By DON LEPSCHLos Alamos
When you go out of your house you take a risk. If you stay in your house you take a risk. Life is a risk. Let us not be risk averse. The individual should decide. We are citizens and adults. Encourage risk … it is how we advance.
When I helped one son (15 years old) with his science project in 1986, he had to ride on top of my 1973 dodge van at 10, 15, 20 and 25 MPH to calibrate his anemometer (an elongated version of a piper cubs) … risky but worth it. He learned something and was proud.
When I helped my other son (16 years old) in 1986 … he was interested in explosives. Dangerous but very interesting. He bought the bottle of black powder at the local gun shop. I was surprised! We had a choice… tape bombs or pipe bombs (what my brother and I made when we were kids at 12 years old). I urged him toward tape bombs. He bought the fuse used for toy rockets (both boys enjoyed building and shooting rockets). He made several bombs and we exploded them in the country in holes he dug. He thoroughly enjoyed it … so did I. He also experimented with automating his 223 (16 years old). He had a good idea but the bump stock was a better idea.
Note: I got my first 22 when I was 9 years old. We were a hunting family.
I’m not saying everyone should do as I do but don’t be risk averse. Enjoy life, live life and take a risk. Rock climbing is fun!
