Knimrod
12-29-2005, 03:45 PM
Gun safety begins with responsible parents
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Huntsville Times
Turned away at every chance in "A Christmas Story," poor Ralphie Parker couldn't make anyone understand that a 9-year-old's dream to own "an official Red Ryder carbine action 200-shot Range Model air rifle with a compass on the stock and this thing that tells time" was the only thing that mattered in his wintry Indiana world.
He muffed his chance at the dinner table with his mother, played wonderfully by Melinda Dillon, telling him "you'll shoot your eye out." That was, Ralphie lamented, the "classic mother-BB gun block." His teacher, Mrs. Shields, issued the same edict along with an unexpected C-plus grade on his Christmas theme report.
Even the disgusting department store Santa said the same thing. Only Aunt Clara's neon pink nightmare bunny suit could provide a worse fate. Ralphie is disconsolate on the big morning after all the wrapping paper and bows are ripped to shreds, his brother Randy is conked out and his parents are recovering from the festivities.
Leave it to Mr. Parker, played fantastically by Darren McGavin, to fulfill his young son's wishes in the movie's most touching scene. McGavin and Dillon could not have played it any better - one parent concerned, one reliving his youth - as Ralphie shakes with glee the familiar yellow-and-black cardboard tube with BBs.
"I had one when I was 8-years old," Mr. Parker says, grinning, to his wife.
That scene no doubt was replayed thousands of times last Sunday morning across the country. Daisy never actually manufactured Ralphie's dream rifle, although it does produce the "Model 1938 Red Ryder." It does not have a compass on the stock or a thing that tells time.
The thing about BB guns, though, is too many parents don't consider them "real" guns. They are. They shoot projectiles that can penetrate the skin and, yes, can put an eye out. More powerful air rifles are capable of causing serious injury or death.
While Ralphie's tale is one of my favorite movies, his parents act ignorantly with their decisions. Ralphie is allowed to load the BBs in the house and then go unsupervised into the backyard to shoot. Ralphie hangs his paper target on a metal sign and stands about 10 feet away, creating a situation for a riccochet that inevitably does almost cause him to shoot his eye out.
Air rifles are not toys. They're not something a parent should give a kid and say "Go have fun!" without appropriate supervision.
Responsibility with firearms is something that must be learned, and it must be taught by a responsible, disciplined adult who won't give in to any amount of whining, eye-rolling or begging.
Air rifles should be treated just like any other firearm. They should be unloaded when not in use and stored out of the reach of kids. If you have a gun safe, make sure the child understands why guns are stored in it and allow them some space for their air rifle.
Likewise, at the shooting range or other setting, make sure there is an appropriate safety zone and backstop behind the target.
Stepping out the back door to shoot a pine cone won't cut it, because it teaches the kid that it's fine to just pull the trigger willy-nilly.
Air rifles are wonderful for helping a youngster learn safety, shooting skills and discipline. Shooting is a fantastic activity that can last a lifetime. But it starts with adults being equally responsible.
Link to story (http://www.al.com/outdoors/huntsvilletimes/aclemons.ssf?/base/sports/1135764980137440.xml&coll=1)
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Huntsville Times
Turned away at every chance in "A Christmas Story," poor Ralphie Parker couldn't make anyone understand that a 9-year-old's dream to own "an official Red Ryder carbine action 200-shot Range Model air rifle with a compass on the stock and this thing that tells time" was the only thing that mattered in his wintry Indiana world.
He muffed his chance at the dinner table with his mother, played wonderfully by Melinda Dillon, telling him "you'll shoot your eye out." That was, Ralphie lamented, the "classic mother-BB gun block." His teacher, Mrs. Shields, issued the same edict along with an unexpected C-plus grade on his Christmas theme report.
Even the disgusting department store Santa said the same thing. Only Aunt Clara's neon pink nightmare bunny suit could provide a worse fate. Ralphie is disconsolate on the big morning after all the wrapping paper and bows are ripped to shreds, his brother Randy is conked out and his parents are recovering from the festivities.
Leave it to Mr. Parker, played fantastically by Darren McGavin, to fulfill his young son's wishes in the movie's most touching scene. McGavin and Dillon could not have played it any better - one parent concerned, one reliving his youth - as Ralphie shakes with glee the familiar yellow-and-black cardboard tube with BBs.
"I had one when I was 8-years old," Mr. Parker says, grinning, to his wife.
That scene no doubt was replayed thousands of times last Sunday morning across the country. Daisy never actually manufactured Ralphie's dream rifle, although it does produce the "Model 1938 Red Ryder." It does not have a compass on the stock or a thing that tells time.
The thing about BB guns, though, is too many parents don't consider them "real" guns. They are. They shoot projectiles that can penetrate the skin and, yes, can put an eye out. More powerful air rifles are capable of causing serious injury or death.
While Ralphie's tale is one of my favorite movies, his parents act ignorantly with their decisions. Ralphie is allowed to load the BBs in the house and then go unsupervised into the backyard to shoot. Ralphie hangs his paper target on a metal sign and stands about 10 feet away, creating a situation for a riccochet that inevitably does almost cause him to shoot his eye out.
Air rifles are not toys. They're not something a parent should give a kid and say "Go have fun!" without appropriate supervision.
Responsibility with firearms is something that must be learned, and it must be taught by a responsible, disciplined adult who won't give in to any amount of whining, eye-rolling or begging.
Air rifles should be treated just like any other firearm. They should be unloaded when not in use and stored out of the reach of kids. If you have a gun safe, make sure the child understands why guns are stored in it and allow them some space for their air rifle.
Likewise, at the shooting range or other setting, make sure there is an appropriate safety zone and backstop behind the target.
Stepping out the back door to shoot a pine cone won't cut it, because it teaches the kid that it's fine to just pull the trigger willy-nilly.
Air rifles are wonderful for helping a youngster learn safety, shooting skills and discipline. Shooting is a fantastic activity that can last a lifetime. But it starts with adults being equally responsible.
Link to story (http://www.al.com/outdoors/huntsvilletimes/aclemons.ssf?/base/sports/1135764980137440.xml&coll=1)