Friday, April 25, 2014

New Iowa law may allow a child of any age to possess a handgun.

Courtesy of Des Moines Register:

Language allowing children of any age to possess a handgun could be added to one of the final bills up for consideration in Iowa's 2014 legislative session. 

State Rep. Clel Baudler, R-Greenfield, has offered an amendment to the so-called "standings" bill striking wording currently in state law that allows only minors 14 years and older to possess and shoot handguns with adult supervision. 

The change would mean a child of any age could, for example, shoot a pistol or revolver at a shooting range so long as they were supervised by a parent or guardian or a shooting instructor with parental consent. 

A standalone bill with similar language was introduced earlier this year, but failed to advance. The standings bill contains several appropriations – including billions of dollars in funding for K-12 schools – but frequently is the target of numerous amendments on unrelated matters in the final days of the sessions as lawmakers are looking to tie up loose ends and adjourn. 

Baudler's amendment is at least partially inspired by the Gibson family of Johnston. Nathan Gibson has been taking his 8- and 10-year-old daughters to the shooting range and on hunting trips for years, but was turned away earlier this month when the gunsmith alerted him and his 8-year-old of the law. 

Iowa Gun Owners, an advocacy group, has highlighted the Gibson family in an effort to get the law changed.

There is NO way that this can seem like a good idea to any reasonable parent. I mean where is the mother?

I don't have a problem with teaching your children to shoot, but just like learning about where babies some from, there is an appropriate age to start that educational process.

Click the link at the top and take a look at the Des Moines Register video. Then tell me if it doesn't make you gasp just a little.

All I could see as a parent while watching it was at least a hundred and one things that could go wrong. If I were the insurance company covering this shooting range I would make it very clear that there were to be no small children on the premises, or it would be cancelled or the premiums would go through the roof. Law or no law.

20 comments:

  1. Beldar Bangbang Conehead5:41 AM

    Gryphen, this is awkward, given the topic of your post, but I really need your help.

    As you know, I've started a Kickstarter campaign to fund my latest invention which is, quite modestly, my most killer idea ever! And I really need the last few remaining deadenders visiting your defunct blog to help. Even if they aren't deeply disturbed gun nuts, I'm asking you to help me for the sake of the deeply disturbed friends, relatives and creepy neighbors who are deeply disturbed gun nuts.

    Ok, here's the idea (deep breath): It's called Goggle Gun(tm). Think Google Glass meets 9mm semiautomatic handgun. That's right, it's the first face-mounted, laser-sighted, twitch-fired 7-shot firearm. For the first time in history, rill common-sense conservative Americians of all races - but yeah, it's pretty much gonna be a white guy thing - will have split-second access to awesome fire power literally with the blink of an eye.

    Think about it: finally, a gun you can fire less than a quarter of a second after the first wave of emotion tells you "hey! that asshole just cut me off', or "that SOB is talking WAY too loud" or "OBAMA 2012? I'll show this joker what he can do with that bumper sticker!" No clumsy holster to fiddle with, no safety interlock to disengage, no tense mexican standoff with opponents! Just look, rage, blink and fire!

    For $1000 you get a spot in line for the first 3D printed production models and for $2000, you get the gun, a beautiful satin carrying bag with leather drawstring, plus 2 Stand Your Ground 'freebies' while you get used to the hair-trigger firing mechanism. (To be honest, we really recommend sending the wife and kids to stay with her parents until you get the hang of Goggle Gun(tm). She better take the dog, also too.)

    Our initial group of prototype testers were running 2-6 kills per month! Thats how easy this gun is to fire, Parking space arguments, door-to-door salesman encounters, bar fights and domestic disputes are all over in the blink of an eye! Once you have access to this technology, you will walk taller, be more confident, crack wiser and, yes, your pecker will get noticeably longer within 10 days or your money will be cheerfully refunded!

    Even if you don't want Goggle Gun(tm) for yourself, please consider supporting this project and giving the gun to an angry loved one or co-worker for the holidays. And remember, every gun we sell means more money for me, and isnt that truly The Amercian Dream?

    Visit us on Kickstarter or our website www.totaldouchebagindustries.com

    Goggle Gun(tm) Put the FEAR back in FREE-FEAR-DOM!
    (I know, we're working on a better slogan...)

