Children and Guns

Let me start off by saying that I respect the 2^nd Amendment of the Constitution, and I am not an advocate of hindering anyone who is legitimately eligible to possess a firearm. However, I strongly oppose introducing guns to children. Like the license to drive, a certain amount of maturity is required to possess and properly use a gun to assure its safety. We don’t let children drive, and I don’t believe we should introduce guns to children either.

On Sunday, January 27, The New York Times featured a story, “Selling a New Generation on Guns,” that provided an exposé on the efforts of the firearms industry to introduce guns to children. Why would we encourage this? The use of guns requires not only some basic skills, but because of the lethality of the gun, it also requires some discretion. The developmental capacity of most children and adolescents to responsibly use a firearm is greatly diminished because of their age and any number of factors that make placing a gun in the hands of children inconceivable to me.

Recently, I was involved in a discussion involving one of our adolescent residents who had been introduced to guns by his father on a recent home visit. Although we were not concerned that the boy would have a gun in his possession, we were concerned that he did not possess the self-control or reasoning capacity to assure that he could use a gun appropriately. With proper support, this resident has increasingly seen his ability to manage anger and impulses. But until he is able to master these issues, providing him with access to firearms is not advised. Luckily our staff had enough of a rapport with both parent and child that we were able to address the issue and identify ways to bond other than at the shooting range.

Some would say that restricting access to guns for children is only common sense. It does not require any additional legislation; it just requires that we take responsibility for safeguarding our children as we do with so many other things. However, parents and families need to be supported in their efforts; and an environment that encourages access to guns for children can undermine the efforts of any well-intended parent.

What concerns me about the strategy that is being employed by the firearms industry is the insidious way recreational shooting is introduced into the lives of children. The firearms industry has demonstrated little consideration of the children’s ability to understand the potential for deadly impact of the sport.

Strong Foundation Upheld for a Century

2013 will mark Hillsides centennial. Reviewing the historical archives provided an affirmation of the organization’s characteristics that had surfaced when we were developing a strategic road map this past year. Clearly from its inception, Hillsides has been an organization unquestionably committed to those it serves, willing to innovate in order to be most effective, and always dedicated to raising a voice in favor of those who otherwise would be ignored.

Quality Care

Our founder, Deaconess Evelyn Wile, was a woman on a mission. Having abandoned the comforts of her day, of family, and a home, she committed herself exclusively to the quality care of the children entrusted to her. She lived for them! Her absolute dedication established a work ethic that to this day permeates the organization, witnessed in the extraordinary number of staff who have worked most of their professional lives at Hillsides.

Innovation

From the very beginning Hillsides was like no other “orphanage.” Turning away from constructing a large, dormitory like structure, Deaconess Wile preferred a campus setting with cottages to provide children a home environment. Over the years, the organization developed the capacity to always look for additional ways to best serve vulnerable children. It was this spirit of innovation that led to  the construction of Hillsides Education Center, the establishment of an array of community-based services throughout greater Los Angeles and Pasadena, and most recently, the creation of the Youth Moving On program to address the needs of former foster youth striving for independence.

Advocacy

All of these efforts to provide the best possible care has also allowed Hillsides to be recognized as a credible  advocate, speaking out throughout its history to help engage the community to value the tremendous capacity of the children, youth, and families its serves.

 
Much has changed in 100 years; Avenue 64 is no longer the leafy refuges from the city that it once was, buildings have been added to the original three structures, and an extensive network of services in the community has been developed. Yet through these subsequent generations, some things remain the same--quality care, innovation, and advocacy. These are the foundation for what we hope will be yet another 100 years.