This image is painfully true in some parts of the country:

[rootin tootin]

16. Was thinking the same...

I was thinking the same at first, but the cartoon wouldn't quite work. The author is simply trying to say many things in this cartoon. The adults are choosing to put guns within easy reach of a child. The (unsupervised) child is choosing the books, but can't reach them with the only available tool. The shadow of the flag in the shape of a rifle is super IMHO. In the end, cartoons can only say so much. I'd like to see yours as well, it could work. I was thinking of a subscription to Guns and Ammo.