WA State OSPI Pushes Gun Control On Twitter

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, led by Randy Dorn, is the state’s lead agency for education. They also are advocating for gun control.

On their official Twitter account yesterday they re-tweeted President Obama and Vice President Biden’s post regarding their press conference where new gun control measures were being discussed.

The White House ‏@whitehouse

Happening now: President Obama & @VP Biden announce proposals to reduce gun violence: http://at.wh.gov/gRO4m

Retweeted by WA State OSPI

I responded by asking WA State OSPI to stop this, and focus on their organization’s purpose. This resulted in an exchange with another individual on Twitter, and prompted a response from WA State OSPI:

Jason R. Raines ‏@BlogSunnyside

@waOSPI please stop retweeting White House pitches for gun control, this is not your agency’s mission. #wcot #waleg #waelex

Brock Howell ‏@BrockRides

@BlogSunnyside I support @waOSPI. When children get massacred in schools, gun control unfortunately becomes part of their mission. #waleg

Jason R. Raines ‏@BlogSunnyside

@BrockRides @waOSPI Beg to differ; retweeting the White House legislative wishlist is not advancing the cause of education in this state.

Brock Howell ‏@BrockRides

@BlogSunnyside It may help prevent their kids from getting killed. @waOSPI

WA State OSPI ‏@waOSPI

@BlogSunnyside Student and school safety is part of our mission. A safe school is a positive learning environment. http://bit.ly/Vmp7ev

Jason R. Raines ‏@BlogSunnyside

@waOSPI may I point out that guns are already legally banned at schools? Please redirect your focus. #wcot #waleg

Given that guns are already banned in schools, WA State OSPI apparently wants to control what you do with them at home, or whether you are allowed to have them at all. Is this what our elected leader of education should be focusing on?

In my opinion, this irrational fear of firearms is due to a failure of the American education system to properly instruct our children.

Children should be taught to have a respect for life, and firearms safety. When I was a child in a public high school, one of my teachers gave me a rifle and ammunition, and told me to fire. This was during class, and on the school campus.

My school had an indoor firing range, and fielded a competitive rifle team made up of students firing .22 cal bolt action rifles.

We also received hunter safety instruction, which is a requirement for those wanting to get a hunting license.

Instead of trying to run people’s homes, our schools should be teaching important life skills. Unfortunately, our current crop of educational elites does not see it that way. They seem to think that government makes better parents than parents.