| Let me be controversial for a moment. Guns | | | | Saying "NO" is not enough. |
| will hold no mystery to my children. In this | | | | |
| world of nay-sayers, gun banners, and | | | | I have owned, shot, and hunted with firearms |
| non-informed gun haters, such a statement is | | | | since I was 5 years old, learning my safe |
| bound to raise questions as to my values and | | | | handling practices and proper firearms use |
| questions as my ability to properly raise my | | | | from the biggest influences in my life, my |
| children. For those who automatically think I | | | | parents. I have taken guns to school with me |
| am a bad father for teaching my 2 year old | | | | which remained safely in my car awaiting my |
| how to properly handle a firearm, I have this | | | | arrival and consequent start of the evening |
| simple response. Naivety is not a defense or | | | | hunts for pheasant, chucker, and Hungarian |
| a strategy. | | | | partridge. I never opened fire on my school |
| | | | mates, committed murder, or began having |
| I find it humorous in the political | | | | psychopathic fantasies because of it. I did |
| atmosphere where education on everything from | | | | however see plenty of other kids who had not |
| sex to diversity is touted as the cure all | | | | received the proper training handling guns in |
| that shooting and firearms education is | | | | a most reckless manner and it was only due to |
| considered taboo. It seems when it comes to | | | | the proper instruction I received from my |
| firearms, some parents are content to say | | | | parents that I was able to recognize the |
| "they are bad" and then consider the matter | | | | danger and correct it or leave the area. |
| closed. This is can be a tragic error in the | | | | |
| development of a young mind. Curiosity is | | | | Sam is 2 years old this year and into |
| always present and is a profoundly driving | | | | everything. I have my guns secured in a vault |
| force which is not easily satisfied or | | | | and lock box and take care to make sure they |
| appeased. The curiosity for education on | | | | are secured. I have already begun his |
| firearms is also not so easily swept aside. | | | | training on firearms, teaching him not handle |
| By not taking the initiative to educate, we | | | | firearms at this point in time. He does have |
| as parents have in essence allowed a clean | | | | a small training rifle which I have |
| slate for anyone else to fill the knowledge | | | | introduced him to and will begin the proper |
| vacuum we have created in the of our | | | | handling techniques soon. My girls are still |
| children. The education on firearms occurs | | | | infants and Daddy could not resist buying |
| whether we choose to be involved or not. | | | | them a pair of Cricket 22 Youth rifles with |
| Television portrays firearms almost hourly | | | | Pink Stocks. They will also receive the |
| and as a matter of observation, hardly ever | | | | proper instruction when the time is right. I |
| in compliance with safe handling techniques | | | | do not intend by any means to try and shelter |
| and rarely ever with the ramifications of | | | | my kids from perceived dangers but to educate |
| improperly using a firearm. Video games are | | | | them about the responsibilities involved with |
| also streaming the use of guns into the minds | | | | firearms in an effort to help them avoid the |
| of our children at the speed of Broadband. As | | | | dangers of irresponsible gun ownership and |
| the games become more violent they create a | | | | us. I also intend for it to be some of the |
| perception and glory of firearms which can | | | | best times my family and I can share |
| only be counteracted by the proper education. | | | | together. |