And I apologize if I have offended any one
No offense.
Part of this discussion is because of the rift between urban and rural living. I expect widely different opinions bewtween the two areas. Gun phobia is growing in the more populated areas and as those people move to the country they are bringing their fears with them.
I can understand a party from the country that scoffs at the idea of gunsafing firearms, as an inhabitent of a city suburb a safe was one of the first things I bought.
I grew up in the 70's/80's. Guns had not yet faced full demonization and most of my friends either owned them or their parents had one somewhere in the house. Every house we went into we found the guns and fondled them. Luckily we had our own guns and knew how to handle them, also guns were not so much owned for home protection than, they were hunting pieces stored clear and empty.
Now we have created a society with less hunting but more need for home protection. Guns are more likely to be locked and loaded, stored for ready use and kids will be less aware of the danger from never being exposed to firearms.
A big part of the problem comes from that faction supposing to make all sorts of regulations "for the children". Their idea is ostrich head in the sand stupid, lets not speak or expose kids to guns and there will be no problem. They would actually be helping keep kids safe if they partnered with the NRA and promoted the Eddie Eagle program to educate these clueless kids. Of course we know that will never happen.
I work as a PO and have been assigned school dog and pony shows. In one instance I gave my talk to the kids (grade school) and the teacher opened up for questions. 80% of the hands flew up. The teacher jumped up and said "We are not going to ask the Trooper about his firearm or any of the equipment on his belt". 75% of the hands went down. The teachers mindset - not talking about hazard eliminates the hazard. Respecting the rules of the teacher I felt I missed the most important chance to educate the kids.
At my next similar event I told the teachers ahead of time I expected gun questions and I wanted to address the issue. Id love to incorporate a lesson on the 2A but I kept it to "Dont touch. Get mom and dad. Guns have a purpose and shouldnt be misused, pushing it I equated guns to a sharp saw that is plugged in that was unsafe if handled improperly".
My own kids (5 and 6) are exposed to guns as a function of my job, a facet of my hobby and perhaps something hard and sharp on my side if they snuggle in on the couch and I havent stored my walking around pistol yet. They know that anytime they are curious I will make safe and clear any of my junk and let them handle it. They see me clear it and they are told to never take a gun from someone or hold one unless the gun is made safe first. They know the hell that will descend upon them if they find a gun and ever touch it without getting a parent or another adult.
Best example I have it works occured two years ago. Christmas night I went to visit friends. My jammie clad kids accompanied me for before bedtime dessert. As I was sitting in the house bs'ing the kids tore through the place playing with Xmas toys. After a bit my son, close to 5 at the time, starts grabbing me "Daddy come" and I didnt want to, so I tell him 'later Odin'. He is insistent than whispers in my ear "somethings dangerous". So I went and he brought me to a room and pointed to a toy MP5 sitting on the toy pile of the older boy that lives in the house. It was a throwback toy gun from a time when manufacturers sought realism. It threw my son because his impression of "toy guns" are bright colored nerf shooters. So he got an atta boy for that one.
Ill be buying a Red Ryder this month for his March Bday. Next year my daughter will get the pink stocked version. Im hoping this makes my kids more responsible and safer as opposed to how some would think they are now more dangerous. Still the safe is good insurance for battling peer pressure or preventing those stupid growing up mistakes that csant ever be taken back.