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! Wait a minute! What are the odds that someone is trying to come up with something like that?!
      Love ya, Beldar.
      M from MD

      Delete
  2. Anonymous5:42 AM

    State Firearm Laws Could Reduce Gun-Related Injuries in Children

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-c-prickett/gun-safety-children_b_5206451.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:48 AM

      When you own a car, there are some common sense rules that you follow. For example, you do not leave the car with the motor running and the doors unlocked in the parking lot while you go shopping. The car could be stolen, or it could slip a gear and plow into someone or something.

      The same rule ought to apply to gun owners. When they are not being used, they should be stored unloaded, in a locked gun safe. (They advertise those gun safes on Sarah's Sportsman show so it must be a good idea). I know, someone breaks into your house and you have to lose precious minutes unlocking the safe and loading the gun. If you leave it around, it's like leaving a car with the motor running and keys in the ignition.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:12 AM

      It's like leaving your car on, in gear, up on wobbly blocks in your driveway (where your kids are playing and riding their bikes) just in case you need to make a quick getaway.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous5:55 AM

    Gryphen Little, the sky is falling, the sky is falling!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:24 AM

      So you are OK with the number of teen suicides in this country by gun, and the number of young children being killed by their young siblings? The sky IS falling, and you are helping.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:32 AM

      It's amazing you have time in between fucking your guns to read Gryphens posts. Congratulations on finding some balance in your life.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous7:48 AM

      Anon 6:24 Little and 7:32 Little, the sky is falling!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous8:56 AM

      Well, have fun at the funerals of your fellow 'patriots.' Don't look for sympathy cards from those of us who don't need to want guns endangering our kids. And anyone who thinks that ad is anything but insane deserves what happens to them and their kids.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous6:52 AM

    That is a great idea. Let's let them vote. They can go in the bars and drink. They can get married to any other little kid. They can drive a car (if they can see over the steering wheel. Gee, it would be great if they could work 14 hours a day in a factory, too. and sign legal documents to be responsible for.....oh, wait, they are just little kids.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous8:25 AM

    More children can shoot their parents. There is not enough parenticide.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:44 AM

      Every day we read about a kid who accidentally shoots a sibling or a friend, playing with a loaded gun that some dumb idiot left lying around.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:21 AM

      8:44 AM That is b/c kids are sneaking an adult's firearm. If they have their own, they can be more specific when they shoot someone. The occasional kid shooting kid who takes their favorite toy will happen but more adults will go down. Kids won't have to snitch on parents and turn them in for selling drugs. They can just shoot the criminals. There are many benefits to kids with guns, especially in the home. It should be mandatory for all dysfunctional homes.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:10 AM

      That's true 9:21. And kids won't have to wait to come upon their parent's guns, or go searching for them in closets. They can whip out their own pieces to show off to their friends.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous9:12 AM

    That is a cute little gun salesperson in the top picture. I would like to see states, other than mine, legislate for children to possess firearms and weapons. What better way to see how they would handle freedom. The more far right households with free children with their own guns the better. It could help the incest problem and children living in a toxic household would have a chance with more power.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous1:33 PM

    My (penis) gun/cannon is bigger than yours!

    http://www.mediaite.com/online/gop-candidate-one-ups-republican-gun-ads-with-a-friggin-cannon/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mercutio1:52 PM

    There was a heartbreaking case here in Massachusetts where a father allowed his young son to practice shooting with an automatic weapon at a gun show. The kid lost control of the weapon and was killed. Mom divorced Dad and Dad is crying in his beer somewhere. Someone please tell me why this is a good idea.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anita Winecooler5:09 PM

    Why do we have "age of consent" laws on the books? The video is absolutely horrifying. Kids don't have the hand eye coordination, muscle strength("Hey daddy, does this thing kick?"). Their brains aren't fully developed. I'm not against a parent teaching a child while controlling the gun at a gun range, but this is quote an accident unquote waiting to happen.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous6:58 PM

    Admit it Anita, you're just miffed because your little meddling self wont get to call CPS again on some unsuspecting family doing nothing wrong other than in your self entitled world. It's known as minding your own business.

    ReplyDelete

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