Parents, are you worried about how to explain to your children that you go about your daily life carrying a deadly weapon? Never fear. A handy book has been created to do exactly that - complete with charming illustrations.
The children's book My Parents Open Carry by Brian Jeffs and Nathan Nephew, shows kids exactly what it is like to live in a family of gun nuts.
The picture-book, which would be funny if it wasn't so horrifying, follows a "typical Saturday running errands and having fun together" for 13-year-old Brenna Strong and her parents. "What's not so typical is that Brenna's parents lawfully open carry handguns for self-defence," the book explains.
*Runs away screaming*
The book, which apparently "reflects the views of the majority of the American people," was written because the authors "fear our children are being raised with a biased view of our constitution and especially in regards to the 2nd Amendment."
On the My Parents Open Carry website, the authors describe the book as something that “will be treasured for years to come and will be passed down to new family members”.
Before writing the "wholesome" book, published by White Feather Press, the authors said they looked for other pro-gun children's books and couldn't find any.
But despite reports that 20 American children are hospitalised every day for gun injuries, the authors have insisted kids need to feel more comfortable around guns. Nephew reportedly even told Armed American Radio that “most kids aren’t scared of a gun … that’s another good point this book tries to make," Raw Story reported.
Watch out kiddies...
On their website, the authors make sure to thank their sponsors – the National Take Your Daughter to the Range Day – and offer buyers a free copy of the “fun” book Raising Boys Feminists Will Hate! by Doug Giles. At this point the Huffington Post UK became convinced this must be a spoof, but, incredibly, it seems to be the real deal.
And yet the title has drawn positive reviews, according to the authors' website.
“Loved it, I ordered a copy for our school’s library” John Roshek, the Founder of Citizens League for Self-Defence said.
Alan Korwin of gunlaws.com is quoted as saying "I love it...boy does this fill a vacuum."
While another supporter, James Towle, the host of American Trigger Sports Network, said the book was "Outstanding, outstanding…every person should buy 5 copies of this book. Very well done...I believe long overdue."
But many reacted with horror to the book, with children's publisher Elizabeth Laws saying that it was the first time in 25 years that "a children's book leaves me speechless".
Others took to Amazon to give their thoughts. Here's our favourite:
This started out as a 5 Star rating, but quickly went down hill as the evening progressed.
After saying our prayers to Jesus and Charlton Heston, I sat on the edge of my kids bed to read them this book, when I shifted my position and accidentally set off my 9mil that was strapped to my hip, shooting myself in the thigh. This wouldn't have been so bad, flesh wounds happen, other than the fact that I hit an artery and started spurting blood all over my kids Ted Nugent and Sarah Palin sheets. 4 Stars for not covering a gun's safety in your book.
After tying a tourniquet to my leg and wiping the blood off the kids, we headed to the emergency room for treatment. We made sure to bring the book along to continue reading the story to the kids while we waited, not wanting to waste a valuable teaching moment.
There were a lot of minorities in the Emergency Room when we got there, some that were even carrying intimidating guns on their hip, frightening my family. I'm sure they were up to no good. But fortunately, I still had my 9mil. on my hip, and my wife had our trusty AR-15 on her shoulder, so we knew we were safe.
It wasn't until after the shootout, while talking to the police officer that I found out that the Stand Your Ground Law works both ways. Evidently, a white man with a gun is just as scary to a black man as a black man with a gun is to a white man. Who knew? 3 Stars for not explaining this in your book.
After being treated for multiple gun shot wounds and feeling quite light-headed from the blood loss, we went home to discover our house being robbed! Unfortunately, they found my .357 in my nightstand. So much for home protection! The bastard shot me in the other leg before running off into the night! 2 Stars for not covering how to properly secure your guns in your book..
To say the least, I'm seriously reconsidering my position on open carry and endorsing your book. But your book really is a solid 1 star, really.
Raw Story's review of the book called it "a primer for the children of gun nuts who'll be lucky to see their tenth birthday".