Never snuck a drink, never had a drink, never want a drink. My mother when I was about 11 said to me that if I ever wanted to drink, she would go purchase what I wanted and I could drink it in the house. Of course I was raised being taught that the consumption of alcohol was not desirable, therefore her offer was never taken up on, as it defused any desire I might have had to partake.
Same with drugs. My father is an MD and we had all kinds of drugs and needles in the house freely accessable to us six kids.
I had a simular experience with my father. The day before I entered Middle School, my father told me that I would soon encounter other kids in school that would offer me drugs and drink. He and my mom taught us about the pitfalls of drugs as well. At that time he was talking to me, he said, "If you make a decision now about how you are going to handle such a situation and what your response will be, you will never have to make that decision again, and if you choose at this time not to engage in those activities, it will be so much easier on you when the choice is presented to you."
Those opportunities came and proved, time and time again, the wisdom that my father taught me that night.
Of the six children that they had, none have reached for a bottle or a needle, or an unnecessary or recreational drug.
We did have one foster child that stayed with us a short time, and she attempted suicide using the drugs that were in the house. She did not stay with us long after that.
It has been the same with the guns that were never locked up in my father's house. He taught us how to use them properly, and the power that they afforded the user.
I had a .22 rifle in my room with my own ammunition. I had a .50 cal. black powder cannon that I made in shop
at school (Jr. High) that I kept in my room along with fuse and black powder I purchased at the local hardware store. I went up the hill and shot in an old tailings pit, carrying my gun over my shoulder. The neighbors never called the police.
My children are taught the same things, and will recieve the same wisdom that my parents taught me.
We remove the mystery of the gun by getting them out whenever they ask to see them. We check them to clear them then teach them to do the same when they recieve them. They handle them and operate them, and are taught their power in a very visual and compelling way when they are old enough. (bagged game makes the point quite well.)
They are taught the four rules, the oldest can recite them without prompting.
In today's society this may be an amazing thing. In days not so long ago, it was standard practice.
It's such a shame to see how far we've slipped in such a short time.
No, parents don't need to be fined, jailed, or demonized, they just need to get their heads on straight and teach their children.
------------------
John/az
"When freedom is at stake, your silence is not
golden, it's
yellow..."
RKBA!
See
The Legacy of Gun Control film at:
www.cphv.com
Do it for the children...
[This message has been edited by John/az2 (edited October 09, 2000).]
I was raised in the same manner and I thought so highly of it that it will be used on my children. Allbeit, NOT six of them.