Unsolicited Advice

This is my space to address things I would like to correct about society. Lady is sometimes someone I know, sometimes a passing stranger, sometimes my mother. I've been really good about keeping my mouth shut thus far, now let the floodgates open!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

On the true meaning of "Gun Control"

As the mother of three sons, I feel it is our obligation to train them in the use of weapons. This training includes the head, heart, as well as hands. I grew up in a hunting family, with a brother that chose a career in law enforcement, a husband that is prepared to provide us with food and protection, and sons that imitate the gun use of their father and uncle.
Toy guns are a very organic thing for boys to play with. Give my sons a pile of Legos and they will be fashioned into weapons. BUT, their play is monitored and used to teach. No pointing at each other, they are on the same team shooting at a 'pretend' evil, they are allowed to shoot each other if one agrees to play as a deer, zombie, or alien.
When groups of boys get together, the play nearly always turns into rough housing, monster hunting, or any number of other aggressive forms of play. Why is it upon my children to teach their friends how to properly play with toy weapons? Why is it the sons of vegetarians (total generalization, sorry) whom totally abhor violence and are pro-gun control/banning, these children are the ones shooting their friends, telling them to die, beating the other kids with the guns, and poking each other in the eye?
We have an obligation to our children. A well-armed society is what we have, so it is imperative to nurture the minds and hearts of our children. This is NOT the job of the school teacher. I take great pride in knowing MY sons will be competent holding a weapon, their brain can decipher what the consequences of shooting a gun will be, and their heart feels compassion for others and reverence for the life of animals that give us sustenance. They know what death is, what it looks and smells like, and they know that hurting another human being for reasons other than self-defense is not an option, even in play.