Perhaps one of my favorite holiday movies of all time, this classic tale of family and the Christmas spirit focuses on a young boy's obsession with getting a BB gun from Santa. All through the movie his parents, his teachers, and even the mall Santa warn him that he's too young for a weapon. "You'll shoot your eye out, kid." Then when his father comes through and buys him one (without running it past his mother, mind you), my childhood heart soared.
He got what he wanted and the chance to prove everyone wrong. It was a Christmas miracle. Then I watched the movie again as an adult, and you know what? It turns out he does shoot himself in the face — the very first time he uses the gun. Exactly like his mother told him he would. If my husband bought our child a firearm against my wishes, I'm pretty sure he and the gun would have a very long and happy life together (aka alone).
