Rural news media may be far from the debates in Congress, but their readers, listeners and viewers are no less citizens of the country, so when an issue has a high national profile, there is often an opportunity, even an obligation, to report on it from a local point of view.
The Adair County Community Voice in Columbia, Ky., did that recently, with a story that explored the gun culture of rural Southern Kentucky, a week after a 2-year-old child in adjoining Cumberland County was accidentally to death by her 5-year-old brother. (ACCV photo: Harrison Rich, 13, has been shooting competitively since he was 9. “Always treat a gun as if it is loaded,” he said. “And make sure it is always pointed away from people.”)
An Associated Press story about the shooting noted that growing up around guns is a normal way of life in Southern Kentucky. In her story for the Voice, Allison Cross agreed, but said so is learning to use firearms safely. Furthermore, family bonds are often built through exercises such as hunting.
Local resident Terry Partin told Cross, “Just as we take our children to church and we teach them the difference from right or wrong, the parent’s responsibility or the guardian’s responsibility should also include teaching gun safety whether there is a gun in the home or not. Children will come into contact with firearms with or without adult supervision.”
In Kentucky, hunters born after Jan. 1, 1975 are required to complete a hunter education course through the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Cross writes. Children under 12 can hunt without the course if accompanied by an adult. John Harris, a local conservation officer, said of the recent tragedy, “You just don’t hear of many accidents. Most of these fathers in our community do a good job teaching their kids.” (Read more)
An Associated Press story about the shooting noted that growing up around guns is a normal way of life in Southern Kentucky. In her story for the Voice, Allison Cross agreed, but said so is learning to use firearms safely. Furthermore, family bonds are often built through exercises such as hunting.
Local resident Terry Partin told Cross, “Just as we take our children to church and we teach them the difference from right or wrong, the parent’s responsibility or the guardian’s responsibility should also include teaching gun safety whether there is a gun in the home or not. Children will come into contact with firearms with or without adult supervision.”
In Kentucky, hunters born after Jan. 1, 1975 are required to complete a hunter education course through the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Cross writes. Children under 12 can hunt without the course if accompanied by an adult. John Harris, a local conservation officer, said of the recent tragedy, “You just don’t hear of many accidents. Most of these fathers in our community do a good job teaching their kids.” (Read more)
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