The next generation of gun rights activists

Courtesy of Oleg Volk

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
-"Greatest Love of All" by Michael Masser and Linda Creed

When Linda Creed wrote that Whitney Houston hit, she was reportedly suffering from breast cancer and was thinking about her children and the legacy she would leave behind. Freedom lovers, especially those who support and defend the Second Amendment, also must look to the future. 

Now, more than ever, children are bombarded at school with anti-gun messages. Gun owners are ridiculed in the media and portrayed as either criminals or low IQ rednecks in television and the movies (except the "heroes," who are always affiliated with law enforcement or the military). Children are not taught the merits of self-defense, only to call the police and huddle under a desk until help arrives.

These frequent messages attempt to mold young minds to oppose civilian gun ownership through indoctrination. If this is not countered by a pro-gun message at home, the future of gun rights will be lost.

Parents need to know what their kids are being taught, and this can either be accomplished through conversation or by creating an environment of healthy attitudes towards guns that leads to questions being asked. Take kids to the range shooting and take them hunting. Show that while criminals and other "bad guys" misuse firearms, it is the person, not the gun, that is bad. When students start studying the Constitution, find out what, if anything, is being said about the second amendment.

When kids get older, they can be taught more about activism and the importance of keeping gun rights safe. Hopefully, after many years of seeing the pro-gun lifestyle they will be instilled with a desire to keep it safe and they, too, will want to preserve those rights for future generations.

When they get to college, there may be additional opportunities to join on campus groups that defend gun rights, such as Second Amendment clubs, competition shooting leagues, or Students for Concealed Carry on Campus.

There are also opportunities to reward student participation in the gun rights movements, such as the $1,000 scholarship offered by Ohioans For Concealed Carry which is awarded to Ohio students who are members of OFCC or involved in on-campus gun rights clubs or school shooting teams.

The important thing is that we not allow the agenda of those who oppose gun rights to be forced upon our children without being countered. Their hope is that if they can't ban guns now, they'll meet less resistance in the future. It is our job to be sure that doesn't happen and the next generation has a future that includes the right to armed self defense.