Here's the part that really makes me laugh.
I don't believe such a thing is possible. The inquisitiveness and mischievousness of many children is such that nothing can overcome it. The more a kid is told not to touch, the more he'll want to do just that. It's irresistible."We're trying to take the curiosity away from children so no one is injured by a firearm found in the home," said sheriff's deputy Cpl. Jim Dunn. "Its the worst call I've ever been to when a child is unintentionally injured by a firearm."
I've been a bit ambivalent about this question, but now it's clear to me. Teaching kids gun safety does more harm than good, just like gun ownership itself. The incredible naivete of the pro-gun folks who think safety and common sense can be taught to very young children is typically self-serving of them. The fact is it cannot, but what can be taught is the idea that guns are good, that owning guns is the answer, that hunting animals is a healthy activity. These are the lessons the kids learn, meanwhile the dads continue to leave their guns around in closets and nightstands.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
Gun Safety Classes for Children is a fraud. It's all about exposing them to guns, so they can become future gun owners.
ReplyDeleteIf I had children, I'd pull them out of school immediately if they were to be taught ANYTHING about guns.
Wow. I don't know which of you guys are more ignorant.
ReplyDeleteLet's take this out of the realm of guns (where both your Reality Distortion Fields are stuck in overdrive) and talk instead about something like...um...Electrical safety.
The big bad corporate honchos at the power company decide that we need to teach kids about electrical safety. They fund a program that goes into schools to teach kids that if they see a downed power line, they should not touch it, run away and report it to an adult.
By your logic, you'd pull your kids from the school for them even having the unmitigated audacity to teach such a thing. "The electric companies just want you to use electricity!"
The NRA's Eddie Eagle program is nothing more than what I outlined above for kids and guns. The extent of the 'firearms safety' message is, "if you see a gun, don't touch it...go tell an adult." Period. There's no teaching them how to handle one safely - they are told not to ever touch it in the first place.
But no. Let's take you're idea, so kids are never exposed to guns. Ever. That way, when they run into a gun in the real world, they'll be both fascinated by it and so inexperienced, they'll think it's a toy. Just like on TV. With no consequences for playing with it. Brilliant.
Oh, and by the way, my 12-year-old daughter has a healthy respect for guns. Because I taught her to do so. I'm betting that she will never have a problem with a gun, because she understands just how dangerous they can be if treated like toys.
Yawn.
ReplyDeleteComparing the Gun Lobby to electricity. Might as well thrown in the tired old cliche' of comparing guns to cars while your at it.
Its funny you mentioned cars. They kill more kids every year than guns ever did. You know why that "tired old cliche" keeps coming up? because people like you dont listen. Its not a cliche, its the truth.
ReplyDeleteIf you had children? If you did you might change your tune when someone wanted to hurt them and you felt a need to protect them. Or maybe you would just keep on hiding behind your worthless gun laws and hope somebody else would protect you.
Lie to the cops yet today? Call in a false report about your neighbor on your little iphone? You should be ashamed of yourself.
You should go live in England. They have gun control there. There are rainbows and unicorns and all the criminals are sent to evil USA. Grow up..
Anon @ 7:11
ReplyDeleteIt ain't a false report if you're reporting suspicious behavior, and ALL gun owners act suspicious.
Call the cops on all of us then, BantheNRA. What are you waiting for?
ReplyDeleteSorry, Brad, that is pretty low on the comparison scale, guns and electricity.
ReplyDeleteChances are you're right about your daughter, especially since you yourself are a serious man. I'm jumping to that conclusion just like I jump to a lot of conclusions based on some minimum of information.
But, many of your fellow gun owners are not serious. That's the problem. And even they, in most cases will get through without a major tragedy. But the major tragedies that do happen are still too many. And the silly Eddie Eagle idea of gun safety for kids is not gonna change that.