Posted: 6/14/2005 6:38:47 PM EDT
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Press Release Source: PAX June 21 is Fifth-Annual National ASK Day Tuesday June 14, 3:57 pm ET 33 States, Concerned Parents Nationwide to Participate in 'The Big ASK' NEW YORK, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- On the first day of summer, June 21, organizations across the country will join PAX / Real Solutions to Gun Violence in celebrating the fifth-annual National ASK Day with a nationwide campaign called "The Big ASK." Over 40% of homes with children have guns. During a season when children are spending more time in friends' homes, ASK Day is a reminder to all parents to ask if there are guns in the homes where their children play. ASK stands for Asking Saves Kids. Every day, 8 children die from guns and another 33 are injured, according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. "These statistics are unacceptable," said Daniel Gross, PAX CEO and co- founder. "We hear of far too many senseless tragedies involving children and guns -- tragedies that could have been prevented. Parents can help make their children safer. All they have to do is ask." Fifty organizations from 33 states and the District of Columbia are participating in "The Big ASK," a partnership with Good Housekeeping to help spread the life-saving message. PAX is asking those who care about child safety to make sure as many people as possible know about the importance of asking. The campaign involves people in communities nationwide spelling the word ASK in as big and creative a way as possible -- from mowing the letters in a baseball field to spelling it out with people in a public place. Sonya Barge, whose 3-year-old son Markie was shot and killed by an 11- year-old boy while playing at a babysitter's home near St. Louis seven years ago, believes all parents should heed the ASK Day message. "I learned tragically about the importance of asking," Barge said. "Nothing will bring my Markie back, but I hope some good can come out of telling his story -- maybe even preventing others from going through the same heartache." PAX was founded in 1998 to bring new and effective solutions to the problem of gun violence in America. The non-profit company has since grown into the nation's largest non-political gun violence prevention organization. More importantly, PAX's work provides simple solutions to make homes, families and communities safer. |
The ONLY reasonable thing to do is legalize MG's. Do it - for teh children. [:D} |
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Well, after researching this for about an hour or so, I am of the opinion that "it is for the children". Another softball designed to dim common sense because, what responsible adult would put a child in danger? All 6 of my kids know what a gun is, what its uses are, how to disarm one, and how to recognize a bad situation. This program is presented like a traning tool for all. Be it gun owners or non-gun owners. BS. It is an attempt to muster Million Mom type people. I tried to find what defined a child but could not. And, with the gang violence here, I believe that this is skewed propaganda. What the fuck about the death of children due to doctor screw ups? They need to focus on the bang for the buck if their concern is the safety of children. We, as responsible adults, know better than to allow our kids to subject themselves and others to the unchecked risks of firearms. We promote awareness and try to dispell the BS they see everyday on TV. |
According to this columnist, the antis consider those under 21 as children. Here is what she said about the "Ask Day." Her assertion was that one cannot child-proof guns but would have better success in gun-proofing children. |
Just wanted to resurrect this thread so nobody missed ASK Day...  For more info: www.pax.com/ASK_day.html FTR, this whole thing is being sponsored by the AMA, whose position on RKBA is known all too well...  (As Assistant Director of a state agency that reviews child deaths, I've been getting a lot of mail, e-mail, calls, etc. related to this.  )
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Well, in Alabama in 2002 (the latest year for which we have complete, reviewed, analyzed data), as far as child (<18YO) deaths from other than natural causes, it was vehicular deaths, suffocations, drownings, weapons (all weapons, not just firearms), fire, suicide, other, undetermined, assault, poisonings, electrocutions, and falls, in that order (these are the official categories we use). FWIW, causes #4 through #9 all totaled within 4 deaths of one another - IOW they could realistically be considered in a five-way tie for fourth (they frequently change positions from year to year). |
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Conspicuously absent from this campaign is any mention of asking your neighbors about: 1. swimming pools, 2. poisonous chemicals, 3. sexual preditors, 4. ladders, 5. sharp knives, 6. excessive hot water temperatures, 7. unattended power tools, 8. exposed wiring and uncovered electrical outlets, 9. lead paint, 10. asbestos, 11. spoiled food, 12. peanut butter, milk products and other common allergic reaction-inducing foods, 13. hot plates, boiling water, barbecues, turkey friers, etc. 14. Oleander and other deadly shrubs and plants, 15. vicious dogs and other pets, ...along with at least several dozen other household hazards, most of which represent a greater risk to children than firearms. 
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If you limit the age of what one considers children to those 14 and under the rate of kids killed with a gun drops to a little over 1.4 per day and about 1/5 of those are suicides. Here's an article on it: Guns don't kill 13 kids a day, or even 8 |
And I actually think you're a troll, regardless of your pumped up post count. Apparently, you can't distiguish between anti-gun moronic programs vs. real gun saftey. Just so you know, this is the former, i.e. the first one.  |