opinion

Gun bill will improve safety for children

To Bishop Alan Scarfe, Bishop Julius C. Trimble, and Cheryl Thomas (Iowans For Gun Safety): ["Bishops believe gun bill threatens safety," March 16] Your wording, while accurate, is fairly inflammatory and stirs a lot of emotion.  The youth provision in SF425 actually aims to remove the statute that makes parents felons for teaching kids gun safety. 

As a parent with firearms in his house, I worry about my kids' safety.  All my guns are stored in a safe, my ammo is stored in a separate location.  Having said that, I can't be with my kids everywhere.  I can't be at a friends' house, I can't be with them at the theater, or any other place where temptation may arise. 

One of the most important things I have taught my 9- and 11-year-old daughters, since the age of 5, is that guns are not toys.  I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that my daughters would never touch a gun without my direct oversight.  Why?  It's not because I talked with them about it, it's not because they learned it from school, it's not because someone else told them, it's not because they learned it on TV, and it's not because its against the law.  It's because I took them to the range and carefully instructed them on its operation.  My daughters know its power; they know first hand what it can do.  This provides my daughters with two advantages: first, a healthy knowledge and respect for the gun and second, no curiosity associated with the gun.  To put it frankly, guns are not "cool" to my daughters. 

We condition our kids on all kinds of dangers growing up.  We teach them not to play with knives by teaching them how to use them.  We have similar hands-on methodologies for lawn mowers, stoves and toasters.  This list could go on and on. Why would we stop with guns? 

Help us make a positive change in the lives of our young ones.  Change this law and start outreach program where kids spend time at a local range with a qualified instructor.  Remove the hype and curiosity associated with guns by encouraging and fostering a safe learning environment. 

NATHAN GIBSON of Johnston and his daughters testified in support of the bill.  Contact: amngibson@gmail.com