With the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in CT, I have watched and read all the opinions on the gun control over the last couple days.
For a girl who grew up with guns all around her throughout my entire life, they've never been a problem.
We've never let them be a problem.
Like any hobby, sport or activity, there is education, respect and discipline involved. So why are we pointing at guns for the stem of the problem?
Is the problem not at the gun's handler?
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| Three generations of responsible gun handling. |
For a girl who grew up with guns all around her throughout my entire life, they've never been a problem.
We've never let them be a problem.
Like any hobby, sport or activity, there is education, respect and discipline involved. So why are we pointing at guns for the stem of the problem?
Is the problem not at the gun's handler?
I grew up in a household full out outdoor enthusiasts where guns are a tool in the sport of hunting. They are introduced at an early age to the generation who catches that outdoor passion. Hunting (guns included) has been a family tradition providing laughter, education and pure quality time together. From an early age, we start out with a BB gun, learning the proper way to fire, clean, carry, identify backdrops, general safety, etc.
The importance and respect is instilled. The "teachers" (my grandpa, my dad, my brothers) are a prime example. They practice exactly what they preach. There is no room for mistakes.
Once they (the younger generation) have proved capable of handling the specific type of gun, they get to move up to the next level. Our family has our own specific age restrictions as well. We take pride in this growth of our youth.
The importance and respect is instilled. The "teachers" (my grandpa, my dad, my brothers) are a prime example. They practice exactly what they preach. There is no room for mistakes.
Once they (the younger generation) have proved capable of handling the specific type of gun, they get to move up to the next level. Our family has our own specific age restrictions as well. We take pride in this growth of our youth.
I am a person who enjoys learning both sides. I welcome it. I am not coming to this topic with just my viewpoint. I have lived in areas where I'm definitely the minority: PETA members and anti-gunners far outweight pro-gunners. I have listened to numerous people and yes, I can understand how people with no upbringing around guns could be frightened with a negative image towards guns. But if they only opened their eyes a little more to learn the other side....
I am a person who enjoys learning both sides. I welcome it. I am not coming to this topic with just my viewpoint. I have lived in areas where I'm definitely the minority: PETA members and anti-gunners far outweight pro-gunners. I have listened to numerous people and yes, I can understand how people with no upbringing around guns could be frightened with a negative image towards guns. But if they only opened their eyes a little more to learn the other side....
I have been living outside of Los Angeles for the past 2 years. I lived in a neighborhood where many of my neighbors are anti-gun or pro-PETA. You should've seen the look on their faces when they found out my family's pastime - hunting. It's hard for them to believe that I would actually fire a gun. Why do I feel like they think all gun owners are wild savages?
I welcome their comments. I love to hear their experiences (little to none), research, etc. and I was more than happy to listen to their side/opinion. Just more topics for me to educate them about. You wouldn't believe the lack of knowledge from the anti-gunners.
To explain to one who doesn't understand that being a hunter/sportsmen is so much more than just shooting animals, is one of my favorite parts of watching the lightbulb go on!
Man, can you believe gun owners do have hearts?! (sarcasm very much applied)
Would you believe that my family (just one of the many sportsmen in our area) share the game (aka meat) with families that are struggling. Did you know that my family spends wayyyy more time prepping to help the next generation of ducks than in the actual hunting boat with a gun? Building duck nests, planting duck food, managing wetlands, etc.
At the end of the conversation, many responses said, "ohhhh, well I guess I never knew that part of it." I fake smile with patience. A lot of patience.
I welcome their comments. I love to hear their experiences (little to none), research, etc. and I was more than happy to listen to their side/opinion. Just more topics for me to educate them about. You wouldn't believe the lack of knowledge from the anti-gunners.
To explain to one who doesn't understand that being a hunter/sportsmen is so much more than just shooting animals, is one of my favorite parts of watching the lightbulb go on!
Man, can you believe gun owners do have hearts?! (sarcasm very much applied)
Would you believe that my family (just one of the many sportsmen in our area) share the game (aka meat) with families that are struggling. Did you know that my family spends wayyyy more time prepping to help the next generation of ducks than in the actual hunting boat with a gun? Building duck nests, planting duck food, managing wetlands, etc.
At the end of the conversation, many responses said, "ohhhh, well I guess I never knew that part of it." I fake smile with patience. A lot of patience.
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| Shooting the BB gun for the first time! |
This past September, one of my girlfriends from California came to Minnesota to visit. During her visit, she was able to experience my country upbringing and our nature-centered lifestyle. We found my older brother in the field with my two nephews, practicing shooting. The Cali girl asked my nephews, ages 6 and 9 about hunting and guns. I sat back to witness this awesome event. She was right in the moment that I'd love for so many anti-gunners to experience. I was so proud of my nephews and the way they composed themselves. They answered her questions respectfully, yet they were so excited to show and teach her. I could tell they were amused by my friend. They had never seen someone in their twenties who had never been around guns. I was amused myself. She declined the offer to shoot right away but after seeing the fun from these young adolescents, she agreed. Even if it was only a BB gun, we all start out somewhere. She said she enjoyed it and thanked my nephews. When dropping her back off at the airport, she shared that being in the field with my nephews was one of the highlights of her trip.
Today I saw this post on a friend's wall...
"just like everyone, the shooting in Conneticut have dominated my thoughts this weekend. And just as much, people's reactions. "Warning, personal opinions follow and I live in America so I can share them". But the thought of more people getting guns to combat a small percentage scares the crap out of me. I don't want to live in a militia state like Isreal or Palestine (like I've seen a few post...
s for) and have our teachers carrying guns? I've often wondering how people in places like that live...and I never want to find out. And I never want to be the one carrying a gun. Carrying something that I know can willing take the life of another. Doesn't that make me just as bad as them? What if my adrenal response ends an innocent life? My hands are not the hands of God. He should decide who comes and goes from this world, not me. And yes, if I were confronted with a situation where someone is about to shoot me, I would rather be shot and end my life and leave this world knowing it was my time than to live knowing I took a life out of this world."
