OK, its probably obvious I voted for George Bush - I'm from the South. Texas, to be exact. And in the South, gun ownership is a very hot topic. I don't know a soul in my 40 years that has been anti-gun. Yes, guns are used for the wrong reasons, but so are pitch forks, knives and cigars (if you're Bill Clinton).Ub3r-ElitE wrote:
Off topic: Do you really think that a 6 year old kid should be able to own, let alone fire a gun? This is a serious question...[M]Chicken wrote:
This will be a real shocker to the "potty mouth" guy, but my son owns a shotgun, a deer rifle, and a Henry mini-bolt 22. He shoots a bb gun in the back yard as well, all under my close supervision. I own over 25 firearms (mostly WWII vintage stuff, but thats a story by itself ), and my son enjoys going to the local shooting club with me and punching holes in paper targets a couple times a year.
Its safe as long as the child is taught safety. All of them are locked up, only I know where the key is, and its so far out of reach it would be impossible to get. I have gun safes that are in a separate locked room. However, my boy knows that if ANYONE ever tries to get him to touch a gun at a friend's house, he's to leave immediately.
Note that in my post I said we "punch holes in paper targets". For now, thats what we do. Eventually I hope he will be as avid an outdoorsman as I am. Yes, I hunt. And I eat what I kill. Usually its just ducks. I don't care for deer hunting, but don't admonish those that deer hunt. Its just here in East Texas the deer are small and I find little sport in hunting a baited area. Duck hunting on the other hand? Holy hell, you wish you had the DAO in BF2 lol. A dozen ducks flying past at 60 mph, freezing cold, snowing or raining, overcast, standing in water up to your nads, now THAT is hunting lol. Its a sickness that I hope to spread to my son and the one we are having within 2 weeks. As far as hunting and bashing hunters, I've said before opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. I do find humor in someone who thinks I am a sadist for shooting a duck in the wild as they eat their bucket of KFC, sleeping on their down pillows and keeping warm in their gas heated home. Yeah, chicken shit is used to heat homes, can be converted. Gross if you think about it. My wife complains when I give her the dutch oven in bed! rotfl, thats where you loose one in bed and pull the covers over their head - Kidding.
Owning guns is a right in the US. Disarming citizens won't fly. It doesn't fly in the UK, Australia, but DEFINATELY wouldn't work in the US. Law abiding citizens can own as many as you like, and as my favorite bumper sticker said "My Guns Have Killed Less People Than Ted Kennedy's Car" [If you are too young to remember that, check with your parents]
In short, my kid owns them, never even sees them unless I am present, has no access to ammunition, and is educated in the proper handling of firearms. I urge you to do the same, ESPECIALLY if you have one in your home. They can and will find them if you have one thats not locked up. In fact, I'd send you a lock for yours if you do have one unlocked, email me with your address. I participate in Cub Scouts and have boxes of them that we give away for safety.
Slow day at the office, and you asked a good question so I wrote another novel. My bad! In short, I feel its safe as long as the child is educated about the importance of care around firearms.
