Something I Didn’t Know

Went back to school after 20 years as a surf bum. Got a degree in Surveying, did that for a good long while, now I work for my wife's business as a baker and build kayaks.
Why'd you have to go and bring up my cousin ?

The whole key to this debate is education of gun safety and firing a gun properly and common sense! Depending on where you grew up sometimes the only protection you had was a gun- I know from personal experience- grew up in the sticks and moved to the big city where there was an actual honest to God police force.
Now having said that- the common sense comes into play by not going around being Rambo etc all the time. Common sense is getting the education needed to properly use it and respect gun use! We are all entitled to our opinion. Nurse K is entitled to hers and let's not crucify her for it.

As for me- I have my gun, know how to use it wisely and respect it. I will also teach my kids how to use a gun and respect it as well!

Hey -- I like cousin-humping! _ oh - wait ...

Seriously - while I never completed college, I have continued to take courses over the years designed to advance my skills. For the record, I'm a computer programmer at a Fortune 50 (2007 Forbes ranking - latest I could find) financial services company. I've been employed there for well over 20 years now, and previously worked as a programmer for various and sundry consulting outfits in the Washington DC metro region. Id that good enough?

Born in the Ozarks, at university I trained in classical voice (Mozartean Dramatic Coloratura Soprano, thank you very much) and studied literature, but did not finish my degree because of what you'd probably describe as my inborn downwardly mobile nature. I grew up around guns and never once for a single second did I or my siblings consider them toys. Dad never even had to take a belt to us on that score, because we knew guns were serious business. Not bad for a bunch of hillbillies, eh?

BA in Sociology, MPA. Born right here outside of Boston, which isn't exactly rural. Live just a bit outside of the city, still not rural.
For the record, she was my fourth cousin, it was just a little making out, AND we didn't know we were related until after. Sheesh.

Heh.

Long-haired New Jerseyan with an English degree, of all things, working in the publishing industry.

If that don't say urban liberal hippy, I dunno what does. :)

BA in political science, MA in national security studies, state and county certifications as a licensed foster parent, 2-year teaching credential program with MA-level courses in child development and child psychology, nearly fifteen years of experience teaching at the elementary level, and a college post as an associate professor.

All that wiped away when I closely monitor my child participating in an Olympic sport.

I am a nurse, raised in the South, early 40s in age, mother of two, married 20+ years, and learned how to SAFELY shoot a firearm by the time I was 10 years old.

The key word here is SAFELY. Unfortunately, for every 10 of us taught to shoot properly even at a young age, there are probably 3 that are given a gun and told to "git after it".

No need to call CPS...no need for any of this....more kids die by riding ATVs without proper training and helmets, and by being too young to drive them without adult supervision...all goes back to the main points, SAFETY AND ADULT SUPERVISION! 'Nuff said!

Two Bachelors degrees, one post-graduate diploma, one Masters degree. Member of MENSA for the past three decades, if that means anything (and most of the respondents to this thread would qualify for membership, based on their academic credentials). Not that any of those degrees or MENSA membership matter a damn . . . I've found that applied intelligence is far more important than the academic or egghead variety!

CBEMT, BA, living in an extremely blue, extremely anti-gun New England state, and have all my life.

We have a saying in our household when it comes to teaching our children: "The more they know, the more they know." (That's a statement and not a redundancy)

Hey, I still live in NY, and I grew up in Manhattan - one of the strongholds of Liberalism. I drank from the Kool-Aid trough early on, but I outgrew it. I realized we don't have to be sheeple and that we have rights. The irony about why I changed may amuse you. It was then-mayor of NYC, Rudy Giuliani and his nanny-state bullshit. I had had enough and I saw that if I didn't do something about it, everything was going to turn into a nanny state. So I moved out of NYC. I have street smarts and book smarts with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture. I've taken several different I.Q. tests over the past 2 decades and always scored 147 to 148. Guess I'm pretty stupid then, for exercising my right to keep and bear arms (even in a state that doesn't allow me to).

The first sign of responsibility trusted to us southerners by our fathers is firearms.

