No, they are children, the last thing they need is to be taught about guns, you may have your right to bear arms and I can't be bothered to argue how moronic that is because it won't change but children should be allowed a childhood. They should never need to know how to safely handle a gun because they should never be put in a situation where they can handle a gun.
Wat. In eighth grade I took a class on target shooting. Before that I had taken a proper gun safety class in 4-H (though I preferred archery). There are plenty of areas where kids are taught how to use .22 rifles so they can go out and hunt small game. How is any of this somehow anti-childhood? What is somehow wrong about teaching them how guns are dangerous and need to be respected?
The second amendment was written 226 years ago in a very different context from the world of today. But hell, who am I to lecture you about your history...
True. This is part of why everyone gets so upset every time another Columbine happens. I don't believe that there is any evidence to support the notion that American citizens are safer for having the right to bear arms. I'd say it's pretty certain that the opposite holds true.
It's one thing to argue that you personally are safer if you own a gun in a gun rife society....until you realise that if you lived in a gun free society, you'd have no need of the gun in the first place. When you look at the bigger picture, the number of gun owners who are actually safer is probably miniscule.
Eh. I'm definitely against guns (as shown above), but this is just stupid. Not learning how to handle something doesn't mean that thing doesn't exist. Handling guns without any knowledge about them is dangerous (the accident in the article could've been avoided with proper education).
I have a hard time imagining a frustrated 9 year old crashing a car through his living room because he doesn't get what he wants.
Fair points, but the responsibility of this specific incident (and others like it) still falls squarely on the person/people who negligently left their loaded, unsecured gun out. Society didn't make them do that.
I'm not going to pretend people don't make mistakes, but this wasn't just a mistake it was an egregious lack of judgement that was likely preceded by a lot of negligent behavior and stupidity. Vigilant, responsible gun owners don't EVER leave guns loaded, out in the open, unsecured and in easy reach of their small children...with the loaded part being the main issue here.
But this is exactly why I am personally an advocate of gun control that treats guns as the deadly weapons they are and not a toy that everyone should have access to just because they want one. IMO gun ownership and operation should be treated just like driving a car with you required to have a license to even buy one, and regular verification that establishes if you are still, "qualified" is the only term I can think of, to own and operate one. That said I don't want to derail this into a gun control discussion.
Tragedy the kid died, and I think the parents should be held responsible for negligence.
There's nothing wrong with having guns, but there's everything wrong with having them when you're not willing to be responsible for them. Take a gun safety course, buy gun lockers, practice said gun safety, teach your kids that they aren't toys and if they ever see them they're to tell their parents or the nearest adult.
EDIT: Like the guy above me said, I think that training, a license, and regular verification for gun ownership would be an excellent idea.
I agree, they should never be in a situation where they can handle a gun at such a young age. However we live in the real world, not some fantasy world. I would like my kids to know what a gun is and how dangerous they are so if they come across one, laying in the park or something, they can notify somebody so someone doesnt get hurt. Or if they are at a friends house and their friend is playing around with it they know how dangerous it is and I hope my teaching wins out and he leaves and never goes back, tells me, so I can discuss what happened to the parent and then of course never allow my kid at the house ever again. We live in a world where kids have toy guns and adults have guns. They arent taught the real results of what they can do. I wouldnt want my kids handling guns, BUT if it ever came to it, I would want them to know how to safely handle one, as to not harm anyone.
Your liberal government-knows-best attitude is showing. It's doubtful a law on the books saying you have to store a gun safely while it's at home (assuming there isn't one in this case), would have made any difference. If one doesn't know to store a gun safely away around children, there's very little chance a law in some legislature tucked away in some backroom is going to elicit such an action of safety.
Most "red" people are rural, and aren't packing hand guns, they're packing rifles, shotties, etc. I look forward to when details are released and we find out this was another inner city situation with handguns. You know... the prevalent problem we have within certain communities in this country. Memphis tennessee is on the border with Mississippi.
http://wreg.com/2017/05/04/gangs-in-...tting-smaller/
Edit: If you're asking why am I bringing the "gang" theme into a story about a 9 year old boy shooting his teen sister over a video controller. The gang problem brings handguns into homes. It forces guns into the homes of people who need the safety (either because of their own involvement, or the fear of gangs in the area). They're not enthusiast who practice gun safety, it's a requirement that they sometimes don't understand.
If we want real results in reducing gun violence in America, we need to come up with real solutions to gang problems.
Last edited by Narwal; 2018-03-19 at 03:28 PM.
Very few, if any, gun control activists that are actually having worthwhile discussions on the subject and not just spouting BS are actually anti-gun. They're pro-gun ro at least pro second amendment, but just want to put better controls in place to help ensure unstable, violent, irresponsible people aren't able to buy one or aren't able to continue operating one.
I agree with you on the point that MANY of the "pro-gun" advocates, who are vehemently anti gun control, fall into the category you're talking about though. When they're only coherent argument on the subject is "but I like guns"..... yeah.
Last edited by Katchii; 2018-03-19 at 03:30 PM.
I like the idea of a mandatory viewing of all gun related deaths, spelled out with pictures and excruciating details, with the people forced to watch to help the severity and seriousness of gun ownership to sink in. Particularly all the child deaths should help people like the above get it through their stupid skulls that they need to leave their weapons unloaded and locked up.
Not saying it's right, but if people choose to own a gun and they have children, part of being a responsible gun owner and parent is to at least educate your child on what they are, what they look like, how deadly they are (meaning they are NOT toys) and what to do if they see one.
This kind of incident would likely not have happened had both children been educated on guns. And having a little less of a childhood due to having to be taught about guns is a LOT better than this tragedy.
It wont help. Just like all those pictures of gross genitalia dealing with STD's doesnt help. Just like that wrecked up car sitting in the school parking lot doesnt help DUI's or texting while driving. Just like the cigarette commercials dont stop people from smoking. Its a simple matter, people just dont think bad stuff happens to them.
Tax should be levied on fire arms. That tax should go towards random inspections. Owner must be able to demonstrate that their licensed firearms are properly maintained and securely stored.
Failure results in your firearms being taken.