I don’t get it
This video from AmberWatchAlert. What are they saying? Lots of moms shooting guns. Scary (and inflated) abduction statistics. Then they say you don’t need a gun to protect your kids. So, what do you need to protect them? If I understand Amber Alerts correctly, they don’t protect anybody. It’s just a response after protection has failed.
Also, insert obligatory rant about poor gun handling, doing it wrong, blah blah.
Update: In comments, WizardPC notes this group sorta misrepresents who they are (like Humane Society USA):
AmberAlert != AmberWatch Alert, but they are being a little bit deceptive making you think they are the same.
I went to their website. It’s not even loosely affiliated with AmberAlert. It is apparently an email notification system for when new sex offenders get
registered in your zipcodenoticed by other people who are signed up for the system, and voluntarily report them.And maybe it’s just me but I took that video not as “You shouldnt buy a gun to protect your kids,” but as “If you don’t feel like using the best tools available, here is another one so at least you’ll know when someone bad moves next door.”
Ok, then.
Update 2: They apparently teach kids to fight back. That makes them OK by me.
June 24th, 2010 at 9:37 am
If I understand Amber Alerts correctly, they don’t protect anybody. It’s just a response after protection has failed.
Yup, very much like the text message alert systems in place at most colleges.
June 24th, 2010 at 9:45 am
AmberAlert != AmberWatch Alert, but they are being a little bit deceptive making you think they are the same.
I went to their website. It’s not even loosely affiliated with AmberAlert. It is apparently an email notification system for when new sex offenders get
registered in your zipcodenoticed by other people who are signed up for the system, and voluntarily report them.And maybe it’s just me but I took that video not as “You shouldnt buy a gun to protect your kids,” but as “If you don’t feel like using the best tools available, here is another one so at least you’ll know when someone bad moves next door.”
June 24th, 2010 at 10:02 am
More:
They have a program called “Be Safe” which is their primary goal as a non-profit. It educates kids on how not to get abducted, how not to give out info to people on the internet or the phone, and it specifically tells them to fight back if someone tries to take them. Not just yell for help, but actually start swinging. No mention of “guns are bad and you should avoid them.”
http://www.amberwatchfoundation.org/be_safe_program/book_files/AWF-Be_Safe-Workbook-20081118.pdf
June 24th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Tying the name to Amber Alerts may be a good thing, though. Differentiating it by calling it a watch makes it similar to the existing tornado or storm watch/warning system. A warning if someone has been abducted, but a watch if there’s been an unsuccessful attempt or there is potential for an abduction in an area.
Despite the vaguely anti-gun slant of the video, I’m starting to think this may be a good thing.