Normally we're talking about the single shot .22 rifle. It is our right of passage. I got mine at age 6. The responsibility part of that is where you learn to never, ever treat a firearm with anything but the utmost respect. It is to be considered loaded even if you have just unloaded it yourself.

I do not expect others from outside of my culture to understand that.

But I do expect them to have the grace to respect it.

I love Nurse K and read her all the time.......but I do not agree with her opinions on this subject but can agree that she simply does not understand and leave it at that.

Not remotely interested in taking up the active debate, but in the interests of demographics...

Two science degrees between us, and we live in the world capital of PhD concentration in Los Alamos. I didn't learn to shoot until I was an adult, but Stingray lived here from infancy and his father began teaching him to shoot at age 5 in the same manner as AD. It's a not-uncommon sight at the range up here, and if it gets a second look at all it's a fond smile and an "Aw". Never seen anyone being unsafe, and when I was watching AD and Katybeth I was struck by how profoundly controlled everything was.

If we have children- which we likely won't anyway- we will be doing things the same way.

Definitely fit the redneck, ignorant profile here! PhD in medieval history (U. Edinburgh, UK), from Connecticut, female; learned to shoot on moving back from the UK (where the concepts of hunting, target shooting and especially self defence are subjects you do not discuss in polite conversation). Love every trip to the range.

I'm 30 Yr. old, BBA education, gainfully employed female, living in Trinidad in the Caribbean.

Granddad shot competitively for for his country, the shootin gene skipped a generation and recently became active in me.

I live in a country where the police presence is a joke and many criminals are armed illegally. The law abiding population on the other hand, has to wait years to obtain a gun license (if they ever get it) or pay a massive bribe to obtain one.

I have come to realize recently that because of my colour, my gender and where I live and work, that I am a choice target. I am doing everything in my power to not become a victim. Included in this is firearms training and applying for a gun license.

I would ask that you remember that even in first world countries, the police response time would not allow them to interrupt most crimes. Added to this is the clarification of the role of the police as protectors of society in general and not of the individual and I get a clear message of "you are responsible for your personal safety".

This is a responsibility that I intend to take very seriously.

I have not been following the argument nor do I care to go look. I DO have a question though...for all those private school, white upper class citizens (and their children) who engage in skeet/clay target shooting.....are they still uneducated rednecks?

Just wondering.

And since we're all doing the credentials thing...double BS in math and economics. Daughter, 13, is currently learning how to care for the Lady Browning (20 ga) shotgun her nurse grandmother gave her. Ex is not "formally" educated, then again, he was an MP for 8 years, so he not only has general military weapons handling and safety, he also has the fact that he carried a pistol every day. He's learnin' Big Monkey unloaded handling and cleaning and safety first. The range and trap shooting comes later. ;-)

Oh... GOOD point LL :-) I guess we're rednecks cause we use those eevil black rifles- If it was a $10,000 skeet gun, why that would be uppa crust don't ya know :-)

Multiple degrees between the husband and I, three kids in private school, the eldest is learning how to shoot now, the younger two need to be eight first.

I think we're lumped in to the "cousin-humpin', terbacky-spittin', Bible-totin' rednecks."

You mean I have to type all this crap out? Okay, here it goes.

The Flying Monkey, RN, MSN, FNP, MICN, CCRN, CFRN, CEN, PHN, ACLS-I, PALS-I, ATLS-I

I live in the land of Fruits and Nuts (California). At least until I can figure out how to move the family-practice part of my life to someplace a little more reasonable. I'm thinking Seattle.

I vote. I hunt. I have my very own Genuine State of California Concealed Weapons Permit. I own a dreaded "Black Gun", and I can dot "I's" with it at 600 yards.

Not sure that Seattle really qualifies as more reasonable. 8)

Hey, from the view in Alaska, you're ALL Southern.

OK, I'll bite: Liberal, White, NY-born, CA-living, Male, BS Comp Sci (minors in English, Geology and Math), All-but-dissertation PhD, ex-LEO. AD is right.

Grew up sans Dad from 7, learned to shoot at camp when I was 9 (made Ranger with 22, 50 foot range). Don't currently own any hardware, but my daughters are pushing (20 and 11).