In reply to this...
What if my adrenal response ends an innocent life?
What if my adrenal response ends an innocent life?
First of all, adrenal response.....Whoa whoa whoa.... Because the above statement references God, then I will too.
"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- 2 Timothy 1:7
You cannot fear guns as a whole due to the fear of an adrenal rush. Get a hold of yourself. Take some responsibility of your actions. You were made with self-control! Once again, why do I feel like gun owners have this evil, out of control savage image? My own grandmother has a gun! This is the same lady who cooks in the kitchen at her church every Sunday!
"And yes, if I were confronted with a situation where someone is about to shoot me, I would rather be shot and end my life and leave this world knowing it was my time than to live knowing I took a life out of this world."
Are you saying you wouldn't fight for your life? You'd just take it as "it was your time to leave"?
Even the principal of Sandy Hook put up a fight.
With that being said, in certain situations, certain measures and actions are called for.
With that being said, in certain situations, certain measures and actions are called for.
I took the Conceal Carry Handgun Permit Class here in Minnesota about 5 years ago. One of the main things they teach that I remember the instructor saying more than once, "I hope you never ever have to use this handgun to take someones life."
Do you think people with guns go around looking for trouble? Absolutely not.
Like my instructor said, using a handgun to take someones life is thee last thing anyone wishes for.
But like Peter Rizzo says in CNN's article
5 THINGS GUN OWNERS WANT YOU TO KNOW,
"I'm not out looking for trouble, but if trouble shows up I want to be prepared."
5 THINGS GUN OWNERS WANT YOU TO KNOW
To prove again that it's the mental illness of people and not the guns....
Ever heard of the Switzerland's gun laws and low crime level?
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| A wonderful article on CNN.com |
Do you think people with guns go around looking for trouble? Absolutely not.
Like my instructor said, using a handgun to take someones life is thee last thing anyone wishes for.
But like Peter Rizzo says in CNN's article
5 THINGS GUN OWNERS WANT YOU TO KNOW,
"I'm not out looking for trouble, but if trouble shows up I want to be prepared."
5 THINGS GUN OWNERS WANT YOU TO KNOW
To prove again that it's the mental illness of people and not the guns....
Ever heard of the Switzerland's gun laws and low crime level?
I took a few clips from this article....
Guns, Crime, and the
Swiss
by Stephen P. Halbrook, Ph.D., J.D.
by Stephen P. Halbrook, Ph.D., J.D.
The world was
horrified on April 20 when two students used guns and bombs to murder a dozen
classmates and a teacher in Littleton, Colorado. The Congress is now stampeding
to pass additional restrictions on the acquisition of firearms.. Yet in 1996, a
pederast who legally owned guns under England's strict regulations went on a
rampage in which he murdered 16 children and a teacher in Dunblane, Scotland.
The Parliament responded with an outright ban on all handguns and most
rifles.
There have
been no school shootings in Switzerland, but guns and kids sure do mix there. At
all major shooting matches, bicycles aplenty are parked outside. Inside the
firing shelter the competitors pay 12-year olds tips to keep score. The
16-year-olds shoot rifles along with men and women of all ages.
In a word,
Switzerland, which is awash in guns, has substantially lower murder and robbery
rates than England, where most guns are banned.
In American
society, firearms take on a sinister reputation from the nightly news and
excessively-violent movies. In Switzerland, firearms symbolize a wholesome,
community activity. The typical weekend shooting festival brings out the entire
family. By the range will be a huge tent where scores or even hundreds of people
are eating, drinking, and socializing. With colorful banners of the Cantons and
of the rifle clubs fluttering in the wind, the melody of rifle fire blends with
Alpine music and cow bells. Event sponsors may include banks, supermarkets,
watch makers, and Die Post--the telephone and postal system.
Although there
is more per capita firepower in Switzerland than any place in the world, it is
one of the safest places to be. To the delight of Americans who support the
right to keep and bear arms, Switzerland is the proof in the pudding of the
argument that guns don't cause crime.
Although there is more per capita firepower in Switzerland than any place in the world, it is one of the safest places to be. To the delight of Americans who support the right to keep and bear arms, Switzerland is the proof in the pudding of the argument that guns don't cause crime.
Although there is more per capita firepower in Switzerland than any place in the world, it is one of the safest places to be. To the delight of Americans who support the right to keep and bear arms, Switzerland is the proof in the pudding of the argument that guns don't cause crime.
To back up the author for creditability on Swiss gun laws, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Switzerland
Guns are tools for hunting.
Cars are tools for transportation.
Ropes are tools for many misc. tasks.
You're given the responsibility behind the wheel of a vehicle everyday. So how come you're not hitting pedestrians? Because you know right from wrong, that's why. Just like 99% of gun owners. They enjoy various types of hunting, sport shooting, etc. I understand cars, ropes, etc. might be taking it a bit far. My point is....humans are taught right from wrong. There are tools everyday, everywhere that could be deadly. However, with accountability and responsibility, these everyday tools are enjoyed on a daily basis with no problems.
My point of all this is to prove that guns are not the problem.
For someone like me who has had nothing but positive experiences with firearms, I'm sick of the blame being put on the guns.
It's the sick sick intent in these people's minds.
Times have changed. Our culture has changed. Was this happening in the 1950's?
- Where is the discipline?
- Where are the parents?
- Where is the right from wrong?
- How have these video games that are so realistically violently vivid hit the markets of our adolescents?
- How about the adequacy or availability of mental health care?
- And how did we get to the point of actually blaming the weapon?!
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