| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Bookworm |
Posted - February 27 2006 : 08:05:16 AM
Have you ever come across a piece of information that just seems to illustrate perfectly the difference between colonial times and the present day? Something that makes you shake your head and say, "Things really were different back then"? This is the one that does it for me (from "Everyday Life in Early America" by David Freeman Hawke -- and isn't that a great name for a scholar of colonial times?):
"John Adams was given a gun when only eight, just old enough to lift it, and alone, under no watchful adult eye, he spent hours, day after day, in the marshes bringing down birds, or trying to."
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| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - February 26 2007 : 12:46:23 PM
I think it's a shame that schools have been forced into discontinuing shooting teams and clubs. What was a totally innocent sport has been ruined by a few stupid, sick people, and that is just really too bad. There were many benefits to those kinds of extra-curricular activities, hand-eye coordination, for one thing (and isn't it better to get it that way rather than sitting in front of a video game and trying to see how many kills you can get?), and gun safety, for another.
As for the father you mention, IG, who forces his son (who isn't interested) to hunt, that is also inexcuseable. You usually can't force your own interests upon a child, if they don't share them. |
| Irishgirl |
Posted - February 26 2007 : 10:35:46 AM
Well I am glad they have done away with shooting teams in schools. Guns and schools do not mix in my opinion. If a grown adult wants a gun in their home for their own protection that is fine but keep it unloaded and under lock and key and don't let the kids know there is even a gun in the home. If someone gave my 8 year old son a rifle or gun of any kind I would give it right back to them and tell them they are crazy. Guns and kids that age do not mix. In my opinion guns and kids do not mix period. If someone over the age of 18 wants to learn to shoot a weapon, fair enough but don't teach young kids how to shoot. They learn how to use weapons and them some unstable ones not from good homes obviously, go on a shooting rampage at their school. They get the guns from their homes where parents, who should be held accountable, do not secure their weapons correctly. I am not a big believer in guns, as you can tell but have nothing against some adult having one in their own home for their own private protection but don't impose your love of guns on young kids or teach them how to use weapons at a young age. Some men I think want to teach their sons about guns and take them hunting whether the boy wants to or not. They think it will "make a man out of them". I know one dad in particular who takes his two sons hunting and one of them does not even enjoy it or want to go but he has to. Just my opinions on the subject. |
| Light of the Moon |
Posted - February 26 2007 : 12:00:21 AM
Depressing when you come to think of it.
Another example is a chest was found that had been burried for appx 200yrs. Inside it were a couple things that settler here in KY would use, one of which was an old school book. It belonged to a eleven year old boy. The book was standard for his age and that time and it was at college reading level.
Ouch! Now I feel dumb. |
| Bookworm |
Posted - February 24 2007 : 12:03:26 PM
Hoppe's No. 9 IS a nice fragrance, Obediah! (My husband loves to clean guns.)
I just came across another good example of the difference between then and now. Abraham Lincoln's family moved from Kentucky to Indiana in 1816, when Indiana was still wilderness, and "Abraham, seven years old when they arrived, big for his age, had an ax put in his hand and, as he said, rarely put it down from then until he was twenty-one." (From Lincoln's Virtues by William Lee Miller) Necessity -- of shelter, in this instance -- sure puts things in a different light. |
| lonewolf |
Posted - December 26 2006 : 11:39:00 PM
Greetings,
As a former military police SWAT Team member, I couldn't agree more with all of you who express the position that we need to have courses in gun safety and marksmanship. Sadly, due to the rising violence level among youth today, and the Columbine High School type shootings in our school systems, public and private, most schools today discourage shooting teams.
Most Boy Scout summer camps still have well supervised shooting ranges. Some police ranges are open to the public for supervised shooting. I was an NRA member for years, but a few years ago, certain elements within this fine organization became extreme right-wing radicals, which hurt the organization, so I did not renew my membership.
In the military, I fired expert with both rifles and pistols of various calibers.
I am disturbed by family members who leave guns lying around the house loaded and unlocked and within reach of small children. Many children have been killed with these "toys"! I am also disturbed by the number of immature adults who think that guns are playtoys! Guns are made for one purpose: to kill! They do this very well!
I don't hunt,since I enjoy photographing animals and birds rather than shooting them.
However, that does not mean that I would not take game if I were hungry. My Native American people did not hunt for sport, and I guess that I am the same. But we did harvest game for food, taking only that which we needed.
My brother and father hunted, as do many of my relatives and friends. I do not force my non-hunting opinions on them. They have every right to buy a hunting license, and enjoy the sport.
I own firearms, but I own them for protection of myself and my family, and I will not hesitate to use them when necessary. Save for a flintlock muzzleloader that I use for French and Indian War type demonstrations, or when asked to speak at battlefields or schools, others will never see my firearms. They are not toys! They are not "bragging pieces"!
