Barbara, I was quoting John Prine. There is at least one story about another American celebrity (was it Elvis?) who shot his tv on more than one occasion. I do think there's a difference, though not an infinite one, between doing violence to inanimate objects and doing violence to humans and othere living things (another partial quote from the 60's!). How many songs and stories are there about burning up your necktie or your credit card or "punching that time clock til it can't ring". Beating swords into plowshares. Jesus trashing the very means of livelihood of the currency traders in the temple. Your point is well-taken, don't get me wrong. A colleague of mine writes violent stories, says it keeps him from doing violent things. That bothers me. I do appreciate the encouraging story about your son. I am just afraid that it won't work out that way for everyone. I, too grew up with guns around the house. We were on a little farm in South Carolina so it was expected. I was given a gun for hunting as an adolescent. I went out with it one time and killed a bird, probably a dove, and I've never shot a gun since.

Sincerely, Chet W.