Quote (Zodijackyl @ Thu - Jan 27 2011 - 20:11:24)
The 12 year old has multiple guns AND multiple knives? Seems a bit excessive. Being taught how to use guns in a safe, recreational environment can begin at an early age, but having them in your possession is more of a rite of passage for an older age, maybe 14-16 at earliest based on maturity. Knives are another story - at that age, you should learn that knives are tools, get away from the stigma of collecting forbidden objects, or knives being cool like swords and fantasy weapons or whatever. A pocketknife or Swiss Army knife is a tool, and you need ONE that is of good quality and suitable for regular use from crafts to maintenance to survival or whatever. Fish knife, hunting/gutting knife, and those should be acquired as you need them. Once the kid is a bit more mature, maybe a Ka-Bar or something like that for hiking/camping utility, excessive but it lets the kid feel like a total badass.
Just my thoughts on parenting and weapons/tools for kids. My mom got me a swiss army knife when I was 10 or 11 and I proved that I could carry it when appropriate and use it responsibly, my brother lent me one of those cheap SUPER COOL LOOKING pocketknives once or twice to see if I was mature enough to clearly show it off, and when I was ready he bought me a high-quality pocketknife that I am still using almost ten years later.
now put yourself in the bible belt south, where moonshine and wifebeating are the way to manhood
stabbings are just a rite of passage
