What do you mean when you say "boys will be boys?"

Recently, my 3 year old was taught by a 5 year how to use a shotgun. This boy's "shotgun" was actually a toy lightsaber, but he explained in minute detail how to operate an actual shotgun. His mother shrugged it off saying "boys will be boys." It was clear she didn't like this behavior, but felt that somehow playing with guns was innate; that it was out of her control. This is a REALLY common misconception.

In truth, boys - all children really - learn by repetition. Someone teaches them "aim and bang." It could be the TV, another child, or a parent, then they repeat until they get bored or someone intervenes. As parents, it is our job to intervene when a child is repeating a negative behavior. We do it when they curse, when they hit, when they throw sand. But for some reason, we think gun violence is an inalienable right. Maybe because gun control is such a divisive issue right now, maybe it's the American love affair with violence, I don't know.

I didn't intervene, because I didn't want to be that "crazy left wing guy." It's her right to let her kid play with guns. I failed in my duty to parent by not stopping the learning of bad behavior. For the following three weeks, my son walked around aiming his finger at people and making the shotgun noise. He is really into firefighters, so, without fail, we diffused by asking him "Are we on fire? Are you spraying us with a fire hose?" Eventually, he began to say yes and giggle. We also kept telling him "don't point the hose at people, it's not safe." Soon, he forgot about the shotgun and occasionally I still get sprayed with the hose.

I don't want my son, or daughter, to know how to use a gun until they are old enough to use it safely, which, at the rate our society coddles children, could be when he is 25. He doesn't know the word gun, just like he doesn't know the words murder, missionary position, or statute of limitations - these are adult concepts - he is three!

Saying "he's just playing" ignores the purpose of play. Play is practice for life. Play is how children learn. They play grocery shopping, they play driving cars, if they are lucky, they even play doctor, but I certainly don't want my children play shooting each other.

No, I am not anti-gun, see here if you think I am. I was raised with lots of toy guns and have owned and played with lots of real guns. Guns, even toys, are not for children. There is nothing important my child can learn from having a toy gun. Additionally, it's inconsistent messaging: "guns are dangerous, you shouldn't point them at people," but here's one to play with and nothing bad happens if you point it at your friends. I've never seen a toy gun solely used to play hunting (I'm sure it's happened, but I've never seen it).

So next time you say "boys will be boys," stop and ask yourself, are you really saying "I'm okay with my kids practicing gun violence?"

I am not anti-gun

No, I am not anti-gun. I am anti-stupidity and anti-gun-violence.

Guns are useful tools for hunting, fun tools for marksmanship, and rather poor tools for self-defense.

Unless you were trained in the military to use firearms under extreme stress, I could probably take your gun away before you could shot me. It takes very little training to do this. For many, that statement might challenge your virility and you might want to challenge me - that would only further prove your childishness. If you care about your family, don't buy a gun to protect them, pay for a training class to teach them to disarm an attacker. Also, if you are concerned about your safety, stop eating sugar - it's the # 1 killer in the U.S.

Also, unless you have killed a living thing with a gun, you have no idea how it will impact you or even if you could do it. Actually, you probably could because it's so easy if you have surprise on your side - that's why so many people do things with guns in the heat of the moment that they pay for the rest of their lives and wish they could take back.

Yes, we might someday need to overthrow our oppressive government, but then I'm sure some benevolent country, like us, would come to our aid and provide weapons.

The only true argument against control is "guns are cool and I want a big one." If you say that, I will believe you, otherwise you are just using justifications to cover up the true reason you want a gun (see previous statement).

Save the Rio Maranon

The damming of the Upper Amazon is currently THE MOST IMPORTANT RIVER CONSERVATION ISSUE IN THE WORLD but few know about it - it needs to be publicized. 

The Rio Maranon, a 400 mile stretch of unprotected river basin in the Peruvian Andes is slated to be choked by 81 dams, with construction starting in 2014. These dams are being sold as development to benefit the indigenous people, but history has shown these mega-dams to benefit only the dam construction companies and corrupt officials.

For a very short time, we still have the opportunity to do what David Brower did for The Grand Canyon in 1967 - save one of the last long, wild rivers in the world from devastation. This will likely be the greatest river conservation opportunity of our generation, of my lifetime. This is the last chance for this river. 

With enough opposition letters and support, we can stop this tragedy in the works - but TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!!  Please get the word out and donate if you can.

Here is my plan to save this river:

1. Get the word out to every person I know via Facebook, Twitter, email and my phone.
2. Get as many people as possible to sign the petition to the President of Peru on Care2.org and Causes.com.
3. Create blog as a central source of information.
4. Create local fundraising events at climbing gym, pub crawl, bike race, etc.
5. Help produce documentary showing people what they can do to save this river and why they should.
6. Fundraising for SierraRios to produce related media - photos, flyers, pamphlets, etc. - through Rally.org and Paypal.
7. Travel on an expedition to document the unique features of the river (including ancient Incan archaeological sites, natural hot springs, and class IV whitewater), train local guides, educate native populations about their internationally protected right to oppose the dams.
8. Come home and share the significance and importance of protecting one of the few remaining free-flowing rivers on this planet with slide shows.
9. Repeat.

I need help.  Ask me if you want to get involved.  Tell me if you have ideas, I've never done this before!

Passion and Commitment

If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is.

Charles Bukowski