To the editor:
The story about the cat that was shot is tragic. Grownups don’t usually walk around with BB guns, which suggests that some kid may not have understood the disaster that would follow from what he or she was doing, not only to the cat but to the family. The cat lost his life and the family will carry the memory of his suffering for the rest of theirs.
Kids don’t think of such things, as I know from experience. When I was a kid, almost every farm in New Hampshire had at least a .22 rifle and most kids were taught of the dangers. Our dad taught us never to point a gun at anything except a target. We weren’t even allowed to point a finger at someone— first finger pointing, next three fingers folded, thumb up as if to cock the hammer. This was excellent training; most kids had some form of it, and it may have saved many a life. Once when I was in my early teens I was carrying the .22, which wasn’t loaded, and wondered what it would feel like to point it at someone and pull the trigger. I almost did but remembered my training and didn’t, which was lucky because the gun actually was loaded. I would have killed one of my closest friends. That was 70 years ago but I remember it as if it was yesterday.
I would suggest that the famillies in the neighboring area whose kids have BB guns look into this, and if a child is involved it might help him or her to do some community service. Most of us don’t wish to cause tremendous suffering to people or to animals and if we do it’s because we didn’t understand the possible results of our actions.
Liz Thomas
Peterborough