I think you're tap-dancing around the fact that gun manufacturers are indeed targeting (no pun intended) extremely young kids to boost future sales, and everyone knows this is not the right thing to do. Actually, this marketing strategy by the gun manufacturers runs counter to the NRA's Eddie Eagle GunSafe program, which teaches children "pre-K through third grade" four important steps to take if they find a gun: Stop, don't touch, leave the area, contact an adult.

 

So on one hand we've got the NRA issuing common-sense advice for kids, and on the other hand we've got gun manufacturers turning out deadly weapons in orange and bright pink in hopes that mom or dad, or grandma and grandpa will buy a firearm for Johnny or Susie's 5th birthday.

 

Both Johnny and Susie, pre-K on up, can be taught gun safety - both how to use the gun and to NOT touch one without adult supervision. It is not negligence to teach kids how to shoot and how to be safe. If is negligence to give them unsupervised access to a loaded weapon, regardless of the color.

This is a sad situation that again, comes down to parental negligence. If the gun had been secured, this would not have happened, regardless of its color.

If color is insignificant, then why do these kid-friendly .22s guns come in various colors -- including patriotic red-white-blue -- rather than just standard walnut brown? You don't think these gun manufacturers conducted marketing studies with focus groups?

If color is insignificant, then why do these kid-friendly .22s guns come in various colors -- including patriotic red-white-blue -- rather than just standard walnut brown? You don't think these gun manufacturers conducted marketing studies with focus groups?

 

You keep missing the point that I am making. It is not negligence for a gun to appeal to a kid. As two parents in this thread have mentioned, their kids "have" guns. These are guns that the child uses, supervised by an adult. If a pink gun is kept in a gun safe except for supervised use, it will not be involved in tragedies such as those that we've been discussing in this thread.

If color is insignificant, then why do these kid-friendly .22s guns come in various colors -- including patriotic red-white-blue -- rather than just standard walnut brown? You don't think these gun manufacturers conducted marketing studies with focus groups?

 

 

So that kids who like to hunt can have a gun in a color they like. Many responsible gun owners teach their children to hunt but also practice responsible safety practices.

You keep missing the point that I am making. It is not negligence for a gun to appeal to a kid. As two parents in this thread have mentioned, their kids "have" guns. These are guns that the child uses, supervised by an adult. If a pink gun is kept in a gun safe except for supervised use, it will not be involved in tragedies such as those that we've been discussing in this thread.

I'm looking at this issue from a marketing standpoint. In other words, pink is more than a color. Problem is, not everyone is as responsible as those on this board who have a solid game plan for firearms in the home and proper training outside the home.

 

Didn't the norm used to be that a kid got a BB gun when he turned 8 or 9? Then a pellet gun a few years later ... then a .22 if he/she exhibited responsibility? When did the new norm become a kid gets a lethal weapon in kindergarten?

So in your disagreement with the last part. Do parents allow their kids to get killed in a car since they got them one and left gas in it.

Funny how most want these parent punished but it is OK if a pit bull kills a kid, just a tragedy from an animal.

 

Since you went here....and there are many who want all Pit Bulls banned and euthanized, but protect gun ownership...even by idiots. See below....

 

Unintentional Deaths and Injuries by Firearms:

 

In 2010, unintentional firearm injuries caused the deaths of 606 people.18

 

From 2005-2010, almost 3,800 people in the U.S. died from unintentional shootings.19

 

Over 1,300 victims of unintentional shootings for the period 2005–2010 were under 25 years of age

 

Message: We need to hold irresponsible people accountable!

If they negligently left their kids unattended with the dog (and not just pit bulls, ANY DOG yes they should)

 

And let me include leaving a child unattended in a bathtub, leaving a kid in a hot car and numerous other "accidents" that result in the death of a child should result in charges for negligence. Being a parent is a legal responsibility. Just because they feel remorse after a tragedy like this doesn't release them of that responsibility.

 

This.

Edited May 5, 201313 yr by True blue (and gold)
fixed quote tags

I'm looking at this issue from a marketing standpoint. In other words, pink is more than a color. Problem is, not everyone is as responsible as those on this board who have a solid game plan for firearms in the home and proper training outside the home.

 

Didn't the norm used to be that a kid got a BB gun when he turned 8 or 9? Then a pellet gun a few years later ... then a .22 if he/she exhibited responsibility? When did the new norm become a kid gets a lethal weapon in kindergarten?

 

That's how I remember it.

 

But you'll have to ask Randy Parker's older brother to verify.

I'm looking at this issue from a marketing standpoint. In other words, pink is more than a color. Problem is, not everyone is as responsible as those on this board who have a solid game plan for firearms in the home and proper training outside the home.

 

Didn't the norm used to be that a kid got a BB gun when he turned 8 or 9? Then a pellet gun a few years later ... then a .22 if he/she exhibited responsibility? When did the new norm become a kid gets a lethal weapon in kindergarten?

What is wrong with making guns for kids? You have repeated the same point over and over. A lot of us on this board learned to shoot guns at a young age. It is about parenting and supervision. It can be any color as long as the parent teaches the kid to respect it and understand its not a toy.

First, I didn't know we had a "standard age" for firearms, or bb guns for that matter. Second, had the gun been walnut brown, the parent still would have left it loaded and in the fire position and it still would have been their fault. No chance you convince me that because the gun wasn't conventional brown, it was just too tough to tell the difference for the 5yo that it wasn't a toy. The child had access to a loaded weapon. Please let me repeat with some emphasis: The child had unfettered access to a loaded weapon.

The child had unfettered access to a loaded weapon.

 

But that doesn't fit the narrative that all guns are inherently bad.

I seen this one the news and thought how sad for all involved.

 

 

I can almost understand teaching a kid to shoot a gun but no way can I understand the child having a loaded gun in any area in which the adult is right there with them and they are learning to use the weapon. Never should the child have the gun in his hands at any other time.

First, I didn't know we had a "standard age" for firearms ... [/b]

What's this about? How come kids in Indiana under 17 need to pass a hunter ed class but kids in Kentucky don't? Why do ALL hunters in Wyoming -- even (especially) Dick Cheney -- need to pass a hunting ed course?

 

Minimum Hunting Age Statutes

What's this about? How come kids in Indiana under 17 need to pass a hunter ed class but kids in Kentucky don't? Why do ALL hunters in Wyoming -- even (especially) Dick Cheney -- need to pass a hunting ed course?

 

Minimum Hunting Age Statutes

You'd be mistaken. You should visit the ky dept of wildlife rules and regulations about hunter safety requirements. As a matter of fact, adults can't hunt in Fort Knox if you don't have that class certification. I took it with a bunch of 8 year olds so I could hunt FK.

 

What is on the site you link is for hunting license and age limits. Again, not all the info, but about what I expected.

Edited May 6, 201313 yr by spindoc

But that doesn't fit the narrative that all guns are inherently bad.

Exactly. Well, unless they're pink obviously.