The Laughing Wolf

Gun And Alcohol Proofing Your Children

One of the newest members of the Bad Example Family is Shakey Pete, and he has started out with a roar. A much needed roar as everyone who jabbers about child proofing guns is missing the point: You should not be trying to child proof the guns, but gun proof your children. Except for the melon, this is very much what my parents did to me and as a result I knew that guns, real guns, were not toys. They were there, they were tools, and they were to be respected. That is a lot of what is behind Laughing Wolf's Weapons Safety Rules.

If you make something not a mystery, not glamorous, and not a sneak-off-behind-the-stairs-and-check-it-out thing, kids will treat it rather matter of factly. Growing up, I knew guns were tools and not to be abused, and that abuse WOULD be punished. Just the same as was done for alcohol in my household. Just the same as is being pointed out by Teresa in this wonderful post.

I was allowed a sip of beer or wine from quite young, and if memory serves did not like the taste at all early on. When I was around 10 or 12, I was allowed to slip some very potent drinks to the point that I got sick as a dog -- lesson learned. Overall, it was not big deal, it was not a way to rebel, and I learned in painful fashion to respect it. There is a good deal of data to show that such an attitude cuts down on teen drinking and on teen and even adult drinking problems. Don't take my word on it, go do some academic searches in psychology and sociology and cross-reference against Germany, Spain, and Italy. Don't expect to see this point raised by the nanny crowd...

BTW, go share a blue-band cigar with ol' Shakey.

LW