Editor, Times-Union This past weekend a small group of local Indiana DNR Hunter's Ed instructors and NRA firearms safety instructors, myself included, were given the opportunity to see just how great kids can still be. In the news anymore all you seem to hear about kids are the problems with gangs and troubled kids but I'd like to share with everyone a ray of hope for the future of this great nation. Each year I have the good fortune to work with many of the local 4-H kids. You seldom hear about them in the news, good kids. They're the ones who get together to enjoy fellowship and learning in a constructive manner instead of tearing things up and getting into fights over whose turf a parking lot is. This past weekend we, the instructors, were exposed to yet another group of great kids.
There were only 14 Boy Scouts who made it to the weekend outing, held at Camp C.O. Mollenhour, of the 40 to 50 we had hoped for but it was a great time anyhow. According to the Scout leaders present there were boys representing 7 or 8 different troops, so this was a broad cross-section of Scouts primarily in their very early teens, a tough age in today's world. By the end of the weekend all 14 Scouts had completed the DNR requirements to obtain a Hunter's Education certification, scoring one of the very highest recent class averages. All 14 Scouts then qualified for their Rifle Safety & Marksmanship merit badges and the majority of them qualified for the rigorous Shotgun Safety & Shooting merit badge. I would like to congratulate and thank their parents and Scout leaders for molding them into the honest, polite, attentive and eager youth they have become. Programs like 4-H, Scouting, church youth groups, etc., give our youths a place to enjoy fellowship, a place to learn and a place to see the opportunities that the world has to offer without having to worry about getting arrested in the process.
Thanks again, Scouts, it was a blast!
David E. Roose 4-H, DNR & NRA Instructor, Warsaw via e-mail
Gun Grabbing
Editor, Times-Union: Mr. Richard Reeves is either a lot younger than his picture would indicate or he has an awful convenient memory. In his article of 11/9, he makes the statement, "They ... grab a gun, easily available today."
As compared with what, Mr. Reeves? When I was 12 years old, I bought my first rifle from a dealer. Like to see a 12-year-old try that today? When I was 13, my mother gave me a single shot 20-gauge shotgun she had ordered from a Sears catalog. They made that illegal in 1968. Until 1968, there were virtually no federal firearms laws with the exception of full automatic weapons and sawed-off shotguns. In those days, firearms laws were left to the individual states and about the only one Indiana had, that I can remember, was 21 to buy a handgun. There was no background check. There were no forms to fill out and if you had the money you put it down and walked out with your firearms. Simple as that.
Now I will say this, there were a lot less people who owned handguns in those days. Not because they were hard to obtain, but because only true handgunners had any interest in them. Now millions of people have them but have no interest in them or the shooting sports. Why? Well, part of the problem was caused by the media. In 1993, in an attempt to push their anti-gun agenda, they started banging on the crime issue very heavily. So guess what? They convinced many people that they should have some sort of firearm for home defense. Handguns are probably the worst choice, especially for those unfamiliar with firearms, but what with TV and all, they look good.
But as far as availability is concerned, firearms used to be much easier to obtain. So what's the difference today? I wish I knew but it's not as simple as the anti-gunners would make you believe.
Harold Kitson, Warsaw
Heroes
Editor, Times-Union: The result of a recent poll of our leaders in Washington, D.C., revealed that they felt there are few heroes in our nation today. I found the pessimism understandable but surprising at the same time only because I come in contact with many heroes everyday. They don't command multi-million dollar salaries to throw, hit, shoot or catch a ball. They don't seek the limelight for their heroics or rush to the talk-show circuit for recognition. They are our friends; our neighbors; our relatives who gave selflessly. Who are they? They are people who gave their all in defense of our Nation and freedom in places like Normandy, Anzio, Midway, Iwo Jima, Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait and Kosovo to name a few. The soil and sand of beaches and lands across the world have been soaked with the blood of Americans who gave their lives so that we may all live in freedom. There are two million disabled American veterans in our nation today reminding us of the cost of liberty. An estimated 8,000 World War II veterans die each day, passing quietly as the Stars & Stripes are folded and presented to a loved one.
No heroes? Bruce, Tom, Rex, Lane, Jeff, Larry, Gordy, Ernie, Dick, Jerry, Charlie and Bob to name a few. Veterans are quiet heroes who do not demand, but deserve, our recognition. Take a moment to pick up the phone or write a note to that hero you know. Write a note to a loved one of a veteran who died in the service of our country and remind them how thankful you are for the ultimate sacrifice they gave for our country. The folks in Washington need to be reminded who the true heroes are. We must never forget that the many blessings and rights we have in this nation came with a price of life for some, as we enjoy liberty and pursue happiness. To all veterans we say, "Thank you."
Ken Locke, Warsaw
Gun Safety
Editor, Times-Union: Thanks for publishing the picture of gun safety being taught correctly on page one of the November 8 edition of the Times-Union. It took courage in light of today's political correctness pressures.
In addition and more importantly, many thanks to the DNR, Boy Scouts of America, NRA and others to continue to take the common sense approach of education, and not the manipulation of using scare tactics to teach our youth the essentials and responsibilites of gun ownership. I'm quite sure the recipients of this course and many others like it will grow up to be healthy normal productive people. Too bad our educational system can't figure it out.
Mike Deschler, Syracuse via e-mail
Thanks For Support
Editor, Times-Union: I want to thank all the people in the 5th District for their votes and support. Also, a big thank you to all the people that helped me (especially my wife). As most know, this is a new experience for me. Please contact me with any constructive input.
