- Joined
- Sep 6, 2005
- Posts
- 12,919
I'm not anti-gun, far from it, but I'm absolutely against letting kids and youngsters use them under any circumstances. There's no reason for it and it gives the kids a wrong idea about a tool which is made for killing. Kids think weapons are cool but they aren't, it's just a tool that can save your ass or get you food, and that's it. Using a weapon not only is about being able to handle the recoil or whatever but also a psychological thing. There's no way a young girl or lad is able to "get" what the whole thing is all about. They feel powerful for all the wrong reasons while totin' a gun, and be it just a .22 pea shooter, no matter what they tell you.
I disagree 100%.
I find that if done properly, it has the exact opposite effect than what you describe. I've shot since I was 5 (or that what my father tells me). I have always had a healthy fear of firearms because of it. I never viewed them as toys and had firearm safety taught from me from the beginning. I assure you that my daughter does not think guns are toys, even at 6 years old. She has no interest in playing with them at our house (not that they sit out in the open). She knows what they can do.
I've been around shooting my entire life, I've shot (literally) millions of rounds, I've shot around thousands of other shooters. NEVER (knocks on wood), have I seen someone shot.
Can I ask...and I mean this in all seriousness...Tak, have you ever shot a firearm? I ask this because you seem as you have not. Most have a healthy fear of them once they wield one.