-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is so neat.
From Keep And Bear Arms site.
This one’s beyond redemption and pernicious to no end. Probably irresponsible, inconsiderate, and thoughtless to boot.
Still.
I’d just finished cleaning my .30-06 when the doorbell rang.
Setting things aside, I got up and opened the door.
Found a young lady standing there.
“Mr. Simoneaux?”
“Yes.”
“I’m your neighbor from a few doors down. Our boys are friends with your son and he’s asked if they could come play at your house.”
“No problem there. Jason’s our youngest and we’ve been through having kids over with our older two. Got the place almost to where we can hose it down after an afternoon of whatever the kids get up to.”
“Well, that’s good Mr. Simoneaux, but, you see, I’m a concerned parent…”
“Aren’t we all. I was mostly concerned with staying sane while my two oldest went through their teens. Still not sure I made it and I still have Jason to go.”
“Well there is that worry but, just now, I’m more concerned about guns.”
“Good one to be concerned about.”
“So, you’re concerned about guns in the home too?”
“Absolutely. I’ve just about run out of space in the gun cabinet what with the rifles and shotguns we have for when we all go hunting together.”
“No, what I mean is I’m concerned about guns in the home and I don’t want my kids in danger.”
“I’m with you there. You wouldn’t believe how tough my wife and I are on that subject. Locks on the gun cabinet door. Safety chain running through the trigger guards to lock them into the cabinet. Ammunition locked in a small cabinet in the garage. My wife’s Italian, you know. I’d be sleeping with the fishes if I weren’t careful.”
“So you keep guns in your house?”
“Yep. How do you store yours?”
“We don’t have guns and that’s why I wanted to talk with you.”
“You want me to recommend a safety course? Be glad to and, I might say, you’re doing the right thing. Getting the kids through a course beforehand is the only way to go. Sure wish more people thought like you.”
“That’s not it at all. I’m worried about where my boys play. And, with guns in a house, there could be…”
“An accident? Ma’am, I worry about that too. That’s why all three of ours have been through safety and hunting courses and have shot until they’ve reached the point of not wanting to unless we’re going hunting. Then there’s that wife of mine. She’s laid down the law about ever touching a gun in this house unless one of us is around. Then there’s all of those locks…”
“You’re still not getting my point. I don’t want my boys anywhere near danger.”
“Me neither. Say, you don’t leave loaded buckets around your house, do you?
“Loaded buckets?”
“Yeah, buckets full of water. Like when you’re mopping and go off to do something else. I read about toddlers falling into them and drowning. When ours were younger, we were really careful about that. Wouldn’t let them play in any house where people left loaded buckets around unattended. You wouldn’t believe the statistics on those things. But I can tell you’d never leave one out and Jason’s pretty big. I’d have no worry whatsoever about him playing in your house.”
“Mr. Simoneaux, you’re still not getting my point about guns. I saw the sticker on your truck that says you’re an NRA member.”
“Is that what this is about? You want to join? Don’t worry about not owning a gun. They have all sorts of safety courses that you and your kids can take beforehand. I think I even have some applications somewhere.”
“That’s not it. You have guns in the house and I don’t want my kids…”
“To feel embarrassed? Ma’am, I’ve lectured my kids over and over on the Golden Rule. Believe me, if they ever tease someone who hasn’t had all of the chances they’ve had to learn firearms safety, I’ll take a switch to ‘em.”
“You’re missing the point. I’m scared of guns and…”
“Scared of guns? Have you looked into professional help? Those shrinks can do amazing things nowadays for people who’re scared of inanimate objects.”
“AAAAIIIIEEEEE!!!”
“Larry, who’s that screaming?”
“It’s our neighbor. She was asking about gun safety and just ran away.”
“Is that gun cleaner I smell downstairs?”
“Uhh…”
“Are you cleaning that rifle on my new dining room table?”
“Don’t worry. I put a lot of newspaper down and, besides, I left your tablecloth there in case I spilled anything and it got past the paper.
“AARRRGGHHH!!!”
Good grief. Two screams in one day. Was it something I said?
[ January 28, 2004, 05:37 PM: Message edited by: Si Allen ]
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Never had to worry about my kids messing with my guns, or anything else off limits to them. They were taught the meaning of the phrase "NO NO" at a very early age. My youngest (11) doesn't even get his bb-gun without asking. I did use common sense and kept dangerous things out of reach when they were little. Things like drain cleaner, pesticides, medicines(I downed a bottle of baby aspirin when I was little), car keys (yeah....car keys...my 4 year old neice took off in a truck), and yes buckets, pools,(my little cousin drowned in a pool), and tiny toys they could choke on to name just a few.
