[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Absolutely!

Back in the day, the "day" in question being 1965, guns in school was nothing out of the ordinary. Gun safety training was offered at the high school I attended and on the range days seeing kids with guns on buses was totally normal. We had to store them at the Principal's office until range time but the ammo we just carried loose in our pockets. Oh--and no self-respecting lad at my school would EVER be caught without his trusty Barlow pocket knife. Saw a teacher borrow one from a kid one time when the pencil sharpener was on the fritz.

The three biggest behavior problems were talking in class, chewing gum and running in the halls. And even then, you didn't want your parents knowing. Mom and Dad had a talk with each of us at a young age: "never get in trouble at school and complain to us about it, because you'll be in twice as much trouble when you get home". And they meant it.

Oh--just about all of came from two married parents households, raised to take responsibility for our actions, respect hard work, and to take pride in academic accomplishments. One of the proudest days of my high-school life was when I was invited to join the National Honor Society. School was a privilege, not an obligation.

Guns were as deadly back then as they are now. But being raised in the right circumstances, with the right values, meant that we respected guns much as would respect any other tool. Blaming the guns for today's ills is on the same par as blaming the fork because you gained ten pounds. Want to fix the problem? Fix the FAMILY.

Back then there were no 30-round "banana clips" or kevlar vests readily available. Guns were for hunting animals NOT PEOPLE. Today IS VERY different from 1965!