Farmers, guns, and the "old days"

[galanie]

That Japanese General may or may not have said what was quoted, but the whole reason "keep and bear arms" was put into the constitution was so that we as a country would be able to defend ourselves. One of the first moves that every dictator, Hitler included, makes is to remove guns from the general populace.

I realize many consider this an "extreme" argument for having guns because in "today's world" we aren't at risk to be invaded by anyone. Of course we aren't! We're armed!

As an interesting side note, after Florida started allowing private citizens to get a "concealed carry" permit, crime dropped. Yes, some of the permit holders might have misused their firearms but that is much more rare than someone not carrying being victimized. Now, I don't think everyone should walk around everywhere with a six-shooter on their hip like the Wild West, but guns are truly demonized way too much. I also agree about teaching your children about guns. Once they have learned about them and fired them, kids have respect for the weapon and realize it's not a plaything to be pointing at people. In my house, as a kid, I'd get hell just for pointing a cap gun at someone!

 

[JenellYB]

Interestingly, though my Dad was a surviving wounded WWII veteran, a serious hunter, taught us how to use guns under adult supervised control, and a solid conservatvie and Republican, -----though that was something very different back then (50's, 60's)---we were NEVER allowed to play with toy guns..NEVER. We had none, other kids were not allowed to bring them to our house/yard to play with, and my parents stood firmly with neighbors whose kids had guns, we were only allowed over there is they agreed all toy guns be put up while we were there. The only exception were plastic CLEARLY toy water pistols. If we are to be caught even playing with some other kid's toy gun, the reprimand and punshment would have been near are severe as having been caught touching a 'real' gun. My parent's thinking, and I now tend to agree, was they wanted absolutely NO even casual association in our minds of guns as toys.

I also agree about teaching your children about guns. Once they have learned about them and fired them, kids have respect for the weapon and realize it's not a plaything to be pointing at people. In my house, as a kid, I'd get hell just for pointing a cap gun at someone!

 

[CSWolffe]

People were armed in Afganistan. Did that stop us? If someone wants to invade, armed citizens won't deter them, the men and women willing to fight and die for our country will. And I don't think for a moment our government fears us because we are armed. They should fear us because we have the power to vote them out of office, but I don't think they fear even that. Repubs or Demos, they don't give a rats behind for us. I think we can all agree on that.
And if you love guns or hate them, in the end, I think we have share most values. There are only a few small details we disagree upon, and sadly, those tend to be the ones people are the most passionate.

 

[un-named543]

I just wonder why we all of a sudden have to hide our guns from kids etc. Back when I was a kids your dad saying don't touch the gun meant you don't touch the gun. I don't know if its kids being more stubborn and defying their parents or parents not being parents to their kids but something changed. I'm voting for the later. Parents need to quit being their kids BFF and be their parents. Last night my 9 year old told me he doesn't like me after I told him something he didn't want to hear. My response, "I'm your father not your friend." Maybe I'm wrong, who knows.

 

[JenellYB]

Honest facts are, just because YOU wouldn't have and I wouldn't have, having been raised that way, doesn't mean that hold true for EVERY kid. I've told here on one of my own kids, we raised carefully with guns, in an incident. And I remember from my childhood (50's-60's) incidents with other kids, including some serious injuries AND even fatalities, involving kids raised just like I was, some in my family even, it DIDN'T work so effectively with. It didn't work for every kid everytime back then, no reason to expect it to now. Guns are no different than anything else we might try to teach our kids responsiblity about. Tell me you don't know famlies that despite strong consistent teaching their kids the dangers of alcohol, drugs, or reckless driving, haven't seen those kids get into trboule with those things. To beleive all a parent has to do is tell their kids what to do or not do, even ready to back it up with severe punishment, to unsure their kids won't ever violate that, is awfully naive and unrealistic.

I just wonder why we all of a sudden have to hide our guns from kids etc. Back when I was a kids your dad saying don't touch the gun meant you don't touch the gun. I don't know if its kids being more stubborn and defying their parents or parents not being parents to their kids but something changed. I'm voting for the later. Parents need to quit being their kids BFF and be their parents. Last night my 9 year old told me he doesn't like me after I told him something he didn't want to hear. My response, "I'm your father not your friend." Maybe I'm wrong, who knows.

