One vote for handgun lock-boxes

I was quite stupid as a child. Curiosity certainly should have killed me. You will know that when you see the history of my first dozen years.

I don't think us rednecks had lock-boxes though they may have been invented by 1952. So, it is easy to imagine that a young boy who's family and neighbors regularly used revolvers and rifles would have little fear of them (it was several years before I learned to respect them).

My adventure on this day (with parents away for a time) was to see what happened when a 45 caliber bullet was covered with tissue, soaked in lighter fluid, and ignited. The first time, nothing happened so I decided that I would have to stand over it and continually soak it with lighter fluid. I got it roaring and it did fire. I literally saw the bullet move forward a few feet and I have no idea where the casing went.

I was not any smarter ten years later. My attempts to make a cannon from Dad's black powder failed. Sometime after that I finally grew up.

Parents, please lock up all explosives and chemicals to protect those who simply do not consider what can go wrong. Since I never heard a word from my parents I assume that they were totally unaware of what I had done. Please do not be unaware.