Several months ago I was asked by my father to hold a personal training session with my niece about guns. Her parents are divorced and although her father is an avid hunter, he isn't not a great teacher and mom just doesn't have the resources so I agreed. We tried to get a time together and dates just kept falling through.
Finally we got a date set and my father brought her to the house and we spent about 2.5 hours talking about guns, the 4 rules, handling, and shooting. As she is a teen I did my best to be relevant and humorous while also teaching, but you know how it can be with teens, you never know.
![Smiley :)](https://nebraskafirearms.org/online_community/Smileys/SoLoSMiLeYS1/smiley.gif)
We ended with some time on the LASR system I have and she seemed to enjoy that part of our time together.
The next day I get a text from her thanking me and that was about it.
Fast forward to today. SandyHook Promise releases a "PSA" to the media, not even posting it on their own sight, that focuses on "learning to watch for the signs of gun violence". My niece posts a link from a media websight so I watch it and groan.
Then I see her comment: "I saw it but guns aren't the problem it's people because if you don't touch a gun it don't go anything but if you hold one it's a weapon"(sic)
She got it. She heard what was said and got it.
Don't give up on teaching the kids about safe firearm handling they actually are listening.
![Wink ;)](https://nebraskafirearms.org/online_community/Smileys/SoLoSMiLeYS1/wink.gif)
Next up is to get her out on a range punching holes in paper.