By Larry S. Moore
Merriam-Webster defines Pathologist as “a specialist in pathology; specifically : one who interprets and diagnoses the changes caused by disease in tissues and body fluids.”

The story, Children and Gun Safety: Education Is the Key is currently on biz.yahoo.com and the PRNewswire. While this story is better than most media advice pieces regarding guns, it does stop well short of the whole story. It is interesting to note that the information on gun storage could be taken from just about any state's hunter education program. Even more interesting is the advice in the next to last paragraph. Knowledgeable readers will quickly see this is taken directly from the NRA Eddie Eagle program
(Don’t touch, tell an adult). So why can't the pathologists give credit where it is due - to the real gun experts? Or even better provide links so readers who want more information know where to find it.
The story seems written from the perspective of protecting children from guns in their homes. A larger challenge is to educate those children whose parents don't own guns or even are afraid of guns. This may be the most curious and at risk group of youngsters. The pathologists suggest asking your neighbors if there are guns in their homes. On the surface this seems like a good idea. However, I take offense. Lots of things in home pose dangers to our children. Based on the continuing decline of firearms accidents, guns are a very minor part. I do not imply that we should take firearm safety lightly. However, parents should be asking a lot of questions about where their children are playing and what they are doing. The story mentions gun cleaning solvents but does not mention the risk posed by household cleaners or perhaps mice poison, paints, gasoline, etc. What about animals in the house from the common dogs and cats to the exotics that many people like? Most parents probably let their children play various types of ball, tag, or even badminton with their neighbors. Yet the injury rate with these games is higher than firearms.
The story also addresses firearms only from one perspective, hunting. "If you have a gun in your home, particularly if hunting is an important part of family recreation, teach your children to use guns safely and responsibly." The pathologists seem to ignore the possibilities of having a gun for self-protection or for target shooting. Yet we know many people, who never hunt, enjoy various types of firearm recreational shooting or keep a gun for protection. Could it be the story is trying to quietly suggest that hunting is the only reason to own a gun?

And now, with apologies to Paul Harvey, click on 'Read More' for "the rest of the story".