GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE, OR DO THEY?

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks, F.U.

F.U.: 1 Its a gun safety issue in my book. It may do nothing for gun violence but I am not sure. It will however reduce the risk of the negligent discharging of a firearm by a child. That in turn might reduce that child's risk of shooting lets say a sister, brother etc.

If you as a parent choose to introduce your children to guns, it's simply being a responsible adult to teach them gun safety. That's what I'm understanding from your answer; you're not suggesting that more of society should put guns in the hands of children and teach them how to use them properly as a means to decrease gun violence in our country. I agree.

F.U.: 2 Is a child safer in a home that has no firearms. Possibly, the exceptions would be drive by shootings, a guest in that home that may have a gun. Now is that child safer when he leaves his home? No. he don't have the skills needed to deal with the presence of a firearm should he come across one in a neighbors home, school, the park or just walking down the street.

A child is certainly safer from a gun accident when there is no gun. Doesn't mean nobody should have guns in the home; up to them, imo. But, if guns are present, the best way to avoid accidents is to keep them out of reach/access to children, educated or not. A responsible adult would make sure that guests with guns around their children respect those principles when visiting; it's the adult's responsibility to protect the child in his home.

We can't control drive bys and such. Whether the child has ever been taught gun safety will neither help or hurt them if someone drives by and shoots into the house.

On the off-chance that a mature minded child happens to stumble upon a loaded gun in a public place or at a friend's house and they've been taught to pick it up in such a case, knowing how to handle it safely could be a plus. I can see that.

F.U.: 3 yes and no. Is a cops child any less safe when his parent comes home and takes their duty weapon off for the night? I don't think so but that depends on how that parent deals with the firearm. If they throw it on the coffee table and leave the house to go, lets say, mow the lawn then yes the child is less safe. If they put the firearm away, in their room and lock the room [I have a outside keyed entry door handle on my bedroom] then no.As long as the parent had direct control over that firearm then I feel it is a non issue.

If you're saying that whether one leaves a loaded gun on the coffee table while mowing the lawn or on the breakfast table while using the bathroom or answering the door, it's irresponsible and negligent parenting when there's a child present at the residence, I agree. There's no gun law against being irresponsible in your own home (that I know of) and it couldn't be enforced even if there were. That's where child endangerment laws come into play.

F.U. 4 That is a tricky one. In directly it may. I say that because I feel that children need adult interaction to become adults with good values. Any interaction is better than none. It may be no different than playing ball, riding a bike or playing at the park, but a child without adult interaction is left to himself to develop their own set of values. Where do they then learn them, TV, Video games, their class mates, friends etc. Those influences can be counterproductive to the good development of a child.

Children have adult interaction with teachers whether the class is gun safety, fingerpainting, exercise... So, going to school and education in general is good and beneficial to child development, it has nothing to do with guns. Same with at home. It's not gun safety and handling with parental supervision that benefits the child's development, it's guidance and positive interaction that could be accomplished with any activity. On the same page.

F.U. 5 The risk of accidentally shooting someone is a big one. However I feel that as a child is brought up around firearms they learn what a firearm can do. You cannot call a bullet back after you pull the trigger. That bullet destroys whatever it is aimed at. I think in seeing [a good visual I use is milk jugs full of H20 & food coloring, or melons like watermelons etc.] the destruction caused by that firearm/bullet a child learns respect for them. I have no proof of that, it is just a gut feeling.

The whole purpose of guns is to shoot shit for fun or protection. Exploding melons are cool. Depending on age and mindset, some kids wouldn't be inclined to make other things (or people) explode by choice or accident if they develop a fascination with guns through exposure and accessibility. Others would. Lots of factors involved in how the mind develops. There's no provable correlation so, you're right, it's just a matter of opinion.