The most dangerous thing to a child is, in order, an adult, a bathtub, a swimming pool. Guns are so far down the list as to be ridiculous. Gun TRAINING doesn't even make the CDC list, meaning it is below 1/100 of a percent. But Nurse K shouldn't let facts get in the way of a good argument.

We spend 10s of Millions of $ every year trying to make pools drown-proof, when the only thing that demonstrably makes a difference is, wait for it, swim lessons. Does that mean that no child has ever drowned after swimming lessons? No. But the odds are much better. Just what does she think KB is going to do with her guns?

Hell AD, I AM a Southerner and proud of it :-) Born/raised in the ARKLATEX, B.S. in OccED (adult education) with a specialization in curriculum development. 22 years active duty military stationed all over the world. Learned to shoot at age 7, first .22 rifle at age 8, first .30-30 at age 12. Taught both my daughters how to shoot at age 8, grandson last year at age 9. None of us has ever mis-used a gun, played with a gun, etc. without supervision. When children are raised correctly by caring parents, they learn a gun is a tool, to be treated as such, and not a playtoy... I was actually MORE worried about teaching my kids how to drive...

Normally I just lurk and enjoy the posts but although most of the comments have been well thought out on both sides of the fence, a few (including AD and Nurse K) have lost their cool and decorum a bit. (oh man, my index finger is doing that waving mother thing... ::cringing:: my apologies)

Even though I live in Massachusetts now (which Divemedic, I suppose is considered North) I just had to say that gun safety and education are something of a necessity even for families like ours that do not own a gun. After education and practice you can debate all pros and cons from a position of knowledge and experience.

By all means discuss and debate the issue but do so while using common courtesy and respect for other people's thoughts and opinions. (Darn, that waving mother's finger thing again... I really do need to get that into the shop for a checkup!) I believe our constitution guarantees freedom of speech and freedom to bear arms.

I know this because I am a veteran. ::checking nose in the mirror to make sure I don't drown when it rains::

Truly, I am not trying to make light of the subject or make fun of anyone. That is not my intent, but I really hope that mother's finger of mine can stand the strain.

PS - Divemedic - I have to let you in on a little secret. We have as many rednecks and supercilious individuals up here as you do down there. Unfortunately, neither one of us has a corner on the market. :( (BTW - Loved being stationed in LA and FL!)

Went to college, got bored, quit(hated high school, graduated with distinction 'cause Dad said he would pay my car insurance!), went to work with a printing company( the one that printed all the fill in the bubble with number two pencil tests/forms) went through press operator(senior) Senior Production Scheduler and Finishing Area Supervisor. Switched to Composite Fiberglass manufacturing as a Plant Manager, fought to many windmills on the employees side instead of Big Managements side(Also during this time became a 1st Responder and volunteer for local Ambulance Service) agreeably left company, became an EMT, worked for a BLS 911 service, went back to school, became a Medic spent a number(many) years working both a high volume metro and then rural service where I was an FTO/Staffing person. Left there as a Supervisor when I blew my back out and now am an EMS Educator for the largest privately owned and nationally recognized cardiac and trauma hospital in the State I live. So if I am considered a redneck so be it!!

Started to read your life hx (got bored).

tough. glad you read though! ..l..

Well, I have a Master's degree under my belt. How's that for educated? Perhaps that's why I'm such a believer in education over ignorance.

I have a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology and was born and raised in West Los Angeles. My Mother was a teacher and my father got his Master's Degree in Business from the University of Illinois.

I live in Orlando. I was born in New Orleans. I learned to shoot at age 7, and I taught my son to shoot when he was only 5. Both of my children learned to SCUBA dive (statistically MUCH more dangerous than shooting) at the age of 12. They were both driving at 16 (again more dangerous than shooting).

What kills me is that I always hear from people how teaching a child to shoot is so dangerous, but then they hand the car keys to their teen without a thought. (Even though they are far more likely to die from a car accident than a firearms accident)

Incidentally, I am a college grad, and my eldest graduated from high school at age 16 and college at age 20. That is the other thing I get tired of- people from the north who feel so superior to southerners and think that they are smarter than us banjo pickin rednecks.

