Kids & guns

"Hunting and guns are an integral part of the culture in Washington County, and children are often introduced to them at a young age."

In keeping with our "culture," local schools could also teach the proper chewing and spitting of tobacco. This could be taught during the no longer needed English classes.(Again in keeping with our culture.)

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Interesting morningperson asserts a stereotype in connection with a common pastime in many cultures across America.

Tolerance.... get ya some!

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Gun safety should be taught in schools. The younger the age the better.

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Morningperson, it must have been a long time since you attended school, if ever. Avoiding tobacco products due to their health risks has been taught in school health classes for years. It is an excellent idea to use the Eddie Eagle program to teach small children to avoid guns due to their dangerous nature. Your post is foolish.

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Two facts. 27 US Presidents including Obama have been tobacco users. And gun related violence has been on a steady decline for the past 7 years.

The debate isn't about guns. The data proves that existing laws, gun education & social awareness are working. It's about taxing, growing voter base & growth of government.....Man, I just sounded like I wrote this in a remote cabin in the woods while building mail bombs....yikes.

Anyhow, look at the legislation, being worked on today and notice that both parties are doing nothing other than building their voter base for 2016.

Morningperson, I thought liberal principles were founded on the openness and acceptance of others life styles....hypocrite

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We need more of this. Children should not be taught to fear guns. They she be taught how to properly use them. Those on the left are only against this because they have a fundemental flaw in their reasoning. They fail to see guns for what they are, tools. As with any tool, there is the potential for abuse.

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The message to children about gun safety is short and to the point, "STOP! Don't touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult."

Nine words is all that's needed. Why make a big "program" out of it? And why have this taught in schools? Next thing you know we'll have to start teaching kids in school not to touch the top on the range when it's on, or not to run into traffic. Our schools have enough to do without taking on more of the parents responsibilities of teaching children basic safety.

"Don't you EVER touch these guns" was enough for my father to say to me. Parents, do your jobs!

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Tessie, that has to be one of the most short-sighted and ignorant posts I have ever read. I feel dumber for having read it. Come on, get real. Your idea is to instill fear of guns? Should we teach kids to fear baseball bats? Kids should be taught the proper way to handle and fire a gun, not stay away and avoid.

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I ran across this the other day and I find it extremely fitting. I don't know who wrote it, but I would be more than happy to give credit.

"We are not suppose to judge all Muslims by the acts of a few "crazies", but the acts of a few American crazies is enough to CONDEMN all Americans who own guns."

Think about this.

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Tessie: I agree with your post 100%, but it's obvious we are in the minority in this gun-lovin' neck of the woods. I grew up in a home with several guns, and knew to respect them (not fear Harley)but the idea of required instruction in our public schools on gun saftey, is just ridiculous! The same people that think precious time during the school day should be used for gun instruction are probably the same ones that complain that not enough time is spent on teaching math and science.

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No we shouldn't teach them that. It may take time away from their Sexual Diversity Classes..(SARCASM intended)..

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Gun don't kill people just like cars don't get DUI's....

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good solid facts presented in a rational way never hurt anyone, in school or some other way. i see gun control as another smoke screen the government is using to coverup the takeover of more and more individual rights. just like the aid to nj,ny was more pork than aid, a government out of control.

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Digmed wrote "Morningperson, I thought liberal principles were founded on the openness and acceptance of others life styles....hypocrite"

You are 100% correct, but it is not true with today's Liberals or commonly called "Progressives".

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If guns should not be in schools, it should cover all schools, even the one's Obama's children go to. We want our children to be as safe as his, or at least I do.

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Be careful armybrat, they already got all over the NRA for saying our kids were on the same playing field as Obama's.

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Usually kids enjoy shooting sports when a trained adult takes the time to properly show them how to safely use and handle a gun. This is probably the best thing a parent can do for their kids. If they like it and want to continue it as a hobby. Great. At the minimum, they will know not to play with real guns and what damage they can do and maybe not grow to be an anti gun activist that has no idea how guns work.

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Meanwhile, in the rest of the developed and some of the developing world, children continue to surpass Americans in the fields of math, sciences, foreign languages, history and geography.

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Good God, the Eddie Eagle program isn't a year long course or something, it's a simple video using cartoonish figures, and a small workbook that covers the same material. This isn't something that's going to interfere with them learning cursive writing. Oh, that's right, they don't have to learn that ANYMORE! We have computers!

How many children do you hear of every year that "found" a loaded gun, and kills their friend? But of course, Tessie, as usual, is horrified over a common sense idea!

Maybe that's why we ignore her when she speaks of "common sense" gun laws?

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Gun safety needs taught to every child. That way if they're ever around a gun, they will know to respect it, and if necessary how to handle it without causing an accident. Maybe they can take responsibility with it, rather than let the uneducated, irresponsible kid play with it and accidentally discharge it. Even if you're anti-gun, teaching your children about gun safety is a necessity.

If you think telling your kids "guns are bad" is enough to keep them away, go talk to all the parents of kids killed a year by their friends on accident. Gun safety should be a priority for people of all ages.

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The article makes reference to first graders. At that age children should fear guns and they should be taught to not touch them at all. That is common sense.

Stick & Harley, this discussion is about whether this stuff needs to be taught in school and the example is 1st graders. Think about it

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I see no problem with it if it's by permission slips. If Parents don't want their kids to have an instructor teach a firearms safety class, then don't sign the slip...

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This will probably come as a shock to some, but I have NO problem with teaching young people about gun-safety! Yes, guns are a part of American culture, but the first thing a child should be taught about guns is that they are NOT "toys" ... It's a lesson that some so-called adults might need to learn as well! Now a lot here has to do with WHO is doing the "teaching". If a child is taught about firearms by some paranoid "survivalist" (I mention no names) the student might pick up some bad habits. If, on the other hand, gun-safety is taught in a responsible manner by some "progressive" person, they might learn a valuable lesson in responsibility toward others ... Contrary to the erroneous views of some, I'm NOT opposed to guns. I AM opposed to felons and mentally-ill persons who shoot people, and I AM opposed to certain "gun-geeks" whose unhealthy love for combat-style weapons surpasses their empathy for other human beings ...

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... Some wingnuts have claimed that the picture of the President skeet-shooting at Camp David is "faked" because the shotgun is not raised higher ... These ignorant self-styled "experts" apparently are confusing "skeet" shooting with "trap" shooting. "PULL!" Lol!

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Of course they're talking about seven year old kids, the course is designed for that age group. Freddie, it doesn't have to be "taught",it's a cartoon and a workbook that covers the material.

I'd be a little concerned if some crackpot leftist was "teaching " the material.

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