One in a row....

From today's Arizona Republic:

2 boys shot, 1 killed and 1 critical

PHOENIX - A 13-year-old boy was killed and a 6-year-old critically injured Wednesday in two separate shootings apparently caused by youths playing with guns, police said.

I was originally going to put up a post about our responsibility as gun owners to a) teach people to be safe and b) properly control our firearms, but I decided that would be preaching to the choir. Instead, I sent an email to the principal of the school that my children attend.

I absolutely abhor the nanny state, and I think that a great many of the 'issues' our society is facing stem directly from a lack of parental involvement in the raising of children. Too many parents allow and/or expect the public schools to raise their kids for them. Normally I would be against another issue related program that would take the kids away from reading, writing, and ciphering, but in this case I'm willing to make an exception.

I asked about a school program on gun safety.

If you're worried that such a thing could be used by our opponents to preach the glories of an unarmed society of government dependant victims, I have news for you: It's already happening. The gun control freaks are already in our schools.

The death of any child is a tragedy. The death of a child due to unsafe gun handling that could have been prevented through education is horrible. The death of a child due to safe gun handling not being taught because it isn't politically correct is a nightmare.

"They're too dangerous to talk about, so we're going to send you into the world completely unprepared."

In my letter I asked the principal what his opinion of such a program was, and how he thought the school board would react. I offered to write and/or teach a basic course along the lines of the Eddie the Eagle program. I didn't identify it by name just in case there were any negative connotations attached to it being an NRA program. I made a point of saying that my program would be completely devoid of any political or societal overtones. Safety first, last, and always.

I'll let you know what I get back.................