Educate kids about guns

On Monday, two dozen people gathered at the Jordan International Peace Gardens to plant 1,000 daffodils in memory of those who have died from gunshot wounds. In a sense, the gesture was reminiscent of the Japanese custom of making 1,000 origami cranes to ensure good luck.

But people tend to make their own luck.

And a good way to make sure your child is one of the lucky ones who avoids gun injury is through shared information.

Parents should not only talk to their children about sex and drugs, but about firearms — what they are, how they work and the proper way to deal with them. As with so much in life, education is the key.

Instruction is a good way to prevent boating accidents and car accidents. It is also the best way to short-circuit gunshot accidents.

We're not advocating mandatory hunter safety courses or that kids know how to dismantle an AK-47; but guns are a part of a child's life — more so than parents care to acknowledge. Guns crop up in movies, on television, in stores, on playgrounds, in the homes of friends and in children's own homes. If cobras were as ubiquitous as guns, every parent would make sure their child knew all about cobras. Cobras would be topic "A" at the dinner table. But many parents steer clear of gun discussions. And when kids come across a gun, they are often so intrigued — even mesmerized — that they can't leave it alone. Curiosity gets the best of them.

Firearm education would lessen the exotic appeal.

Naysayers might claim that teaching gun safety to kids will only enhance interest and desire. But if that were the case, parents would never dare teach kids about sex and drugs. Studies — and personal experience — have shown education is an antidote.

It is because of education that most of the nation wears automobile seatbelts.

Education would also help children know more about the use and care of guns, as well as the safety measures and precautions that need to be observed around them.

Many gunshot deaths are accidents. Accidents are the result of human error. Innocence, ignorance and negligence can lead to accidents.

Good information is good accident prevention.