Another single minded anti-gun article

[Outta Control]

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/01/14/asking_other_parents_about_guns_open2011

[locosway]

As a parent I agree with some of her observations. However, towards the end of the article she starts to go a little too far. I think she's mostly misinformed, and she could likely be corrected with some information to support our side. The fact that you can't just walk into walmart and buy a gun is a good starting point. Everyone still has to submit to a background check.

[Outta Control]

I agree with you. I am too a parent of 2 boys and the first part of the article is justified and rational but they goes sideways real quick.

[JanG]

might not be as simple minded as ignorant to the facts. she merely interprets the facts she comes across with her daily routine. as do the majority of people in this country (or world).

[BillCA]

I can honestly say I don't own or have "a" gun in the house.

Sure, she can embarrass her child. Do it often enough and he resents his mother's babying him. There's no reason to embarass the child. Talk to the parents of the hosting family. Don't ask them about guns, tell them your concerns. "If you have guns while Bobby is here, I ask that you keep them secured so the boys don't get too inquisitive." Do this out of earshot of the children. Good parents and responsible gun owners will know why you've made the statment.

I let one of my nephews stay overnight when he was about nine years old. He knew I had guns. I told him he was not allowed in the master bedroom without me being with him. That was my main house rule and to emphasize the point, I told him the consequences - he'd get "the belt". I caught him going into the room just after lighting the BBQ. I made good on my promise too. He was completely shocked, dumbfounded and scared. Mostly because my Sis-in-Law didn't believe in "corporal punishment". She was shocked that I "beat" her child.

I asked her why it was that her child lacked the discipline and integrity to follow the rules of the house when visiting someone else's home. If he won't follow the rules, then he's earned the consequences.

"You could have explained it to him instead of hitting him." she complained.
"Ask him if he will ever go into my bedroom again." I asked. She did.
In the background I heard, "No way! Not when he gets that mad!"

A little corporal punishment is worth a child's life.



For what it's worth, I did sit him down with an empty 1911 and explain the basic rulies to him and gave him a basic tutorial on it's function. I did manage to reinforce the "booger hook off the bang-switch" concept too. Two years ago, he took his wife to a range to rent a couple of .22's for fun. Something he said he wouldn't have done without that brief lesson.

[jshoebot]

Keeping kids safe is always good. However, I don't understand her other points. Why doesn't she just suggest that they make murder illegal? That would definitely keep criminals from murdering people.

[jaq]

Some of the comments were OUTSTANDING! I mean, I really must applaud the authors of these:

"Where's the real danger?

Children are more likely to die in a swimming pool than by a gunshot. A hundred more times likely, actually.

You should do some research before you take your protectiveness and risk assessment seriously."

"Pointless exercise

Here's why you should save your son the humiliation: those parents are lying to you. Well, I don't know for sure, but it's a real possibility. We have firearms in our house and I have outright lied to people who ask. I consider it part of firearm safety to not let other people know that I own a gun (in case they might ever want to access one). Ours is locked up of course.

By the way, I hope you are just as cautious about swimming pools."

My favorite:

"Congratulations!

So, instead of acting like an adult and teaching your son the basics of gun safety, the responsibilities that need to be associated with gun-ownership, and the notion that guns can be quite dangerous when mis-handled, you've gone and treated guns like it were a thermonuclear device. You've turned guns into the ultimate taboo in your son's mind, with no counterbalancing exposure to de-mystify the concept.

Guess what? You've insured that the first thing your son does when he's old enough to rebel is get his hands on one of those death devices. And, when he does, he'll treat like it like a cool new toy, a status symbol of rebellion, the attitude of people that become shooting statistics. And who wants to bet ten dollars that when this happens (and it will happen), the author will write another piece calling for stricter gun laws, blaming the gun itself, rather than irresponsible parenting?"

"the best safety is knowledge

In addition to the steps you've taken, you really must prepare your son for when he does finally come in contact with a firearm. He will eventually come across a gun, whether you like it or not, and when he does you do not want him to treat it with wonderment and glee because it was an item that was "forbidden" to him, for lack of a better word.

You should go to an experienced professional to teach your son the basics of gun safety--never ever pointing a gun at another person, even if you know its not loaded; never taking another person's word as to whether the gun is loaded or not, etc. Its common sense stuff, but a little basic knowledge can go a long way when dealing with something like guns."

And there are even more gems to be read there. Sweet!

[thrillhouse700]

very very good comments.