So I was at the gun show last weekend and met a man with a most unusual story. His is the kind of story that leaves even a loud mouth like me speechless.

His name is Rob Jacobs.

When Rob was 9 years old in 1982 his uncle entered the family kitchen and shot his parents to death as Rob watched.

“Most people thought I would grow up to hate guns,” Rob said.

Not exactly. You see, Rob was raised out in the country in Utah and loved guns, loved to hunt and be outdoors and he was not going to let a horrible act of violence skew his perspective of life...and firearms.

“My uncle killed my parents,” Rob told me. “Not the gun. My uncle once said if there had not been a gun he would have killed my parents another way.”

Rob stayed an outdoorsman and got married and had children of his own. His cute 7-year-old daughter, Railey, was with him at the gun show on this day and then he has triplet sons who are three.

Rob began to look for books to educate his children about hunting and proper gun usage a few years ago.

“I found nothing except anti-hunting books for kids,” Rob said.

So true to the form Rob decided to write books for children on his own. The books became a series called “The Little Jake Series” and “My First Series.”

The art for the book has been done by former Disney artists and are as slick as any children’s book I’ve ever seen.

Railey was excited to show me the different books displayed on the table, so proud of her father’s work.

“I like all of the books,” she told me. “My dad is pretty cool.”

Throughout the books, children are taught about guns, that guns are not bad, but that they must be respected and used the right way.

As I moved on to different parts of the show my thoughts continued back to Rob. I even glanced over at him a few times and saw an amazing father and avid hunter.

This was a man on a mission, a man completely driven to turn a tragedy into something positive. Rob Jacobs really is one of those guys we rarely have the chance to meet, the kind who are strong enough, somehow, to live through tragedy to leave a positive impact on our world.

People can find out more about Rob and his books at:

www.littlesportsman.com

You’re right Railey, your dad is pretty cool!



sschulte@davisclipper.com