My father and brother were a bit careless with guns, and almost shot me with a shotgun when I was hunting with them when I was about twelve years old. A grouse flew up from cover and my faher wheeled around and shot his twelve gauge shotgun in the direction of the bird. The only problem was, he didn't take the time to realize that I was standing between him and the bird. The shot passed within inches of my head. It lifted my hat off of my head! My father was a reactionary, as well as having a very bad temper, and should never have owned firearms. My brother was too quick to shoot before knowing what he was shooting at. He killed one of his beagles when it ran out from cover chasing a rabbit. It was his best trained hunting dog. He shot without thinking! I never went hunting with either of them. Safety was not a consideration with these two! Both were poor marksmen, and even though I would not hunt with them, I could outshoot both of them. Although they both boasted of being "hunters", both had a wierd fear of being lost in the forests. I never felt lost, no matter how many miles I trekked through forests by myself. We were simply different thinking people. I guess that I got the majority of my genes from my Shawnee mother.
I encourage all who buy guns for their children to emphasize safety and proper handling of all firearms, and never assume that any gun is not loaded. Don't ever allow the children to point firearms at people or pets, even in fun with the gun unloaded! When hunting, teach your children to never pull the trigger unless they know where the bullets are going, and at what. You don't shoot at game, with a house right behind the animal or bird! And you don't shoot a what you can't see!
Don't shoot a deer or other animal standing on the crest of a hill. If you miss your target, the bullet will end up somewhere on the other side of the hill where you can't see. A little girl was ki |
| Monadnock Guide |
Posted - December 11 2006 : 10:16:02 AM
Hello Dancer, ... First, welcome aboard!!
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You hit the nail on the head, - "education about the proper use" is the key. I'd like to say, and I believe that's the parents responsibilty, (and it is) - but a structured competive shooting program would produce some good results, and hopefully give training and access to many who wouldn't otherwise get it. |
| Dancer |
Posted - December 11 2006 : 09:49:14 AM
I shot a gun for the first time when I was 22. It was a double barrel shot gun and knocked me straight on my rear! I never really cared to learn to shoot before but perhaps that is because my father himself was not raised around guns. Throughout his entire career with the airforce he only touched a gun once to earn his marksmanship papers.
I feel that children should be educated on the proper use of a gun, especially those who live in a home with a gun. Perhaps then we wouldn't see so many news broadcasts about children playing with guns and hurting themselves or others. Unfortunately the children of gangs are raised to see a gun as a way of imposing fear and power over "the weak". It is truely a sad thing to know that children in our time period have no understanding of honor and the responsibilities of being adults. I do not mean to say that all children are raised poorly but it seems to me that the greater percentage are. I hope I have not given offense to anyone on here....as this is not my intention. |
| Monadnock Guide |
Posted - December 10 2006 : 4:45:09 PM
Thanks Sarge, - some excellent suggestions. I've been a member of the NRA since the stone age, - one great organization. The local police are good "friends" and their Swat Team uses the range all the time. We expect to have some diffucutly with this idea, - the present politics being what it is. However, we're not going away .... ;) Good to see you posting again, ... |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - December 10 2006 : 4:23:16 PM
quote:
Seamus said: ....within 1 mile and a half, Sarge............I know the man well.
Seamus, the next time you see him, please thank him for his part in helping to teach young folks safe firearm skills.
quote:
Sachem Rich added: Anyway, my older boys received BB guns, then pellet guns, when they were young - 6-8, or so.
I remember asking my dad for a BB-Gun when I was around 8 or 9 years old. Being a state trooper, he of course replied, "No dummy, you'll shoot your eye out!" In his defense, he was probably right; however, two years later, he did give me a Marlin .22 bolt-action rifle. His rationale was that if I wanted to tinker with something that launches projectiles, then I should have an 'adult gun', so that I would not take safety for granted... And on that, he was also right.
So, even though I have never owned a BB-Gun, I do have quite an impressive collection of firearms (After more than 20 years of collecting, it is quite easy to end up with two gun safes full of them). And by the time I was old enough to go and buy my own BB-Gun, I was already issued an M-16A1, from my Uncle Sam.
quote:
MG noted: We're setting up a program to try and return competition shooting to as many schools as possible. With so much PC BS - it will be tough at first.
Well MG, I have a few ideas to help you past the hurdles. Firstly, get all of the info needed for starting a junior rifle club from the National Rifle Association. As an NRA life member since 1985, I can attest to the great job these folks do with firearms education for minors. Whether you are a member, or not, they will be glad to send you all of the information you will need. Also, if you are not a member, then you should perhaps look into joining them, for they are a group made up of true American patriots (And all-around good people).
