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Kids and guns?
sarge_3ad
Member Posts: 8,387 ✭✭
I don't know how most people do it, but as my boys grew up I kept them around firearms every chance I could. From the time they would start walking I would strap a handgun (unloaded of course), on their side and let them carry them around. When I was in the military I had them with me in the arms room every chance I could get. They loved playing with the different weapons. I always instilled the dangers, but I also figured if I let them play and handle them often it would take the curiosity out of handling them when I wasn't around. They knew the guns were mine and they repected the fact that I didn't want them to handle them when I wasn't around. Today they are all grown up and are very safe with them. I was just wondering if anyone else did this, or did they hide them from the kids, and pushed a stearn don't touch my gun way of teaching?
Comments
policy..until they're ready. There's no curiosity thing there, as
we also have knives all over, and have been known to let them learn
when we say don't touch, it means don't touch. My youngest girl, when
about 3-4yrs just had to try touching one after being told not to
got a tiny cut, but enough to learn the "don't touch".
Now, at 8, she's not deathly afraid of knives but treats them with
much respect.
I have two little girls so I'm approaching it a bit different. I took my 9 year old out shooting for the first time since she has always been timid. She liked it but wasn't to crazy about it.
My 6 year old is extremely spunky and wild and crazy . So I let her shoot that .45 Colt Defender right from the start. I wanted to make a impression on how serious firearms could hurt someone. Well I wrapped my hands around hers and sat with her between my legs and she let go of a round. It kicks pretty good for a kid, so she jumped back and looked at me with wide eyes, then it slowly turned into the biggest cheesiest grin I have seen. I have never been prouder as I was at that moment.[:D]
I take umbrage with your use of the word "play." Guns are not toys, they are not to be "played" with by children. If you want your children to handle them responsibly in the presence of yourself or another adult, as tools to be respected and feared, than that is fine, but I certainly wouldn't hand a young child an unloaded handgun and say "here you go son, go nuts."
Sorry, I did, but they were never allowed to point them at anyone. They were supervised as well. I guess you could look at it like I did. An unloaded firearm is a mechanical tool. You probably played with a pair of pliers when you were a kid, both could pinch the heck out of you, but you learn as you grow. And at the early age I started them handling firearms, they weren't strong enough to pull the hammer back let alone squeeze the trigger. As they grew they learned.
I take umbrage with your use of the word "play." Guns are not toys, they are not to be "played" with by children. If you want your children to handle them responsibly in the presence of yourself or another adult, as tools to be respected and feared, than that is fine, but I certainly wouldn't hand a young child an unloaded handgun and say "here you go son, go nuts."
I don't think kids should be taugh to "fear" a firearm, but definately should be taught to respect them. I grew up the same way as sarge. There are always lots of guns around here and I'll teach my daughter the same way I was, though at only 2 I feel she's a bit to young to fully comprehend any lessons I could teach just yet. She won't be taught to fear them though. Like my dad always said about snakes, you don't have to be scared of them but you better respect them.
Ben
Kudos to parents like you guys that encourage responsible gun handling. [^]
They are pretty good when it comes to the saftey rules (every now and then I have to remind them about something (mostly my 6yo boy)). And they even try to remind me about some of the rules (biggest one they remind me of is ear protection, They always wear it but I have to admit I don't allways wear my ears, and they let me know)(And I know some of you will jump on me for even admitting this!)
Both my kids have their own guns and my daughter is getting another for christmas (she just has to have a pink gun [xx(] But hey thats what she wants) they are not the best shots yet but are working on it.
But most important, they enjoy guns, and understand what they can and will do if the rules are not followed. And I do not feel uncomfortable with loaded guns in the house. I do not leave them sitting out in the livingroom or anything, but they are right out in the open in my bedroom. And They don't even pay them any attention.
My kids have been around guns all their lives. They do not have any curiossity about them, and really don't even think about them untill I say it is time to go shooting.
