Today, I have read many official statements released in response to the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado last night. Many of the statements included the word “shocked.”

I was not shocked to hear that a mass shooting occurred. The truth is that mass shootings have been in my realm of consciousness at least since high school. Since middle school, I have been careful about where I go, what I wear and who I talk to, a strategy designed to prevent kidnapping, assault or robbery. My husband and I are prepared in case of a home invasion situation.

It does not shock me that there is violence in this world or that it is of this magnitude, I have been taught that stuff like this happens ever since I was a child. As an adult, I have tried to be prepared for it.

Besides the word “shocked,” I’ve also heard a lot of “thank God that this sort of thing doesn’t happen where I live.” But immoral people performing immoral deeds are everywhere. Period. I have family in Aurora; they’ve been having a hard time dealing with the negative backlash that one man’s actions have had on their community. This is a quote from one of my relatives:

My town is no more dangerous than your town. My town has the same social problems as yours and although we may be a more culturally diverse town than most, we are not beneath you. Bad things happen everywhere and at this time more than ever Aurora does not need your negative criticism.

The NRA teaches people about gun safety using three simple rules:

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off of the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

Growing up in rural northern California with a father who hunted, we had guns in the house from a very young age. But my dad didn’t teach us any rules about how to handle them. Instead, when we were old enough to be nosy about guns, he bought us BB guns. He took us outside, and with my disapproving mother looking on and saying “Don’t, Dad. Don’t,” my dad told my brother to run. When my brother was about halfway down our gravel driveway, my father pumped up the BB gun and shot my brother square in the butt. My brother never had a chance to escape to the newly-chip-and-sealed road on which we lived. My brother shrieked, grabbed his buns with both hands and dropped to his knees there on the gravel.

Neither he or I did anything stupid with our BB guns. We remembered clearly what happened that day. He remembered the pain and I remembered the sound he made when he was shot.

When we were getting old enough to handle something with a little more kick, dad took us out to the “diggin’s,” as were called the woods and hills where I grew up. Again, he didn’t discuss any rules beforehand. He and my uncle had .22 caliber rifles and were shooting things together, challenging each other in their marksmanship. Finally, they set their aim on a bird in the tree in the distance instead of the pinecones hanging from the tree. Dad hit the bird. We verified the kill and win of the marksmanship competition. I, through my tears. I bawled and bawled that dad had killed that poor little bird. I cried more when my dad told me not to worry, that a coyote would eat it.

But I never pointed my firearm at anything I didn’t want to destroy. I remember that guns can take life.

I’m kinda sad when I wonder what other Redneck Gun Safety lessons I might have learned, without words, numbered lists or diagrams, if we hadn’t moved away from the country and into the city, leaving all of our guns behind us. Somehow things worked out how they were meant to and I’ve taken up firearms and learning about marksmanship and safety again, even with a gap of 20 years in between my brother’s driveway cries and my husband’s excited yelp when I agreed to go to a shooting range for the first time with him.

… Here is the guest bedroom and bathroom. In the closet, you’ll find spare winter clothes, towels, blankets and firearms. Use them accordingly.

My husband’s little brother is visiting us over his Christmas break. This is my first time having company over for an extended period of time since I became a gun owner. On they way home from the airport tonight, my husband plans to have “the talk” — the gun safety talk, that is– with his brother. I hope everything goes well!

University Police assisted the Reno Police Department with a report of a University of Nevada, Reno student who was groped Tuesday at 11:10 a.m. in the 200 block of University Terrace, near the campus. Additional investigation has revealed the victim was attacked and grouped. Police are currently looking for the suspect, described as a black male, about 18 to 21 years old, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall to 5 feet, 9 inches tall, about 140 pounds to 160 pounds with a muscular build and short-cropped hair. He was clean shaven and wore knee-length blue shorts and a white or gray t-shirt. He was last seen running west on University Terrace. The woman was walking to UNR when she was attacked from behind. The man grabbed her buttocks and breasts, however she was able to run away and call police.

Police ask anyone with information to call Secret Witness at 322-4900 or UNRPD duty phone at 745-6195.

University Police Services also wants to take this time to remind you of the following safety tips: 

• Make personal safety your number one priority. Awareness, Avoidance and Risk Reduction is the best way to not be a victim.
• Travel in groups of two or more and always travel in well-lit, heavily traveled areas.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you will return.
• Carry a whistle or noise maker. This can serve as a reminder to exercise caution, and can alert someone in the area that you need help.
• Be alert! Look around you; be aware of who is on the street and in the area. Make it difficult for anyone to take you by surprise.
• If listening to music, keep the volume low so you can hear what is going on around you.
• If you know you are going to be working late, plan ahead as to how you will get home safely.
• ALWAYS – ALWAYS lock your doors and windows