I've been seeing short commercial spots showing a young son asking his father if 'we have a gun.' The father replies, "Why do you ask that, son?"

Then, the ominous black screen comes up, with the FamilyFire logo, and a sentence explaining what Family Fire is, and their website:

www.endfamilyfire.org

Looking around the site shows the usual suspects supporting the program. The ad was produced by the Ad Council.

Once again, anti-gunners create a term for a horrendous epidemic that doesn't exist.

None of my kids has ever asked me that question.
They have known there are guns in the house from the beginning. It's no secret.
They know that if I have pants on, I have a gun.
They've seen them, handled them and shot them all but the .308

Same way my I grew up and no one shot themselves then either.

I have a grand daughter expected to be born this week. She will be taught the same way as her father was taught and the same way I was taught regarding gun safety beginning at an early age. There is never any safety in ignorance! I expect her to live a long life with no problems in this area.

I listen to a lot of radio and over the last couple months I've been hearing a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) in which a husband and wife are laughing and commenting while watching their young son standing on chairs or climbing on things looking for gifts (presumably Christmas or holiday gifts) that were hidden prior to being given. After the parents joke about this act there is the sound of a 911 operator, sirens, and police comm chatter and the female announcer explains that if children can find hidden gifts then they can find a hidden gun and goes on to urge that guns be locked up.

endfamilyfire is the group that sponsors this PSA.

While I don't like the way the group sensationalizes and dramatizes the issue what really irks me is that they aren't just spending their own money on the PSA...but the Ad Council is sponsoring it as well.

It's one thing for a group to spend their own money on a message, even if I don't agree with it...but I flat out disagree with the Ad Council putting their stamp of approval on these type ads and using tax payer money to do this...but then again I disagree with virtually all Ad Council PSA.

It would make more sense to me to have mandatory safe gun handling instructions beginning in kindergarten rather than giving kids the message that guns are some how the boogey man.

Just all part of the Wussification of America. I was equally annoyed when Pediatricians started their questionnaires, asking children if there were guns present in your home?

quote:

Originally posted by nasig:
It would make more sense to me to have mandatory safe gun handling instructions beginning in kindergarten rather than giving kids the message that guns are some how the boogey man.

Of course, such safety training used to be the responsibility of parents, but too many of them now don't have the knowledge or desire to provide it. I agree that all children should receive basic training in gun safety.

flashguy

I've talked to quote a few non pro-gun people (not gun grabbers just general folks that don't like guns for some reason or another) and most of them agree that gun safety is something that could and should be taught in school.

I started my daughter on gun safety using a nerf gun at 3. She exhibits better trigger discipline than most people you see posting on social media.

I see an additional problem. They're discouraging parents from being parents. I believe in being involved in children's lives as a mentor as well as a parent. Part of the job. Want them to learn about gun safety the hard way? Another kid might teach them.

quote:

Originally posted by Scurvy:

I started my daughter on gun safety using a nerf gun at 3. She exhibits better trigger discipline than most people you see posting on social media.

Exactly.

Start when they're young. Ingrain good safety practices with and around firearms and they'll carry those lessons with them for life.

I started my Son this way when he was three, as well.

Children are naturally curious. That's how they learn. Teach them about firearms in a safe manner and gradually introduce them to the real deal. After that, it becomes a non-issue to them/something that no longer mystifies them.

It should be called StupidStorage.org

Philly police / DA have finally begun prosecuting the "uncle" or "aunt" or "BF" or whomever who leaves the gun out for the 2-year old to find (and subsequently shoot themselves or their cousin.

I taught my daughters all the basic life skills that I could. I don't want schools teaching guns-look at the mess they made of sex education. My job, I'll do it.

such a program wouldn't be for your daughter. It would be for the kids whose parents can't or won't teach them gun safety. It's about resisting the agenda of the anti's

I don't know what their agenda is with the ads. Is it pure anti gun or is it gun safety?

It might encourage parents to teach their kids that firearms are not "toys" as many enthusiasts refer to them. It might reduce accidental shootings, especially involving children. So maybe it has merits. Teaching children gun safety is the right approach.

If the statistics were reduced then maybe the Bloomberg anti 2A people would back off.

Heh, like when my wife asked how many ARs we have? She was thinking two and I had to think about it for awhile to know the number myself.

quote:

f the statistics were reduced then maybe the Bloomberg anti 2A people would back off

These people will NEVER back off. Their goal isn't to save anyone's life, their goal is to insure that the only guns in this country are in the hands of the government. They want to disarm their enemies (thats us) so we will be easier to control.

I live in NJ so I don't typically bring up the subject or advertise my ownership. But when someone finds out, they typically look at me in surprise and ask “You have a gun?!”. I respond by looking at them incredulously and asking “You don't?!!”.

The point is that I don't respond to these people by being defensive, as if I'm doing something wrong or unacceptable. They've been very effective keeping us back on our heels constantly trying to justify our position. I don't let them take me down that path. I make the subtle point that they're the ones being irresponsible/lazy/dependent etc where their well-being is concerned.

quote:

Originally posted by az4783054:
I don't know what their agenda is with the ads. Is it pure anti gun or is it gun safety?

It might encourage parents to teach their kids that firearms are not "toys" as many enthusiasts refer to them. It might reduce accidental shootings, especially involving children. So maybe it has merits. Teaching children gun safety is the right approach.

If the statistics were reduced then maybe the Bloomberg anti 2A people would back off.

"Gun Safety" is the new euphemism for gun control. NEVER believe the anti gun folks want anything but the total elimination of firearms.

Remember: Gun control is not about guns, its about CONTROL.

You could all be correct. Obviously there are those would rather not have any guns in this country. Blame the idiot who illegally uses a firearm, not the tool.

There's nothing wrong with teaching "firearms safety" to children. Is that better?

quote:

Originally posted by pessimist:
I live in NJ so I don't typically bring up the subject or advertise my ownership. But when someone finds out, they typically look at me in surprise and ask “You have a gun?!”. I respond by looking at them incredulously and asking “You don't?!!”.

The point is that I don't respond to these people by being defensive, as if I'm doing something wrong or unacceptable. They've been very effective keeping us back on our heels constantly trying to justify our position. I don't let them take me down that path. I make the subtle point that they're the ones being irresponsible/lazy/dependent etc where their well-being is concerned.

Very good.
Many anti's whole goal in having a 'discussion' is to immediately put you on the defensive, forcing you the gun owner, to explain why you own a gun, why you think you need to own one, answer loaded questions such as gun safety or, what they think is gun safety & responsible ownership. Flip the discussion around, force them to explain their hoplophobia, why taking away certain people's rights is justified, how do laws work when they're ignored. Do it with a smile, it'll disarm them and force them to consider their position, many times I've had people stomp-off in a huff, fully frustrated knowing I wasn't some knuckle-dragging cretin that they could to expose.