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00:07 Treves: All the recent shootings, I feel like
armed citizens are a good line of defence against shootings. Most of those shootings
that have occurred - when they were confronted, they either surrendered or shot themselves.
More guns, less crime.
00:22 We're not hiding anything. It's our right
and we're gonna exercise our right.
00:28 COMM: Meet the Evans family from Washington,
USA. Dad Trevens and his children 14-year-old Verenise, Roberto, 12, 10-year-old Celeste
and six-year-olds Charlisse and Raealonie love guns and are defending their constitutional
rights to bear arms.
00:50 Like any normal kids, they enjoy playtime,
pop stars and computer games.
00:54 Verenise: My favourite band is One Direction.
00:56 COMM: But when they aren't playing with toy
guns on the computer, they love nothing more than firing off the real thing.
01:04 Today, the family are attending the local
shooting range where they regularly practice their skills.
01:09 Dad Treves believes his passion has a positive
impact on his kids.
01:14 Treves: They learn a lot of safety, they earn
a lot of respect for firearms and safety that could transfer to other aspects of their life.
Verenise: When your about to shoot, like when you're about to pull the trigger, I don't
know, I like the rush you get I guess and I like to see how well you shoot once you
shoot the target.
01:37 COMM: Back home, Treves is keen to ensure
his kids understand the importance of safety.
01:42 Treves: The first thing is to teach them gun
safety and the second thing is to let them handle guns - take them to firing ranges,
let them handle guns at home if they ask, bring the guns out, let them see them, there's
no mystery with my children. It's not forbidden, they're not gonna sneak in when I'm not home
and pull out guns.
02:03 COMM: As part of there guns education, the
kids have learned how to clean and assemble the weapons.
02:08 Treves: Do you see anything in there? It's
clean? Ok. Done.
02:15 Celeste: I like that you get to shoot the
guns, but if you wanna shoot the guns, you got to clean them.
02:19 COMM: The Evans family have an armoury of
fifteen guns in the home, including pump action shotguns, rifles and pistols. The kids are
even tested on their firearms knowledge.
02:29 Roberto: .30 Carbine, a Marlin 30-30, Ruger
10/22...
02:34 COMM: But why do the family have an arsenal
of weapons at their disposal? And why has Treves taken the controversial decision to
regularly carry a concealed weapon?
02:42 Treves: All the recent shootings, I feel like
armed citizens are a good line of defence against shootings. Most of those shootings
that have occurred - when they were confronted, they either surrendered or shot themselves.
02:56 COMM: In spite of the recent tragedies, Treves
continues to believe in his constitutional rights and rejects the call for change.
03:02 Treves: I feel the freedoms in our country
are being eroded away. I don't feel like they'll ever be taken away, they'll just be eroded
at until there are none.
03:11 COMM: It's a sentiment shared by daughter
Verenise.
03:15 Verenise: I think that they shouldn't take
guns. Just like if you try to take knives, try to take anything, nobody that's bad is
gonna give them up, but the people that are using them responsibly, they're gonna give
them up because they're responsible.
03:30 They're gonna have to come up with a different
technique where the bad guys aren't gonna have a choice but to have them taken away.
They're not gonna just step forward and give it up.
03:38 COMM: The debate over gun laws in America
will continue to run, but for now, the Evans family believe that as long as safety procedures
are followed, guns can be part of family life.
03:47 Treves: We don't wanna antagonise anybody
that has a different belief system than we do. We're not hiding anything, it's our right
and we're gonna exercise our right.
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