What Are You Teaching Your Children About Guns?

\”Are YOU Ready?\”

What are you teaching your children about guns? Do you know what your school is teaching your children about guns? Have you heard about the gun buy back at a California school?

A different-kind of gun buyback was held in Hayward on Saturday as some school children were given the chance to trade in their toy guns for a prize.

The buyback, held at Strobridge Elementary School, offered books to kids who turned in their fake weapons. Principal Charles Hill held the buyback as a lesson for children who may see guns as part of everyday life.

“As they get older, it becomes just a natural thing,” Hill told KPIX 5. “If they have a real gun in their hand, they’ll pull the trigger just as quick. I mean, they don’t fear it.”

Is it just me, or should the kids be taught to respect, (and yes, maybe fear a little) real guns instead of their toy guns? And don’t get me wrong, I love more books getting to kids. But, I think a child that is taught the difference between real guns and toy guns, and the serious consequences involved in picking up real guns, is much less likely to be pulling any triggers. I’m not sure getting a book in trade for a toy gun is going to have as profound and lasting effect as serious and intentional parenting will.

What are you teaching your kids about situations where the gun is in the other hand? Concealed carry means anyone at any time could be carrying lethal force. Are you teaching your children to deescalate situations? Are you teaching them the delicate art of diplomatic retreat? The other option would be to teach them to dodge bullets, I don’t see that strategy working out so well.

This last ones a bit more challenging, but I’m going to throw it out anyway. Are you teaching your children how to handle cops wtih guns?  Let’s face it, our bloated federal funding to militarized SWAT style units has created a lot of overly armed, aggressive bullies who have their funding tied to the number of drug arrests made. Most of the time, it doesn’t even matter if the suspects are guilty. SWAT teams burst through doors armed to the teeth, terrifying (and killing) children.  Even the tiniest mistake could be and has been fatal to innocent children. The broad redefining of “Terrorism” has netted more than a few children into serious trouble. Something as seemingly small as a comment on the Internet can bring cops out to arrest your child with guns drawn.

The comment was seen by a Canadian woman who alerted police, and ultimately resulted in a Comal County (TX) grand jury indicting him on a charge of third-degree felony terroristic threat. Bail was set at $500,000 – higher than bonds set for accused terrorists, rapists … Carter’s Facebook comment was in response to a fellow gamer questioning Carter’s mental health, and followed by “lol” (laugh out loud) and “jk,” (just kidding)..

Don’t leave this stuff for your kids to figure out on their own. Or with video games or youtube videos. Whatever your views on guns, start talking to your kids about the important things they have to know. If they’re old enough, train them on bullet wound care and first aid treatment for gun shot victims too.

What are YOU teaching your children about guns?

- Calamity Jane