You just made me stop and think about something though. My neighbor's kid (age 4)is over here about every other day, his mama has little control of him and he pretty well does as he pleases. Think I'll lock mine up.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7404 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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I know how you feel about gun, but had no idea that you were such a writer. I'm printing this out for my son. I taught him to love guns and he does. Come to think of it, it's about the ONLY thing I taught him that still sticks today.
-------------------- Kathy Joiner River Road Graphics 41628 River Road Ponchatoula, La.70454
Old enough to know better...Too young to resist. Posts: 1891 | From: Ponchatoula, LA | Registered: Nov 2000
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I own guns, and support the NRA, but I thought I'd add this: when I was young, we played war type games with the other kids, we watched alot of war movies, and I think that was part of a process whereby I devalued human life. We weren't allowed anywhere near the one gun my dad owned.
As for my children, if they're interested in something, come see dad. Wanna build a fire? If you're tired of tending the stove that heats the house, then let's go fire up the forge, that's a good 3000 deg F. Or maybe we could burn a little hickory and make some jerky. Oh yeah, there's always the cutting torch. They don't have to play with matches in secret.
That's what I liked about the article, the kids have their curiosity satisfied. My children get to handle a real gun (supervised), if they're interested. But they're NOT allowed to play war games. I always emphasize the sorrow of real war, and the fact that guns only destroy things, they never build. We don't watch TV in our house, if we do happen to see a reinactment or movie with shooting, I get them focused on the fact that somebody's daddy or brother or son just died. "Daddy's not coming home in that family, no more daddy, how sad. That's what war does children, how would you like it if your daddy didn't come home?"
Like I said, I own guns, but I try to have a realistic understanding of them, and impart that to my children.
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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Just Curious, Fire Arms don't seem to be near as popular here where I live, except for the Hunting Rifles, Because I guess almost half the Families here Hunt, either for Big Game like Moose, Caribou, Bear, and then theres Ducks, Rabbits, and that's about it. Do you Guys that own Fire Arms use them for Hunting? or for sport shooting, I guess target Shooting is a more proper term, and what Kind of Guns are you "Allowed" to own.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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Hi Neil... about the only gun that requires a special permit is a fully automatic gun (like a machine gun). I own a variety of handguns, shotguns, long guns... I hunt woodchucks in the summer with AR-15's (same gun the US and UN troops carry) and AK-47's. Woodchuck shooting is about my favorite because of the sniper style long range shooting you get to do... my furthest "kill" shot is just over 500 yards BTW... Ohio just passed their conceal carry law... it's supposed to go into effect and classes start sometime in April.
As for the article... thanks for posting it. It reminded me of how I was taught that respect.... I was 8 years old and just got a BB gun for Christmas from my grandpa. Christmas afternoon he took me "hunting" for sparrows near the bird feeder.... when I finally hit and killed a bird... my grandpa picked the bird up and absolutely, kindly and gently, shamed the life out of me for killing that poor little bird. I didn't want to touch that BB gun or any other gun for almost a year after that.
I guess that's where the US is different- our laws prohibit ANYONE from owning a pistol unless they target-shoot, ; i.e the license to own the gun carries the proviso that you are only allowed to transport it from home to range- no stopping at Blockbuster or the mall. Unless you can justify to the RCMP why they need to carry one for protection, then you get a permit. Automatic weapons and assault rifles in single-shot mode are prohibited; even if they are disabled from shooting full auto, you still can't legally buy an AK47 in Canada (I'm pretty sure that's the law now...).
I grewq up in a home with 14 guns, and I feel I got proper training in their use. Like I said before, when was the last time a bank robber got caught with a .308 runnning down the street? It's the proliferation of illegal pistols that is alarming. This Gun Law in Canada is such a farce. Law-abiding people such as my Dad have to register their long guns or face years in jail, but robbers carrying pistols get slaps on the wrist and time with their buddies,a nd fed better than I am.
