European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 8 stripes sunday March 25 2007 i 05 c a q i d Young guns wifi an emphasis on safety firearms shop offers kids area youre never too Young for a gun says Beverly Melton a lot of Guys come in and want to buy a Crickett As soon As they find out their wives Are pregnant she said showing off Small Aliber rifles in the kids Corner of the Garland Texas gun shop she owns with her husband Steve flanked by Bandanna print curtains with displays set against Faux weathered panelling the Western themed Nook is designed to Appeal to bored youngsters tagging along with parents baskets filled with pompoms and foam footballs rest on the floor decorative touches including sheriff style Gold stars sparkle on the Walls but its the firepower that catches the Eye buyers have a Range of choices including a hot Pink 22 Rifle if its a baby girl or a 20gauge Shotgun for an older child despite the overt marketing the Melton say their goal int to put a powerful weapon in the hands of every child you cant emphasize safety enough with a gun melt on said there dangerous there guns handguns generally Are not made for children rifles and shotguns designed for the youngest shooters must be purchased by parents and Hola Only one round at a time these Are the puns that teach them How to handle a gun Melton said education including proper handling is the key to fire Arm safety said Jim Kessler a Board member of Ameri cans for gun safety owning a gun is a right and along with rights come responsibilities he said Kessler said his organization Doest disagree with the concept of a gun department for children our feeling is that As Long As a Parent is involved we have no problem with that he said a spokesman for the Brady Center to prevent gun Vio Lence said his organization had no comment because the topic was outside its primary focus with proper training and extreme emphasis on safety handling a gun be considered that different from handling a fishing pole said Jason Meek a director with the Hunters dream the organization matches mentors with children who would not otherwise have an Opportunity to Hunt its an education Meek said some of the Best times i Ever had growing up were sitting around a campfire a Good Mentor can pass along the whole education and safety Side of it though the kids Corner was established at the Melton gun store Only last year youth guns had always been available in the store and can be purchased in Many oth ers the kids guns were just scattered around in different sections before said Krystle Dodson the Melton Daugh Ter who helped design the kids Corner As part of a store makeover Dodson 22 grew up Hunting but eventually gave it up i never killed anything she said her father said its important for gun dealers to reach out to younger folks there the Upan coming Hunters he said a table tucked into the Garland stores youth Section holds an array of safety brochures published by the nation Al Rifle association next to them sits a framed photo of Laryssa Bonacquisti of Rockwall Texas a frequent Beauty pageant Winner budding entertainer and avid Hunter in the snapshot the girl squats to hold up the head of a Doe she has taken Down with a 243caliber single action Rifle her dad bought for her at the store shooting sports and Hunting Are big parts of our lives Gary Bonacquisti said in a letter submitted for this Story it provides an excellent Opportunity for us to spend time with our children outside while teaching them respect for nature and wildlife management How Many fathers can say they got to spend eight hours one weekend sitting in a Deer stand in Beautiful surroundings talking to their daughters Dallas morning news Tara Talley 11 from Gar land Texas sits with a new England 20 gauge single shot partner gun used for Dove or Bird Hunting and shooting tar gets at guns store in Garland deploying keep up to Date with daily news sports entertainment comics and More talk to your unit about downrange delivery today your Hometown newspaper
