Homesteading with firearms may not be for everyone and it’s a very hot topic for all. Two years ago I received communication that shots were fired at my daughter’s high school and a security lock down was executed – there were many questions asked from followers in regards to how we felt about this. Here’s a recap of the day, and how we feel about firearms.
Two years ago my daughter’s high school went to full lock down. Allegedly shots were fired and the entire building went to security measures locking the door to the classrooms at 7:43am – blackout curtains were drawn and the students were lined up against a far wall away from the door. It was not a drill and my heart immediately sank.
WA state’s policy requires that all cell phones should be immediately turned off during a lock down, and no communication can be had with the outside world; no phone calls or texts to family members informing them that they are ok.
I received a text at 7:45 am from my daughter of what was occurring. She was very calm and had notified me that she was ok and safe. We kept in constant contact through the lockdown via text, where I found that she was actually keeping me calm throughout the ordeal.
After 5 hours of being in lock down, each classroom received a police escorted out of the building and then released to go home, but first each individual’s bag was searched to see if it contained a firearm. I had to tell my conservative daughter to swallow her pride and let them search her bag; of course she was not a happy camper to have to declare her innocence from that day’s event.
I am proud to say that my daughter remained calm throughout that ordeal, which was far better than how I was handling it!
That particular day has made me stop and look at our family and the world we live in. We live in a world of fear. If it’s not from the fear our food source, it’s fear of our government, if it not from the fear of our government it’s the fear of worldly events, if it’s not from the fear of worldly events then it’s the fear of guns and gun control. The fear never seems to end.
We are gun owners.  We are responsible gun owners. My husband has taught us (myself and our children) how to shoot and to be great shots. He has taught us gun safety and how to defend ourselves; we know that we have this right. But more importantly, we should never be afraid to own this right. Aside from all his teachings, we also take classes at our local gun range.
I look back on that day and often think about the school shooting that have occurred in the past 2 years, and realize the fear of guns is a legitimate fear. But what generates this fear? Could it possibly be that 1. Individuals do not know much about guns 2. Not being taught how to safely use and handle them 3. A true gun owner knows that guns are meant to defend and protect.
Don’t get me wrong, guns do land in the wrong hands. There is not one thing that can prevent this, no law or government can control it, crimes and murders still occur regardless if guns are controlled or not.  In talking to my daughter about that day she stated that she doesn’t fear gun, she fears people who fear guns. This coming from a young adult who experienced something not many never experience.
I have been asked how I would feel if my daughter were to have been injured or killed that day, would I demand stricter gun laws to protect my other children who attend school? And I can honestly answer, NO. I can’t fix an unstable individual nor can I stop someone from purchasing a gun on the blackmarket. I can’t blame a gun for hurting or killing an individual, I can only hold the individual’s mental state responsible.
We will continue to teach our family the safe way to handle guns, to defend themselves, and to always protect and serve the people who need help. Of course it will not be thorough running around town with guns blazing, but through the process of educating. We can do this because we are responsible gun owners.
