Guns and Children

Several years ago, I, (as a legislator), received amonitor children's behavior and keep them safe from
booklet entitled, Children, Youth, and Gun Violence:exposure to guns in the home and in the community."
Issues and Ideas.Their take on the responsible adult is one who allows
The opening statement that this booklet was: "Eachno guns in the house, or one who stores the gun,
year more than 20,000 people under 20 are killed orunloaded, and not in close proximity to ammunition. If
injured by guns in the United States." Almosta person has chosen to own a gun for personal
immediately following that was the comment, "Butprotection against intruders, etc., how effective is
too often, gun policy debates focus on the rights ofhaving an unloaded gun `at the ready' - or for that
adults to own guns and pay scant attention to issuesmatter, one with a safety lock? Is not the most
of children's safety."effective control, educating the child?
I thought, "Oh, oh, here we go again-an argument forThe article lists a series of "Specific Policy Options" to
more gun control."ensure safety for the youth of America:
Certainly, none of us wants to see children die by"Require background checks on all gun sales, including
the gun, either by accident or by deliberate acts. But,private sales, to prevent the illegal sale of guns to
that, in itself, is not any rationale for more gunminors" That's interesting. You would require
control laws.background checks simply to check someone's age?
This booklet advocated educating parents to protectWhen someone who appears to be under 21 years
their children from gun violence, "either by choosingold goes into a liquor store, does the store clerk
not to keep guns in the home, or by storing gunsmake him/her fill out a background check form, and
locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition."make the customer wait until the information comes
When I was a young shaver, my father kept aback in a few minutes or a few days? I don't think
shotgun in his little cubicle of a home office, (heso. A check on the person's driver's license usually
actually was a laborer). We were taught NEVER tosuffices! So what is the real purpose of the
touch that gun. And from the punishments that hadbackground check? Certainly not the age aspect.
been meted out to us in the past for far less seriousAnd as I'm sure you've heard time and time again,
infractions, we knew he meant business, and wethe person who is likely to fail a background check, is
never did touch it!not usually the person who is attempting to buy a
However, if we wanted to go with him hunting, or begun at a gun shop or a gun show.
with him target practicing, we were allowed. In ourHere's another: This was listed under what state
family, we children, were never encouraged to havelegislatures could do. "Require handgun owners to
our own guns, though my oldest brother knew howobtain a safety license and to register their handguns
to shoot a 22. In those days, many parents, includingwith local law enforcement, similar to the system in
my own, frowned on pointing even toy guns atplace for automobiles, (my italics), to deter gun
another person, though the enforcement wasn't quiteowners from transferring their weapons to youth."
as strict."Limit handgun sales to one per month, to reduce
This report went on to talk more about restricting`straw purchases' from gun stores."
access to guns by children, and then did take up theWhen I first was elected to the N.H. House of
issue of "Educational Interventions to Reduce YouthRepresentatives, some 16 years ago, I would
Gun Injury and Violence." They listed severalprobably have listed myself as a fairly staunch
programs to educate children about guns.supporter of gun control... probably leaning to ban a
One was the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program. This ismajor portion of the types of guns sold.
a program advocated by the National RifleSince then, I have sat through many hearings on gun
Association, (NRA). I have heard gun advocates talkcontrol legislation, and listened to both sides. I have
about this program many times. I have listened tohad almost a complete turn around on the issue.
how effective it can be. Many schools around theMy issue is not the usual Constitutional issue that
United States offer this program to students.many supporters of gun owner rights espouse. But, in
But many more schools refuse to allow students tothe greatest philosophical sense, perhaps, I do believe
participate in this program. Their attitude, in somethat `guns don't kill', people do. Sure, sometimes in
cases, is that allowing this program might be viewedsevere domestic disputes, because there is a gun
as support for the NRA.around, someone may get shot and killed. And, yes,
The Eddie Eagle Program is taught to students fromchildren do get killed accidentally.
prekindergarten through grade 6. There is aBut people also die in cars every day. And why?
motivational "big book" for the younger children,Carelessness, inattention, etc. But we don't ban them!
activity books for grades 2 & 3, and 4 -6, withI really believe that the main issue in gun control is
a 7 minute video, reward stickers, parent letter, etc.education-that is, for the ordinary citizen. There is no
"The message is: If you see a gun, stop! Don't touch.education about gun control for the criminal.
Leave the area. Tell an adult."The criminal is not likely to go shopping in legitimate
Gun advocates tout how effective this program is.gun shops for his weapon. Why would he? He is
This publication's evaluation: "NRA cites testimonialspurchasing it to engage in an illegal and criminal act!
and reductions in accidental death rates betweenCommon sense, and real cooperation on the part of
1991 and 1992...but no formal evaluations have beenour school systems would go a long ways in stopping
published."accidental shooting of our youth. I'm in favor of
Another program is "Straight Talk about Risks",mandatory education about guns in our schools. Not
(STAR), from the Brady Center to Prevent Gunmandatory education in how to use them, but how
Violence. (You remember Jim Brady was the aide toto act safely around them.
President Reagan who was severely wounded in theIf someone chooses to allow their child to handle a
presidential assassination attempt.) Certainly thatweapon, perhaps there should be mandatory training
program ought to get an A+ by the critics?on how to use it safely.
The evaluation: "Inconsistent and inconclusiveWe could engage in banning a lot of things that are
effections on attitudes and no change in behaviors.dangerous to us. Have you ever seen the statistics
No evaluation has been published." (If no evaluationon how many people choke to death on a bone in a
has been published, I'm not sure where thisrestaurant? Perhaps we need a law to prohibit the
publication got the information to create theirsale of any chicken that is not boneless?
evaluation?')Let's tackle the real core of the problem, instead of
It is interesting to watch how those interested inpassing law after law, banning this thing and that
promoting their agenda `use' or `bend' the informationthing. Of course, that will mean we will have to
to bolster their cause. This booklet pointed out thatassume more personal responsibility.
"Parents are arguably the best-positioned adults to