BFF Questions with Tom Harrison

So tonight I got to have a wondeful long Skype conversation with my favorite sister.

(Yes, I did just single out a favorite sister. And I can do that because 1) She is the only one of my sisters who reads this blog--and quite possibly the only one who knows how to operate a computer. 2) She is the only one I claim to be related to. And 3) Reba wrote this song about us.)


Anywho, in our true B.S.F--Best Sisters Forever--style, we talked endlessly about absolutely nothing of any importance at all. And during all the rambling, we somehow got on the subject of a certain parent (and step-parent) of ours who randlomly own handguns these days...

I (being the daughter with an exciting actual life 4,000 miles away) did not know about this until my BSF* filled me in. And What the ... was my initial reaction. I mean, why? And who actually deemed a certain one of these people physcilogically/socially fit enough to carry a handgun? And why does it seem that the people who have no business carry a weapon are the ones doing so?! ...I had so many questions, and to answer them, I decided to go straight to the source...
*Best Sister Forever

So I called Tom Harrison.

And thus, a new chapter in our lives began. I like to call it the BFF chapter. For you see, I didn't just call up Lowell and blurt out "Why do you have a hand gun?" and "Can I have two tickets to the gun show?"... Instead, I was strategic--or as the 43rd president of the United States might have said, I used strategery. And when I called him, I made a proposal that went a little something like this:

"Hey Dad. So I've decided that you and I should be new BFFs. Okay? Because you and I essentially don't really talk about anything other than the essentials in life, and thus, we don't know each other so well anymore... Right? So I've made a plan for us to become BFFs. Basically, everytime we talk, I get to ask you one question about you or your life, and you have to give me a straight answer. And in turn, you can ask me a question about me. That way we learn about eachother and can be BFFs. You're up for it, right? You wanna be my BFF?!"

Tom agreed to our BFF status. ...And after he agreed, I explained to him what a BFF was.

After that, the rest of the conversation went a little something like this:
*Please not, this is just a condensed re-cap.

Me: Alright, so as your new BFF, my first question for you is: Why do you find it necessary to own a handgun?
Tom: Well.... As the chief security officer of Eagle Motors and all it's properties...
Me: Dad, seriously.
Tom: Serisously, I am a home and business owner and it's a means of protection.
Me: But you do realize that you are living half-way between Sharon and Martin, right? It's not like your growing up in the streets of Hotlanta or Compton...
Tom: Well, do you know what one of the first Ammendments is? ...It's because men and women who carry guns that you have freedom today.
Me: Yes, I get it. I understand that as a collective country, our military needs weapons. And I am fine with that... But that doesn't mean every citizen needs to carry a gun just for the heck of it.
Tom: But do you know who fought to make us a country today and why we aren't part of England?
Me: Yes. Homeowners. Regualar everyday men. ...Mavericks, if you will. But we are an established country today and don't all need to bear arms to protect ourselves. We have militray forces for that. Besides, we aren't living in the 18th century either. While I do understand the need to feel security and protected in todays world, I do think that technology has advanced in such ways that you can take other precautions. Like security systems... By a taser, even. At least if you get into a squirmish and pull out a taser, you--or someone else--isn't likely to die. I mean, we're talking fatalities...
Tom: Yeah, well... [I stopped listening here]
Me: And you're grandfather. And a preacher. Aren't you suppose to set an example? Aren't we suppose to strive to follow in Jesus's footsteps?! And Jesus never carried a gun... Granted, they didn't have guns in his day, but still. Jesus didn't carry any kind of weapon. And he had alot of haters. Alot more than you have, I am sure. Lots of people wanted the worst for him. But he knew that he had God on his side and he trusted that God's plan was right... Shouldn't we exhibited that same kind of faith?!
Tom: Ummm.... Mmmm... Well, you just started a conversation that would last more that 5 minutes.
[His phone conveniently dies here]

So there you have it: My first BFF question session with Tom Harrison. And don't think it was just a big argument, cause it really wasn't. It was just a calm conversation or questions and rebuttals...

And of course, I will be sure to keep you all updated on future BFF discussions. Cause we are for real about our BFF status. He even signs his emails as "BFF Dad"--no joke...

So until next time...