The answer to your question though is that he had the desire for me to take hunters safety and become familiar with guns at an early age, but I did NOT.
Would you like to know a little about the man you so carelessly labeled? My father was raised on a farm in the 40s, in Lancaster County PA, where he and his 4 brothers and sister really didn't have much of anything, but it was a Christian home with good values, and he managed to grow up quite well. He served in the army, put himself through school, and has kept the same job for about 35 years.
He raised 4 kids of his own, made enough so my mother didn't have to go to work, taught us the same Christian morals he grew up with, kept us in church and in sports and out of trouble. He taught both my brothers how to hunt, and still provides us all with venison every year. And even if I didn't want to learn to shoot as a kid (I did briefly entertain the idea when I was about 11), I was taught a very healthy respect for his guns, and none of us ever even thought about handling them without his permission and supervision.
As an adult my dad and I have become good friends and have great talks. We share the same conservative political leanings and I have found that the older I get, the more he makes sense. He will contribute to any conservative or Christian cause when he feels led. He is a wonderful grandfather, and much to my husband's annoyance at times, is always checking my oil or sharpening our knives.
He stops to change tires for strangers. He's always the first to volunteer to help someone move, fix a roof, mow a lawn, paint a kitchen, even build a house. He's the first to arrive at a church function to help set up and usually the last to leave, folding chairs when most everyone else has gone.
He was a softball player in local leagues for decades, always a gentleman on the field, winning MVP and sportsmanship trophies.
He has always been faithful to my mother. He is practical to a fault, but indulges her when she least expects it. He does not believe in credit cards and will only use one to purchase what he can pay for within that same month. He is meticulous about his care of tools and machinery, and is the neatest man I have ever met.
My father loves God and his family. He has taught me things the value of which I am still at 33 only beginning to realize, and I know if I ever need him, he will be there as fast as he can. If I can only do half as much for my kids as my family has done for me, I'll consider myself in pretty good shape.
A failure? Hardly. The only redeeming thing about your completely unfounded comment is the fact that I was forced to remind myself what a success he really is with what really matters. I have no doubt that when he stands before the Lord someday, my father will hear a resounding "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
If only more children could be so blessed.