 

[AliceMae]

Speaking of guns ~ after this little guy, from you know where, got several of my chickens ~ I got him!
FYI- No kids were around... AliceMae turned Annie Oakley!!

 

[JenellYB]

Good going, AliceMae!

Speaking of guns ~ after this little guy, from you know where, got several of my chickens ~ I got him!
FYI- No kids were around... AliceMae turned Annie Oakley!!

 

[JenellYB]

You know, another thought about the critical importance of gun security re kids....it is not only our own kids we're gamlbing withh if we are careless about gun security...
Just happened in a family i know, have two really good teens, boy 17, girl 14, 'taught right' kind of family. Its not about guns, but same idea at work here...They have a big home, lots of hang-out space, tv room videio games, all cool kids stuff...always been common for their kids having lots of other kids over, often over night, weekends, doing things together. I've commented to them before, about their unlocked rather large and varied alcoholic stock. Plus extra fridge in Dad's worskshop, where Dad and buddies as well as son and friends all hang out, always full of sodas and beer...They are info frequent bar-b-que, parties, with alcohol. family, friends, work pals, etc. Partying has been 'slow' since New Years. But Mom and Dad decided to have a mixed drink the other night. Uh-oh. Lots of nearly empty bottles. As if, leaving 1" in the bottle might not be 'noticed,, lol?
And since there are so many other kids around all the time, it is not only their own kids they've gambled with the trust thing with, or put in potential danger.

 

[AliceMae]

You know, another thought about the critical importance of gun security re kids....it is not only our own kids we're gamlbing withh if we are careless about gun security...
Just happened in a family i know, have two really good teens, boy 17, girl 14, 'taught right' kind of family. Its not about guns, but same idea at work here...They have a big home, lots of hang-out space, tv room videio games, all cool kids stuff...always been common for their kids having lots of other kids over, often over night, weekends, doing things together. I've commented to them before, about their unlocked rather large and varied alcoholic stock. Plus extra fridge in Dad's worskshop, where Dad and buddies as well as son and friends all hang out, always full of sodas and beer...They are info frequent bar-b-que, parties, with alcohol. family, friends, work pals, etc. Partying has been 'slow' since New Years. But Mom and Dad decided to have a mixed drink the other night. Uh-oh. Lots of nearly empty bottles. As if, leaving 1" in the bottle might not be 'noticed,, lol?
And since there are so many other kids around all the time, it is not only their own kids they've gambled with the trust thing with, or put in potential danger.

Yea, I know about that "empty bottle" thing ~ my friends and I used to do that to all of our parents. Back in my day tho (which was decades ago) nothing was ever said, or maybe we just got lucky! Anyway, today is so very different and kids are totally unaware of life away from electronics!

Wish I'd have lived in the country when raising my son. I think that would have taught more of nature and real living verses the crap they all have now.

... and that's my story... !

 

[JenellYB]

The potential of disaster and legal mess is there, too...some of the 17 yr olds friends as well as this 17 yr old, have drivers' licences and cars! If drunk and an accident happened, this family was the ones that had provided access to the alcohol! Even just other kids parents discovering their kids were freely getting alcohol there could lead to legal trouble, providing alcohol to minors! Since this family is of my own family, there's not much I can say at this point...I only know this happened because I was there when they discovered it....and I've voiced my concern about that very situation there before, all that alcohol not locked up.....well, after a moment of all 3 of of standing there, staring dumbfounded at the wiped out liquer bottles, I just quietly turned and walked away,,,,said NOTHING, lol!

Yea, I know about that "empty bottle" thing ~ my friends and I used to do that to all of our parents. Back in my day tho (which was decades ago) nothing was ever said, or maybe we just got lucky! Anyway, today is so very different and kids are totally unaware of life away from electronics!

Wish I'd have lived in the country when raising my son. I think that would have taught more of nature and real living verses the crap they all have now.

... and that's my story... !