RE: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Christmas Present Ideas?

["Ross, Matthew" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

> > That would be me...  As one who doesn't believe that guns 
> are the root 
> > of all evil, I'd say they're very appropriate for 
> Christmas, once a kid 
> > is old enough and has had the proper training.
> 
> Please don't preach.  I grew up in an NRA household before the NRA
> turned into a political organization.  Obviously, I was partly
> kidding around, (as was Matt, with his suggestion of getting better
> gun deals on the black market).

Much like many things, this is one of those "soft-spots" that a lot of people have strong opinions on. I agree that your response didn't need a preaching to, but I agree with Nathan's sentiment as well. I am a bit upset by the issue myself, and find myself venting the same way. Things like students getting expelled from high school and arrested because they had a pocket knife in their car "because the 'zero tolerance' rule is in effect" make it hard to keep a straight face when I hear "the land of the free".

I personally don't own any firearms, because I am not fully trained to use them. Both my parents are, and they have firearms. When I have a house (or an apartment that doesn't have a no-weapons rule), I will probably invest in training and licensing if nothing else, just as an exercise of my rights as a free citizen. I grew up with a good example, in that both were trained, and both had sense enough to follow their training. The guns were disabled and trigger locked, stored separately from their ammunition, and kept where no child could reach. My mother is paranoid of keeping the empty lawn mower gas can in the garage, yet she isn't the slightest bit fearful about having a gun in the house, because she understands them and the danger that they represent.

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