-------------------- Steve Burke Cascades Inc NS Canada
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't for you Posts: 359 | From: NS Canada | Registered: Jan 2002
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Neil, All of my guns are for hunting. Don't have any pistols or "assault rifles". As for myself, I only shoot mine at game during hunting season and as far I as I know, all of my kinfolk and friends do the same. I do fire mine at the beginning of the season to make sure the firearm is shooting accurately and it only takes a couple of shots usually. I can install a scope on a brand new rifle, and have it making tight enough groups for deer hunting in just three shots. In other words, shooting guns for the sake of shooting guns isn't what we do. My son and I also bowhunt in the fall. He got a nice fat spikehorn this year with his bow. It's now legal to hunt deer with a SPEAR in Florida. Imagine that.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7404 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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Machine Guns? AK 47'S? You guys are permitted to own these? And you are allowed to hunt with them? Don't seem to be much "Sport" in that.. or did I read that wrong. I can't imagine sneaking up on a deer and Blasting away with a semi automatic, and getting a thrill out of that. Then again I can't imagine Hunting anything for that matter, I just could'nt Kill anything, not that I don't agree with hunting, because I don't have a problem with that, not in the least. Imagine if the population were to run wild, we'd be overcome.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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I could just "smell" where you were going with that...a classic bait and switch.
Let me correct some false information that John stated...
No one can legally own a fully automatic AR15...the AR15 is NOT exactly like what the military and UN use. Theirs are fully automatic and are "M" variations.
An AR15 is a semi automatic...which means you must pull the trigger each time a shot is to be fired. The same with a legally owned AK 47. Only law enforcement officers can legally, personally own a fully automatic.
I own an AR15 because I can ....I don't have to have any reason. Isn't that the beauty of freedom?
Rhetoric like "blasting away....getting a thrill...if the population were to run wild" is spoken out of ignorance and personal bias.
Every household owns large kitchen knives...yet I don't see this culminating in a complete loss of judgement and sanity in the general population causing massive kniving sprees.
Everyone owns a car...I don't see people snapping and mowing down crowds of pedestrians...I don't even see where what you said makes any sense whatsoever??!
So called "assault rifles" (a liberal political term...) don't assault anyone unless it is intentionally loaded and aimed and the trigger pulled. A knife isn't called an "assault knife" just because it looks menacing is it?
These types of rifles are not much different than a semi automatic .22 used for plinking cans off a fence post. They are used for a variety of legitimate purposes: Hunting (usually varmints), target shooting, competition shooting sports, collectables, and some like mine sit in a 650 lb steel plate safe for my own reasons...including personal protection.
Most my friends own these...and I haven't seen it cause any of them to "run amok". In fact, legal gun owners are among the most safety conscious people I've met.
Just remember, the next time you slip on a pair of leather shoes, or hike your pants up with a leather belt...an animal was killed. They don't get these products waiting around for animals to die of natural causes.
posted
Just thought you would like to see my weapon of choice! It is a Northern Firearms five shot 22 Long Rifle pistol! Carry it all the time.......why? I don't know! Have a Consealed Weapon Permit. Probobly couldn't hit a thing with it unless I was touching it, but with an 1 5/8" barrel, the sound would sure scare anyone!
-------------------- Tony Vickio The World Famous Vickio Signs 3364 Rt.329 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 t30v@vickiosigns.com 607-535-6241 http://www.vickiosigns.com Posts: 1063 | From: Watkins Glen, New York | Registered: Sep 2001
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I have a .38 revolver hanging on my belt right now. I'm licensed to carry for all lawful purposes in the State of Massachusetts. That is a Class A Large capacity license. This means I can carry a handgun with 15 rounds in it. You see my nextdoor neighbor threatened the Selectmen and the head of the highway Dept. with a muzzle loader and has threatened to blow the town hall up. He was arested but because he got a good Civil Liberty lawyer he is not in jail. He is free to walk the streets and keep harrassing local town folk. If you need 911 in my town you can dial it but the State Police barracks are 20 minutes away. So when "Runty Loose Nut" decides to go over the deep end I can protect my family. I don't Hunt and have no desire to kill animals. Animals have never done anything to me to warrant me in shooting them. I think it is a shame that law abiding citizens have to live in fear of their neighbors, but in this Free Country where we have the right own a firearm I'm able to defend myself.
-------------------- Rob Larkham Sign Techniques Inc. Chicopee, Ma Posts: 607 | From: Chester, Ma. | Registered: Apr 2002
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Don't let this thread deteriate into a gun debate. If we're going to discuss guns, I'd rather learn more about generating extra income decorating them like Ryan does. How's that guitar playing coming along Todd?