Secondly, you may want to check with your local police department, just to see if they have a 'police athletic league', which may be willing to help out. Most of us cops know that not every kid is into basketball; and that activities like this, which bring young folks and law enforcement together, can only help to strengthen a community (Since it allows kids to see that cops are just people, no different than their own mom or dad). Of course, this will only have a chance of happening if you have a real chief of police, and not some anti-gun Marxist hack...
Let me know how it goes, and if you have any questions which I might help with.
YMH&OS,
The Sarge |
| Monadnock Guide |
Posted - December 09 2006 : 4:34:50 PM
The rod & gun club I belong to has lets the local high school shooting club use the range free. Arranging for competitions is difficult - due to the fact that not many schools still have shooting teams. There still are a few, - but the travel involved makes it tough. The local police swat team also uses the range free, about twice a month as a rule, - they tend to be rather good shots. ;) ... Talking about .22's - they're great to shoot. Today's .22 "high velocity" target/varmit ammo isn't designed for knocking tin cans off a fence. Unless it's so far out you need a scope to see the can. Today, .22 cal target competition is now at 100 yards, and some a tad more. ... We're setting up a program to try and return competition shooting to as many schools as possible. With so much PC BS - it will be tough at first. |
| Seamus |
Posted - December 09 2006 : 10:30:15 AM
"My daughter, who just turned eight in October, recieved her first rifle from me, as part of her birthday gifts. The weapon in question is a 'Cricket' bolt-action, single shot rifle, in .22LR caliber. This weapon is a very nice choice for any kids' first foray into their 2nd Amendment Rights (Rights fully confirmed, once they reach the age of majority). The weapon is made by Keystone Sporting Arms, located nearby where Seamus lives."
....within 1 mile and a half, Sarge............I know the man well.
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| richfed |
Posted - December 09 2006 : 09:41:39 AM
quote:
Sarge wrote:
Yes, it was a different country 'back then' (Which could be qualified as little as 50 years ago, when even NYC public schools had rifle teams), and I feel that we have lost a good part of who we are due to the same ills that caused the fall of the Roman Empire...
This is so very true, and the topic of a very lively debate at my Thanksgiving dinner ... We are headed toward very serious trouble as a Nation.
Anyway, my older boys received BB guns, then pellet guns, when they were young - 6-8, or so. Two of the three are now hunters. About time for my other two young lads to get theirs! It is so, so important to maintain identity ... always evolving, but integrating the ways of the past ... |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - December 07 2006 : 06:31:39 AM
My daughter, who just turned eight in October, recieved her first rifle from me, as part of her birthday gifts. The weapon in question is a 'Cricket' bolt-action, single shot rifle, in .22LR caliber. This weapon is a very nice choice for any kids' first foray into their 2nd Amendment Rights (Rights fully confirmed, once they reach the age of majority). The weapon is made by Keystone Sporting Arms, located nearby where Seamus lives.
Cass has already been to the range twice, and she has made her dad proud of her safe weapon handling skills; and her marksmanship is not too shabby either, since she is the perfect pupil (No bad habits to break). She really enjoys hitting the paper, and is learning the value of individual achievement (Something that is sorely lacking in her public education, where 'diversity' and 'group-think' are the S.O.P.). She is already wishing the winter away, so that she can go back to the gun club again... That's my girl!
Also, it is giving her a valuable survival skill for her adult life, in a world where a good number of the males of the species have set-aside combat and martial exercise (Since they are effectively neutered, by the same public school system, and placed on Ritalin as a 'cure', for what used to be normal young boy behavior), and therefore lack the skill-sets, tools and aggressive nature needed to defend a young lady's honor.
Yes, it was a different country 'back then' (Which could be qualified as little as 50 years ago, when even NYC public schools had rifle teams), and I feel that we have lost a good part of who we are due to the same ills that caused the fall of the Roman Empire...
YMH&OS,
The Sarge
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| Obediah |
Posted - December 05 2006 : 6:15:05 PM
I first shot a .22 at the age of 4...my dad had to help me hold the (full-sized) rifle. I taught my sons to shoot & I'm starting to teach my granddaughter. First things first: "here kid, this is how you clean this thing." Once children learn this necessary but boring job, guns no longer seem like toys to them...
BTW, my favorite cologne is Hoppe's No. 9!!  |
| Ridgerunner |
Posted - November 12 2006 : 10:24:58 PM
At the age of 5 I got my first BB gun,by the age of 10 I was roaming the fields with a .22. My children have been raised with firearms and my grandchildren have been given their own rifles at an early age... |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - February 27 2006 : 08:32:14 AM
Yes, this really does bring it home, doesn't it? And everyone who complained about the scenes in "The Patriot" that involved little boys and muskets and killing, should read that. Of course, those little boys were originally trained to shoot game, but the necessity of war changed that.
Can we possibly liken this to the modern-day video games wherein little boys vicariously shoot to kill? |
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