They are pretty good when it comes to the saftey rules (every now and then I have to remind them about something (mostly my 6yo boy)). And they even try to remind me about some of the rules (biggest one they remind me of is ear protection, They always wear it but I have to admit I don't allways wear my ears, and they let me know)(And I know some of you will jump on me for even admitting this!)
Both my kids have their own guns and my daughter is getting another for christmas (she just has to have a pink gun [xx(] But hey thats what she wants) they are not the best shots yet but are working on it.
But most important, they enjoy guns, and understand what they can and will do if the rules are not followed. And I do not feel uncomfortable with loaded guns in the house. I do not leave them sitting out in the livingroom or anything, but they are right out in the open in my bedroom. And They don't even pay them any attention.
Kevin has kids?!?! Now THAT'S scary! [:D][:D][:D][;)]
quote:Originally posted by *_r_done
My kids have been around guns all their lives. They do not have any curiossity about them, and really don't even think about them untill I say it is time to go shooting.
They are pretty good when it comes to the saftey rules (every now and then I have to remind them about something (mostly my 6yo boy)). And they even try to remind me about some of the rules (biggest one they remind me of is ear protection, They always wear it but I have to admit I don't allways wear my ears, and they let me know)(And I know some of you will jump on me for even admitting this!)
Both my kids have their own guns and my daughter is getting another for christmas (she just has to have a pink gun [xx(] But hey thats what she wants) they are not the best shots yet but are working on it.
But most important, they enjoy guns, and understand what they can and will do if the rules are not followed. And I do not feel uncomfortable with loaded guns in the house. I do not leave them sitting out in the livingroom or anything, but they are right out in the open in my bedroom. And They don't even pay them any attention.
Kevin has kids?!?! Now THAT'S scary! [:D][:D][:D][;)]
I'll tell you what is even scarrier! My son is a JR.
If he ends up anything like me growing up he ain't gunna live to see his 18th birthday![;)][:o)][}:)][:D]
He had access to his rifle (.22 Chipmunk) from 5 years, but only if I was present.
...My daughter was raised around guns of course too.
...now I am teaching the safe handling, etc., etc., shooting of firearms to my grand kids...the oldest is 9 now, and he has been "learning" about guns for about 2 years or so now...the beat goes on...[;)]
I don't know how most people do it, but as my boys grew up I kept them around firearms every chance I could. From the time they would start walking I would strap a handgun (unloaded of course), on their side and let them carry them around. When I was in the military I had them with me in the arms room every chance I could get. They loved playing with the different weapons. I always instilled the dangers, but I also figured if I let them play and handle them often it would take the curiosity out of handling them when I wasn't around. They knew the guns were mine and they repected the fact that I didn't want them to handle them when I wasn't around. Today they are all grown up and are very safe with them. I was just wondering if anyone else did this, or did they hide them from the kids, and pushed a stearn don't touch my gun way of teaching?
My daughter has grown up with them.
I take umbrage with your use of the word "play." Guns are not toys, they are not to be "played" with by children. If you want your children to handle them responsibly in the presence of yourself or another adult, as tools to be respected and feared, than that is fine, but I certainly wouldn't hand a young child an unloaded handgun and say "here you go son, go nuts."
Your point is well taken; introducing children to guns is definitely an endeavor that needs to be taken seriously so that the child understands (or at least appreciates) the risks involved and knows enough not to play with fire-arms unsupervised.
But frankly, all of my guns are toys. None of them is routinely in a condition to be useful in a self-defense situation (I may one day remedy that, but I haven't yet done so). And although I think I would enjoy hunting, I do not do so and won't do so until I'm invited by somebody more experienced, who can show me the ropes. When I am shooting I am playing, as safely as I can, given the nature of the toys.
Many of our recreational activities come with considerable risk: gambling, football, model rockets, rock climbing, shooting, ice-skating, and driving to a favorite vacation destination all come with the potential to cause a person serious harm. That fact does nothing to diminish (and may even enhance) the pleasure we feel when engaging in these activities.