-------------------- Barb Shortreed 144 Hill St. E. Fergus, Ontario Posts: 2377 | From: Fergus, Ont. | Registered: Sep 2000
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No Todd I did'nt mean to insult, But freedom for me and My family is to be able to walk down the street with confidence that the guy walking past me is not carrying a concealed weapon, Like I said I'm not a hypocrite, I have no problem people hunting, I eat Meat, I have a leather coat, I have no problem with people owning guns, as long as they are registered, the pistols I'm talking about. I can surely see how competitive shooting can be a real blast, no pun intended, and the Term I used Blasting away, was probably a poor choice, but can you imagine someone with a full automatic machine gun mounted on top of his truck riding down a country road firing at a deer? lol that is what I envisioned...
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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Speaking of guitars, my son Josh just made me two cool looking rattlesnake skin straps. One is for my flat top and the other for my banjo. Doesn't make my playing any better but they look great.
He did a super fine job of skinning the three snakes, tanning the hides and sewing them onto the straps. He will make a mandolin strap with the third one.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7404 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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Todd... thanks for clarifying the things I was rushing through...
Neil... like Todd said... most of the gun owners who actively shoot/hunt are extremely safety concious and respectful. Just as was pointed out in the original post that started the thread.
And yes, Barb.... we probably shouldn't turn this into a gun debate... not the place for it... it's just that sometimes gun owners can be as passionate as sign people. Have you ever seen the awesome engraved artwork on some guns? I've used pictures of engraved scrollwork as inspration for designs and pinstriping.
posted
Aaaaaaaah, deeep breath. Ok, off guns (except to say that's some nice scroll work on that Ruger) and changing the subject to ....guitars.
Guitar progress is pathetic. My big regret in life is not taking it up when I was a kid and had summers off, and long holiday vacations and and more absorbant brain cells.
This is an excuse of course, but it truly is difficult to find practice time when you work full time, are raising a family, traveling for work, and keeping up a home.
I wish I had the skills and knowledge already in-tact at this point so I could just pick it up and play like many of you skilled musicians here.
To pick up a guitar and play a couple cords and struggle around is sort of frustrating. Like anything, I know it will require time, patience, and time, ...and did I mention time??? That ever fleeting intangible, imaginary vapor that binds us all and dictates our every move in life.
I'm not giving up...it's probably a matter at looking at my schedule and figuring out where I'm wasting time, so I can free it up for practice.
Cheers.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Todd don't give up on Guitar, it's something I started faily late in life as well, I was 21 years old, I'm now 45, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't pick it up. Not that I'm any good. lol Eric Claptan is Like a God to me, I have all of his DVD'S, Last night I was watching the new Heart dvd, recorded last year in Seattle, it's fantastic, now there's 2 girls who can rock.. They do a version of Black Dog by Zeppelin that'll blow your socks off... pick it up, it's Fantastic.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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I'm curious at your choice of a .38-- I have always read that you would hurt the guy more if you threw it at him...I wonder how true that is?? Is it because of ease of re-aiming? I know a .357 will go through the guy, his car and the warehouse down the street, but I have always read that .38's were gutless given the calibre of the round.
BEFORE I GET TORCHED LET ME RE-ITERATE that I am just asking!! Not slamming!!!!!!
-------------------- Steve Burke Cascades Inc NS Canada
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't for you Posts: 359 | From: NS Canada | Registered: Jan 2002
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Steve, I have had people ask me this before. I didn't really want to go with the .357 don't ask why I just didn't. It is my opinion that a .38 will drop the average man. Now if he is on PCP then Smith & Wessons new .50 caliber will not do the trick. My particular .38 is what they call the plus "p" model. The plus p is just a larger grain bullet and packs a little more power than the regular .38 but not as powerful as the .357. This .38 only has a 1 & 7/8" barrel. You would be hard pressed to be very accurate with this from any real distance. So in other words it is a belly gun used as a last resort. I have been taught the 21 foot rule. If you attcker is 21 or more feet away then run the other way. The average human can close that distance before most would be able to draw a weapon. That is how people get shot with their own guns. Also, a gun is only a LAST effort in a life threatening situation. You never pull a gun unless you absolutley intend on pulling the trigger. I hope to God I never have to use it.