We don't care how you do things up north.

I grew up in upstate New York, went to college in New Hampshire, now live in Vermont. I fit in quite well up here, so as you can imagine, I would fit in quite poorly in Louisiana. I don't own guns and usually skip your gun posts as they don't interest me.

I still find nothing wrong with you sharing your favorite hobby safely with your daughter.

Maybe it's because those of us who hear all your arguments and still find teaching children to shoot a little weird (not illegal; nothing we can do about it; just our opinion) get blasted (pun intended) by all you erudite firearm enthusiasts.

Trying to justify our opinions implies that they are open to debate. And if after listening to all your disclaimers and justifications we still don't agree, it must mean we're stupid, closed-minded, clapping our hands over our ears saying la-la-la-can't hear you. You've made your point; you're free to do as you wish; I'm still free to have a contrasting opinion. Refusing to understand that someone equally as intelligent and educated as you can feel differently about matters like this makes you the one with your hands over your ears.

FWIW, Dino is both friend and physician; we socialize occasionally, as well as her jabbing me full of needles, frowning in my ears occasionally and pointing out the obvious need to drop a few pounds. She knows all three of my kids, my husband and the flaming Libs I am related to pretty darn well.

She disagrees with G-Veg and I on firearms, but she's never threatened to call CPS over it, nor has she ever engaged in the debate. There's a fairly healthy, "We disagree on this, we'll not sour a relationship with a big, hairy debate" thing. (This is, BTW, more than I get from my MIL, who will go pugilistic over almost anything.)

Eh. We disagree. It happens. Screeching at each other like fishwives is 'tarded.

Can we move on to making fun of a group we ALL agree is lame? Like "Twilight" fans?

She disagrees with G-Veg and I on firearms...

On grammar, though, I thought we agreed. "G-Veg and *I*"?? For shame, Cranky.

(I had to comment again to unsubscribe to comments, since I don't feel like registering.)

Feeling differently about matters is one thing, Dino. Imposing your viewpoints upon another is something else entirely. And Nurse K. is the one calling people ignorant, unevolved hicks and rednecks.

But you're right, of course and thanks for pointing it out. We're both being childish and silly about this.

So Nurse K., how about we call a truce? I apologize for getting nasty, and we can both be adults and agree to disagree. Let's drop the debate, and go back to reading eachother's blogs and finding something we do agree on.

Like making fun of fibromyalgeurs, for instance. Let's pick on them for a while!

Being ignorant has nothing to do with level of formal education, although I'd like to think that educated people would be less likely to do ignorant, trashy things use belts on their children and all the other illegal things you don't report as a mandated reporter.

If you wanted to do a "truce", surely you'd have already figured out as quickly as you figure out that a LBBB isn't a STEMI (well, okay, that's not that quick, but this post has been up all day and the previous one for two) that d/c'ing the comment threads here would have been a good idea.

You decided to go for blood earlier. You dont get to cry 'foul' afterwards. You're getting your cellulite handed to you, and you dont like it. Tough rocks. you should have thought of that before you decided to use the tactics you used. A piece of advise, just cause I feel sorry for you. 'when in a hole, the first step to getting out is to stop digging.'

HTH.

My wife and I have between us three bachelors degrees, two masters degrees and 25 years of EMS/Nursing experience. We live in the suburbs of Boston in "The land of ignorant laws and people who freak about guns" AKA Massachusetts. We own, carry, use and teach our two children about firearms! (We also hunt, but I think telling Nurse K that may cause cardiac complications)

Falun, Sweden, Europe. Up here in "socialist paradise". Done some work with computer games, but can't work in most jobs due to medical conditions(I have no internal clock). Planning on going back to school(university) for a computer games development course next fall. Depending on which IQ test to trust I end up somewhere between 130 and 150 IQ(or in a more diverse test, I score around 17 in all categories except language, where I'm an average 10).

Glad to, I live in Perth, Australia.
I am an IT professional working as a consultant with a number of multinational companies.
I have two girls 6 & 8 and they have both been learning to shoot for a couple of years now.