Your point is good: let's not be flippant about how we introduce children to guns. My point is simply that although guns are tools, they can be used as toys, and like many other toys they have the potential to be injurious. Why put guns in a different class?
I don't know how most people do it, but as my boys grew up I kept them around firearms every chance I could. From the time they would start walking I would strap a handgun (unloaded of course), on their side and let them carry them around. When I was in the military I had them with me in the arms room every chance I could get. They loved playing with the different weapons. I always instilled the dangers, but I also figured if I let them play and handle them often it would take the curiosity out of handling them when I wasn't around. They knew the guns were mine and they repected the fact that I didn't want them to handle them when I wasn't around. Today they are all grown up and are very safe with them. I was just wondering if anyone else did this, or did they hide them from the kids, and pushed a stearn don't touch my gun way of teaching?
Dad did reletivly the same thing with me
Your point is well taken; introducing children to guns is definitely an endeavor that needs to be taken seriously so that the child understands (or at least appreciates) the risks involved and knows enough not to play with fire-arms unsupervised.
But frankly, all of my guns are toys. None of them is routinely in a condition to be useful in a self-defense situation (I may one day remedy that, but I haven't yet done so). And although I think I would enjoy hunting, I do not do so and won't do so until I'm invited by somebody more experienced, who can show me the ropes. When I am shooting I am playing, as safely as I can, given the nature of the toys.
Many of our recreational activities come with considerable risk: gambling, football, model rockets, rock climbing, shooting, ice-skating, and driving to a favorite vacation destination all come with the potential to cause a person serious harm. That fact does nothing to diminish (and may even enhance) the pleasure we feel when engaging in these activities.
Your point is good: let's not be flippant about how we introduce children to guns. My point is simply that although guns are tools, they can be used as toys, and like many other toys they have the potential to be injurious. Why put guns in a different class?
Remember Lawn Darts? [:D]
warriorsfan is going to find a way to disagree with anybody about anything, but then he's a Warriors Fan. I can understand how that would make anybody disagreeable and grouchy. [:D]
quote:Originally posted by spurgemastur
Your point is well taken; introducing children to guns is definitely an endeavor that needs to be taken seriously so that the child understands (or at least appreciates) the risks involved and knows enough not to play with fire-arms unsupervised.
But frankly, all of my guns are toys. None of them is routinely in a condition to be useful in a self-defense situation (I may one day remedy that, but I haven't yet done so). And although I think I would enjoy hunting, I do not do so and won't do so until I'm invited by somebody more experienced, who can show me the ropes. When I am shooting I am playing, as safely as I can, given the nature of the toys.
Many of our recreational activities come with considerable risk: gambling, football, model rockets, rock climbing, shooting, ice-skating, and driving to a favorite vacation destination all come with the potential to cause a person serious harm. That fact does nothing to diminish (and may even enhance) the pleasure we feel when engaging in these activities.
Your point is good: let's not be flippant about how we introduce children to guns. My point is simply that although guns are tools, they can be used as toys, and like many other toys they have the potential to be injurious. Why put guns in a different class?
Remember Lawn Darts? [:D]
warriorsfan is going to find a way to disagree with anybody about anything, but then he's a Warriors Fan. I can understand how that would make anybody disagreeable and grouchy. [:D]
Lawn darts....excellent example (we called them Jarts, but I think that was a brand name). Then again, as a kid we played 'peggy' with pocket knives. The idea was to throw the knife into the ground as close to the other guy's foot as you could get it. If he flinched, you won. And if you hit him, well.....that never happened to us but I guess he would have won. Wait...that's adult logic. I have no idea who would have won if the other guy had gotten hit, because I'm no longer seven years old; funny, we never considered that outcome!
Edit: Honestly, that story came out naturally and was not intended as a fable. But re-reading it, I see that it illustrates why it is so important to introduce children to guns very carefully: children do not, as a matter of course, consider the consequences of their actions.
....but this does not change the fact that all of my guns are toys!