Bullets over ___ (this is a political post).

I have been a part of many conversations concerning guns over the last decade. When I say 'been a part of,' I mean 'standing on the peripheries, taking notes, synthesizing, and paying special attention to those who base their observations on evidence and sound reasoning.' With apologies to Jon Betlinski, whose thoughts I have come to value, my favourite conversation regarding guns was with our son recently, whose thoughts I also have come to value.

I wish,
he noted, staring out the window, that Storm Shadow didn't use guns.

Would you say that's your favourite G.I. Joe figure today?
I asked.
And why do you wish he didn't use guns?

Well,
he announced.
I don't really like guns.

Really?!
I said, thinking to myself that he must have really been processing the many dialogues we've been having as of late about elections, refugee crises, social topics of import, and critical thinking in general, and must have come to some sort of...epiphany, or philosophical understanding.

I just don't really like them anymore,
he said,
because the bullets get wasted.

Okay...
I said.
Elaborate?

Well if you're shooting at something and you miss,
he said.
then the bullets just go off somewhere and they get lost, so I don't really like them because I wouldn't want to lose bullets. Except I like harpoon guns though. Because they have a rope attached to them so the spear bullet thing doesn't get lost.

Okay...
I pondered this.
So the reason you don't like guns anymore is because of how bullets get wasted if you miss.

Yeah.
he said.
I just wish that Storm Shadow used a bow and arrow, like in Robin Hood.

Yeah.
I said.
That was a good film.

Yeah.
he said.
And if you shoot bullets and miss then they're lost and someone would have to go look for them, but if you shoot an arrow then it would just stick in the target and it wouldn't be lost.

That's a pretty compelling argument for bows over guns.
I said.

Yeah.
he said.
I wish I could have a target in my room so I could shoot a bow and arrow at it. I wish I had that.

I wish I had a jacuzzi on our back deck.
I said.

Maybe someday.