Reporting here that the Finns have proposed a new law that raises the minimum age to own a handgun, while demanding 2 years experience with one as a prerequisite to ownership. Some of the Finns call this a catch-22 as being unable to own a gun might make getting practice with it somewhat difficult.
The application of the idea is poor, but the basic idea isn't without merit. I thing no one should be allowed to have kids unless they can demonstrate 5 years experience raising them.
H/T to Snowflakes In Hell for that one.
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2 comments:
"I thing no one should be allowed to have kids unless they can demonstrate 5 years experience raising them."
I have decades of experience being one.
Does that count?
Fortunately for us, there are intermediate opportunities to learn the basics of parenting.
First, and likely most important, is discipline. There are many unseen but tremendously empowered individuals that are raised by disciplined parents, and lead a disciplined life. (Discipline: the will to complete a task.)
Others stumble into discipline. Some chance to fall into a close relationship with someone disciplined, and emulate that discipline in their own lives. Others may, eventually, take a dog to a "dog obedience" (i.e. owner discipline) class, or train livestock -- a horse to ride or drive, a cow, pig, sheep to show at the fair, etc.
Next is bonding -- empathy, sympathy, loyalty and a possessive responsibility that avoids possessive jealousy. Again, their are many that we never contemplate, since they aren't the focus of social or legal headlines, that bond to their parents as infants and children, and maintain those healthy emotional bonds lifelong. Many grow up knowing their neighbors as cultural and daily resources, and as persons due courtesy, kind regard, and also due material and emotional support.
Others often stumble into people of character, and recognize a character and role model to cherish and emulate, and develop a reverence for character, for mutual respect and learn to engage with their community.
Military training, for one, has rescued the character and emotional bonding capacity of many young people from the trash heaps of society.
The mechanics of raising children, knowledge of the stages of normal, and exceptional, learning and maturing pretty much are learned on the run, from parents, from friends and families with children, and from experience. Back when six or twelve children were the norm, almost everyone had access to this kind of easily-exchanged knowledge. Today's mobility, reliance on public education, TV and movie entertainment, and especially advertising salestalk has replaced family and community stories as founts of wisdom.
Yes, training of parents is important. But the character traits of discipline and integrity won't be found in a national education system, and won't connect families and friends and neighbors within the community. We have national education and mass media, and lament the state of the economy and the socially damaging specter of unfit parenting. Perhaps a different, older method needs a re-try: Expect parents to parent, and let them know when they are getting it wrong. Dragging the kids to weekly worship, to display their discipline and degree of socialization to the Ladies Aid matrons, used to be invaluable feedback for parents and communities.
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