are not unheard of, and, yes, they can happen even if the guns are locked up. A first-grader sometimes knows where the keys are and where the bullets are kept. And while most gun owners teach their children about gun safety, you cannot know if someone is careless.
This isn't an issue of right or wrong. You are entitled to set the boundaries for your own child, even if others disagree. It is OK to tell these parents, "I know you are responsible gun owners, but I am uneasy having my child around guns. I hope you won't be offended if I ask the kids to play at our house instead."
__________________________________-
Felt I had to respond..
Dear Kathy and Marcy,
With all due respect, I never thought I'd live long enough to hear ignorance preferred over education. As you say "..most gun owners teach their children about gun safety..." and "You are entitled to set the boundaries for your own child." It would appear obvious to me that someone who truly cared about their child would stop at nothing to educate them to the dangers of the world. This would obviously include, but not be limited to, crossing the street, the dangers of drugs AND what to do about firearms. Granted, a gun is but a simple machine and I'm sure back in the early days of electricity you could hear parents voicing the same concerns about that great unknown entity, "You stay away from Bobby's house, I hear they got 'lectricity!"
From the basics of "don't touch, tell an adult", to more advanced education specific to each child depending upon the wishes of the parent, can be found at the one resource most ignored by the mainstream press. The National Rifle Association has been teaching about gun safety since its incorporation in 1871. The Eddie Eagle program has educated millions of children on gun safety.
It is plain to see that "Against guns in Lawrence, Kansas" is also against proper education of her child in the realities of the world. We can not hope to insulate our children against every danger of the modern world. That is completely unrealistic. I do hope she will not perpetuate the myth that guns are most dangerous to children. Electricity, bicycles and swimming pools still retain that title.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXX
But this did give me an idea...(a waking thought.. lot of that going around)
Why isn't gun education pushed by these "for the children" folk? I mean, yes, 'I' know that they aren't really interested in that.. but what about the vast majority of Americans. What if sending your kid to school with out at least a basic amount of firearms education was like sending your kid to school with out vaccinations or school supplies.. or properly dressed...?
I can hear the other Moms now... "Can you believe she sent her daughter to school without even showing her a revolver?!" Lord help us?!"
Then they would have no excuse... "kids' shouldn't handle guns"... But like other things, you can't watch them round the clock. The should be taught by their parents and siblings about guns just the way they are educated about other things they may encounter in their youth.
This kind of equates guns as something to be warned about? (like drugs?) that would be a bad association..
Well, that's all I've got... can anyone take it further or add to it in any way?
Good idea? Bad idea?
Liability concerns...
