As the national debate over gun control rages on, we watchful citizens are being constantly reminded by those on the political “right” (directional, not necessarily correct!) side of the discourse, that there is no great shortage of people suffering from a lack of common sense. Enter Rob Pincus, owner and operator of “I.C.E. Training”, a firearms training concern based out of New Mexico where Pincus serves as a Training Officer with the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Department, according to his bio page on the I.C.E. Training website. (Incidentally, Mr. Pincus was at one time, married to Irlene Mandrell, sister of singer Barbara Mandrell. Ms. Mandrell (Irlene) has also been active in the American firearms arena.)
As part of the NRA’s annual meeting, Pincus was conducting a seminar on home defense, wherein he made the suggestion that parents store a firearm in a “quick-access” safe in their kids’ room. The NRA’s annual conference was held mere days after the tragic, accidental shooting death of a two-year-old girl in Kentucky, at the hands of her five-year-old brother who had been given a .22 caliber rifle for his birthday. Despite the incident, the NRA conference included several booths and displays that contained firearms marketing, targeted (no pun intended) towards children.
Kids have this knack for getting into things that adults find nigh impregnable. If one has any doubts about this, hand a small child a “childproof” prescription bottle that you have been tearing your hands up on, trying to open. More times than not, the little tyke will have it licked in under five minutes. Children are uniquely possessed of certain problem-solving skills, which are borne out of that quintessential aspect of childhood; curiosity. When coupled with a lack of parental supervision, with something as deadly as a gun thrown in to the mix, the results are quite often bad. Very, very bad.
In the wake of last December’s tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, the national discourse on gun safety and gun control has taken more than a few peculiar twists and turns. Late last month, the U.S. Senate voted down proposed legislation on universal background checks, which are supported by a majority of voters nationwide, exposing a rift between elected representatives in D.C. and their constituents back home. Meanwhile, NRA executive veep Wayne LaPierre maintains a constant stream of anti-gun control, “cold, dead hands” vitriol.
While all of this drones on, children. . .keep. . .dying.
Edited by AEK
