Guns in the classroom?

Guns Magazine, Sept, 2003 by John Taffin

"I really loved you being here. Thank you for showing us the guns and the pichers. I really loved the food you gave us and the buffalo fur."

"Thank you for comeing to our school. I lerd a lot of stuff today. I lerd not to play with guns"

"Thank you. Buffalo are cool. I liked it when you showed the class the guns."

"Thank you for the meet and for comeing to sher. I lornd a lot. I want to go buffalo hunting."

"I learned that you never touch a buffalo unless it is ded then you can touch it. And also that you should never touch guns either. My favorite part was the buffalo chip."

"I'm a carivore so I loved the meat. I learned that buffalo were dumb. I also learned that guns are just guns."

"Dear Mr. T, I liked the buffalo to eat. I use to live in texes." Please tell us about a nuther hunt some uthertime."

"Thank you for spending time with us."

"I think you guys did a good job."

And one sad note: "The guns were bad for me. My mom and my dad will get made at me.

We spent most of the day with these young kids and it was n great experience for us. From reading all their letters they obviously enjoyed it and remembered much of what we told them. Somehow we must do everything possible to reach young kids and convey the message to them that guns are not bad, and neither is hunting. What we have accomplished here is somewhat like trying to empty the reservoir outside of town with a teaspoon. However, if every gun owner and hunter combined their teaspoons we could at least lower the level of the reservoir.

Some of you are the present, many of you like me are closer to being the past. Kids are the future, not only for themselves but also the key to how society will perceive firearms in this new century. I hope this presentation we were able to give is only the beginning. Perhaps other teachers and other principals will also step out, opening the doors of their schools and classrooms to the proper use of firearms. Seventy-five kids is not very many -- but it's a start.