The photographs does what it supposed to do, shock and engage. The people insulting you are in the wrong here. This photographs is a great leap to having a conversation that is absent in America short of fights in political circles it seems. I know people who were raised around guns from infancy an are fine and I know and know of adults who should NEVER be allowed to handle a firearm let alone own one! My father spoke to my sisters and I about his guns and we knew NEVER to touch them-they were not toys, plus the rifles were capped/neutralized. The simple fact is, some children this age are well trained in firearms because their family hunts, so it is part of their upbringing.
The story within the photograph should be discussed, the photographer should not be ostracized.
RE: I won my first photo contest with this photo..