Know the Status

    Owning a gun is a privilege that people in other countries may not have. Here in Texas, we do.  Even so, one needs to be careful how they are handled. Take for instance the time my husband was cleaning his shotgun.  I had just finished washing dishes at the kitchen sink when I heard a loud bang.  In slow motion, I turned around expecting to see disaster.  Instead, there sat my husband with my young son sitting on the couch. "He stammered, I thought it was empty." Thank goodness the only damage was the ceiling and the roof.  

     Another time he was checking the scope on his rifle before we went to the river to practice shooting. He pointed the rifle barrel toward the bedroom window. Once again, I heard a gunshot and went to investigate.  This time the supposedly empty gun went off breaking the window.  The bullet proceeded to hit a clothesline post and ricocheted to a neighbor's roof.  Seconds later, the neighbors came out of their house looking toward the sky trying to figure what had happened.  Never underestimate the status of your gun.  Even if you think it isn't loaded, it may be.                    

Know the Status

 I took my gun on a hunting trip one day.

It was beautiful outside in the month of May.

All the birds were loud singing their joyful song.

Everything was going great when a squirrel came along

Taking aim at my target, I laid in wait.

I'm surprised at what happened to this very date.

When I pulled the gun's trigger, I heard a cling.

I can't believe I forgot to load the thing.

The squirrel scurried off to hide in the woods.

He knew what was best for his own good

There is a moral to this story that needs to be told.

Be sure and know the status of the gun you hold. 

                                         Patricia Westbrook