We recently discussed having “the talk” with our kids. That is the one where a wise dad instructs an adolescent on how to interact with a police officer. “Use respect, as if he has a gun. He does!”
There is a second “talk” that is even more important, and at a younger age. That is what to do when a child encounters a gun. If it is lying on the ground or exposed somewhere, do not touch it. Get away without doing anything else. Get an adult, preferably police, to take possession of it.
But more likely, is when they are visiting a friend’s house, someone will produce a gun. At that point, the child should immediately leave. Say, “I got to go home.” Do NOT give a reason or make a joke about it. Do not warn that this is dangerous. Just go and tell an adult.
If a child is manipulating the weapon, it is dangerous. If you mention anything about it, they may, in their immaturity, point it at someone as a joke. If you try to take it away from them the ensuing struggle may result in a discharge. All of these things can, and often do, lead to disaster.
And of course, Dad, talk to yourself. Any guns in your house MUST be secured and assuredly unavailable to any child, yours or any other. Incidentally, that is where gun legislation and prosecution comes into play. A responsible gun owner will absolutely ensure that no child can access his weapons. Period. No exceptions. No slip ups. No extraneous circumstances. And even then, keep them unloaded and apart from the ammunition.
Imagine it is like a live rattle snake. You would not “accidentally” leave it lying around or “forget” to it away. The gun potentially can be more deadly than the snake. Treat with due respect.
Gun tragedies are almost uniformly preventable. If we publish the responsibility caveats and then enforce them, careless gun owners will shape up or be locked up.
Our kids are worth it. Talk to them.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Piling On
Whenever there is a fumble during a football game two or three guys “fall” on the ball and begin to wrestle for control. At this point about 13 other guys leap onto the pile. They do not have a chance of even seeing the ball, but they jump on. Some of the leaps are even pretty artistic.
The focus of the game is not to pile on to the stack. It is to win the game. While they may not affect the outcome of the struggle under the pile, they get the aggression relief of building a big pile. (Note: Usually a replay shows one guy capturing the ball and curling up around it. Then the pile hits.)
To my Republican friends: Today’s application is a political fumble. Actually one that happened over 10 years ago. Mr. Trump clearly fumbled the ball and even loyal Republicans cannot wait to jump on the pile. Back on the playground we called it piling on. But in the hurry to leap the pile, we need to remember, like a football player, that the object of the game is not to make a big pile on the ground. It is to win the game.
And to those who sanctimoniously proclaim that we should, “Vote our conscience,” where was this conscience back in January and February when internecine disputes could have been resolved. Instead three conservatives spli the vote and left the path open for Mr. Trump. Rather than utilizing conscience, concern for the party, and more importantly, to a lot of us, concern for the country, we had three factions selfishly fighting for about 2/3 of the voting block. Splitting that base was a heady, self gratifying action. But in the long run, none of the three were able to prevail and now these same loyal party guys are busy throwing Mr. Trump and the party under the bush. (Oops, freudian slip) Under the bus.
Republican alert! Even if you do not like the head of the ticket, examine the competing platforms. If the Democrats win, it will be more and more of the same. And more. If your social conscience is guided by the platforms, you have to vote to stop Hillary. Yes, Trump is a former Democrat. That is great. There is hope that others will “see the light.”
If “voting our conscience” paves the way for another devastating attack on social mores and constitutional government, then your conscience was not well informed. And do not forget the $1 trillion dollar addition to the national debt every year that the H-camp will undoubtedly pile on. Don’t be like the boys on top of the pile. They have no idea of what is happening underneath. They are just piling on.
The game is more important than the pile. Let’s win the game.
The focus of the game is not to pile on to the stack. It is to win the game. While they may not affect the outcome of the struggle under the pile, they get the aggression relief of building a big pile. (Note: Usually a replay shows one guy capturing the ball and curling up around it. Then the pile hits.)
To my Republican friends: Today’s application is a political fumble. Actually one that happened over 10 years ago. Mr. Trump clearly fumbled the ball and even loyal Republicans cannot wait to jump on the pile. Back on the playground we called it piling on. But in the hurry to leap the pile, we need to remember, like a football player, that the object of the game is not to make a big pile on the ground. It is to win the game.
And to those who sanctimoniously proclaim that we should, “Vote our conscience,” where was this conscience back in January and February when internecine disputes could have been resolved. Instead three conservatives spli the vote and left the path open for Mr. Trump. Rather than utilizing conscience, concern for the party, and more importantly, to a lot of us, concern for the country, we had three factions selfishly fighting for about 2/3 of the voting block. Splitting that base was a heady, self gratifying action. But in the long run, none of the three were able to prevail and now these same loyal party guys are busy throwing Mr. Trump and the party under the bush. (Oops, freudian slip) Under the bus.
Republican alert! Even if you do not like the head of the ticket, examine the competing platforms. If the Democrats win, it will be more and more of the same. And more. If your social conscience is guided by the platforms, you have to vote to stop Hillary. Yes, Trump is a former Democrat. That is great. There is hope that others will “see the light.”
If “voting our conscience” paves the way for another devastating attack on social mores and constitutional government, then your conscience was not well informed. And do not forget the $1 trillion dollar addition to the national debt every year that the H-camp will undoubtedly pile on. Don’t be like the boys on top of the pile. They have no idea of what is happening underneath. They are just piling on.
The game is more important than the pile. Let’s win the game.
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