-------------------- Rob Larkham Sign Techniques Inc. Chicopee, Ma Posts: 607 | From: Chester, Ma. | Registered: Apr 2002
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Shot placement matters alot more than caliber in most cases...about 90% of what you see written and hear about ballistics is flat out BS and gets reinforced by people watching movies and tv..357 gets alotta press and folklore for being a "one shot stopper" butsome of that is true and some of it isn't,like anything...and a .357 isn't a magic bullet. A .357 isnt going thru a cast iron engine block,a concrete wall or any of that tv fantasy stuff. It may over penetrate a human at a close distance because its traveling too fast to expand,the hollow point gets plugged up with clothing or tissue and it turns into a round nose, but the majority of the time a .357 has the right bullet weight/speed ratio to penetrate deep enough to do damage while expanding and dumping all its energy into the target....unlike a heavier weight bullet whose mass wont allow it to be stopped by expansion in tissue. Avg .357 is 125grain weight and about 1200fps...nowdays you an buy .38 in 125gr +P or +P+ rounds that travel 1200-1300fps and 9mm 124gr 1200fps +P rounds etc....all basically the same bullet traveling at the same speed but people will assign magical powers to one and badmouth another.....shot placement and the ability to fire follow up shots while being in control is far more impt....in real world scenarios maybe 1 person out of every 120 thats shot(not counting headshots) magically drops instantly to the floor "dead b4 he hit the ground" and all that BS. People luv to claim oh this round hits with the same energy as a linebacker,or this other one hits like a baseball bat and on paper its true but it rarely translates...people dont get hit with bullet,picked up off the floor and fly 9ft....being shot doesnt significantly impair most people's ability to keep fighting back at all if they're intent on doing you harm and for some it takes 5-6 rounds to get their attention to make then realize oh s**t i'm shot or cause enuff trauma that they actually start to feel it...and like rob mentioned..the 21ft rule..the avg man no matter of his physical conditioning can cover this distance in 3seconds or less...watch your watch for 3secs...if/when something happens 3seconds is both an eyeblink and eternity so think about whether or not you can condition yourself to act both reliably and accurately inside of a time frame like that when you practice instead of just assuming things like "i hunt so i know gun safety and i know how to shoot"...maybe but its not the same thing since most deer and squirrels dont move and shoot back......... so where you shoot and when you decide to is always more impt than what you shoot.... and all the "hollywood" crap like .44magnums,.50 desert eagles,laser sights etc is best left in movies b/c theyre going to have very little practical use in an everyday encounter and can't be used as a crutch or a magic shield against lack of practice&training time and most importantly common sense.
-------------------- Gavin Chachere Plotter in the garage,New Orleans La.
"Sgts Shugart and Gordon again request permission to rope down to crash site two" Posts: 1223 | From: new orleans.la. | Registered: Mar 2000
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All of this makes me wonder....which is worse...Guns or Bread?
The Dangers of Eating Bread. A recent newspaper headline read, "Smell of baked bread may be health hazard." THE FINDINGS 1. More than 98 percent of convicted felons are bread eaters.
2. Fully HALF of all children who grow up in bread-consuming households score below average on standardized tests.
3. In the 18th century, when virtually all bread was baked in the home, the average life expectancy was less than 50 years; infant mortality rates were unacceptably high; many women died in childbirth; and diseases such as typhoid, yellow fever and influenza ravaged whole nations.
4. More than 90 percent of violent crimes are committed within 24 hours of eating bread.
5. Bread is made from a substance called "dough." It has been proven that as little as one pound of dough can be used to suffocate a mouse. The average person eats more bread than that in one month!
6. Bread has been proven to be addictive. Subjects deprived of bread and given only water to eat begged for bread after only two days. PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS Most bread eaters are utterly unable to distinguish between significant scientific fact and meaningless statistical babbling. In light of these frightening statistics, we propose the following bread restrictions: 1. No sale of bread to minors.
2. No advertising of bread within 1000 feet of a school.
3. A 300 percent federal tax on all bread to pay for all the societal ills we might associate with bread.
4. No animal or human images, nor any primary colors (which may appeal to children) may be used to promote bread usage.
5. A $40.2 billion fine on the three biggest bread manufacturers.
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Si Si Si.... Ohhhhhhhhh, that is why I'm doing the Atkins Diet, No carbs for me, Bread will kill you first, lol I like you're scence, since....,sense, ya that's it... sense of humour... did you ever have a hard time spelling a stoopid word?
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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1 5/8" barrel, the sound would sure scare anyone!
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