Kids and guns - Page 2

punk rocka · August 12th, 2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2ndsupporter

As soon as I hit the post button, I knew someone would say this. I should have made it clear that Assumming all Adults were well trained in firearms. We all know that this is not the case. Just saying...

I figured as much, but I thought it would be worth mentioning since we all know that there are plenty of less than responsible adults that are the root cause of AD type events on an all too frequent basis.

BJC · August 12th, 2009, 01:37 PM

We have a two year old who has grown up around guns since birth. We have taught him not to touch the guns and he has done well so far. Still, we have changed OUR habits as well to ensure his safety and ours.

For the first two years, I would just place my gun (loaded semi-auto) on a high shelf where we were staying. Around 2 years old, my son started to excel in vertical mobility. Since that time, we have changed the way we handle the handguns. If the gun is loaded, it is on Daddy. If it isn't on Daddy, it isn't loaded. We also purchased three padded soft handgun cases and a set of pad locks with matching keys. If the guns are unloaded, they are locked in the cases with the ammo in a speedloader or magazine inside the case.

This is what has worked well for us.

varob · August 12th, 2009, 02:10 PM

Same with us, kids got old enough to walk, guns went in the safe.
I do play with my son using his toy guns and we talk about the parts of the gun. muzzle, trigger, sights. So when it comes time to use the real thing he will know what I mean when I say keep your finger off the trigger.

SHOOTER13 · August 12th, 2009, 02:56 PM

When my daughter ( 18 now, attending Penn State ) was old enough to speak and comprehend the meaning of yes and no, she was taught to understand that she could ask to see and touch anything in the house as long as my wife and I were present...things like my wife's collection of crystal and my firearms. When she was 7, I presented her with a Marlin 22 bolt action rifle ( M80 ) and we had been shooting together ever since...and I'm very proud of her markmanship ...and of her!!

mrog71 · August 12th, 2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

I have always taught my children the 1. Stop, 2. Leave immediately - no exceptions, 3. Tell a parent or other adult, NRA type of child firearm safety. I totally agree that if you try to hide it you will make it more mysterious to kids, therefore making it attractive to them. That said, I also don't trust any child to fully comprehend the dangers involved with firearms so I just make sure mine remove themselves from the situation regardless of circumstances.

Having 4 children, I agree with the above and that's basically my approach. 3 and 4 year-olds are great at agreeing with you and nodding their heads, but I wouldn't trust them to comprehend the danger either. I've caught my kids doing things too many times that I specifically told them not to. That 3/4 year old curiosity is a strong thing.

I don't hide my guns from my kids, but I sure as heck don't leave them accessible (to them) either.

PastorPack · August 12th, 2009, 03:46 PM

Yup, I like the Eddie Eagle program.
My 6 and 8 year old have them memorized and practice it.

I add to that whenever they want to see, touch, handle one of my guns, I will be more than happy to let them as I explain and deonstrate safe handling techniques.

JohnD13 · August 12th, 2009, 04:13 PM

The Eddie Eagle program is very good. In our home, the kids, starting when they were about six were allowed to see any firearm in the house, under supervision, and never without permission. By the time they were six years and one month old, each of them knew how to check for a loaded chamber. They never found one, but they always looked. The only loaded gun was kept with a trigger lock on it and where they could not access it.
Safety was the first course, check the chamber, watch where the muzzle is pointed, keep fingers off the trigger.
We raised them to be safe and responsible, and they are raising their children the same way.

jtmoose · August 13th, 2009, 04:32 PM

0.) Always make sure a gun is empty
1.) It's not a toy
2.) She can't touch it
3.) It's dangerous
4.) Only Mom and Dad can touch it
5.) Friends can't touch it
6.) It can make you "bleed all over" (3yr old's words)
7.) Always make sure a gun is empty

Eagleks · August 14th, 2009, 01:22 AM

AT 3 yrs old...... they are not going to understand it nor the dangers. It's all on you.

August 12th, 2009, 01:37 PM	#12
BJC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Where ever the van is parked Posts: 66	For our family.... We have a two year old who has grown up around guns since birth. We have taught him not to touch the guns and he has done well so far. Still, we have changed OUR habits as well to ensure his safety and ours. For the first two years, I would just place my gun (loaded semi-auto) on a high shelf where we were staying. Around 2 years old, my son started to excel in vertical mobility. Since that time, we have changed the way we handle the handguns. If the gun is loaded, it is on Daddy. If it isn't on Daddy, it isn't loaded. We also purchased three padded soft handgun cases and a set of pad locks with matching keys. If the guns are unloaded, they are locked in the cases with the ammo in a speedloader or magazine inside the case. This is what has worked well for us.

August 12th, 2009, 02:10 PM	#13
varob Distinguished Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,283	Same with us, kids got old enough to walk, guns went in the safe. I do play with my son using his toy guns and we talk about the parts of the gun. muzzle, trigger, sights. So when it comes time to use the real thing he will know what I mean when I say keep your finger off the trigger. __________________ Don't believe what you hear and only half of what you see! -Tony Soprano

August 12th, 2009, 02:56 PM	#14
SHOOTER13 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: WILLOW GROVE, NAS Posts: 252	My experience When my daughter ( 18 now, attending Penn State ) was old enough to speak and comprehend the meaning of yes and no, she was taught to understand that she could ask to see and touch anything in the house as long as my wife and I were present...things like my wife's collection of crystal and my firearms. When she was 7, I presented her with a Marlin 22 bolt action rifle ( M80 ) and we had been shooting together ever since...and I'm very proud of her markmanship ...and of her!! __________________ SHOOTER13 ================ DoD: Peace thru Superior Firepower

August 12th, 2009, 03:46 PM	#16
PastorPack Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,124	Yup, I like the Eddie Eagle program. My 6 and 8 year old have them memorized and practice it. I add to that whenever they want to see, touch, handle one of my guns, I will be more than happy to let them as I explain and deonstrate safe handling techniques. __________________ God is love (1 John 4:8)

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August 12th, 2009, 04:13 PM	#17
JohnD13 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Castleton on Hudson, NY Posts: 109	The Eddie Eagle program is very good. In our home, the kids, starting when they were about six were allowed to see any firearm in the house, under supervision, and never without permission. By the time they were six years and one month old, each of them knew how to check for a loaded chamber. They never found one, but they always looked. The only loaded gun was kept with a trigger lock on it and where they could not access it. Safety was the first course, check the chamber, watch where the muzzle is pointed, keep fingers off the trigger. We raised them to be safe and responsible, and they are raising their children the same way.

August 13th, 2009, 04:32 PM	#18
jtmoose Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 48	0.) Always make sure a gun is empty 1.) It's not a toy 2.) She can't touch it 3.) It's dangerous 4.) Only Mom and Dad can touch it 5.) Friends can't touch it 6.) It can make you "bleed all over" (3yr old's words) 7.) Always make sure a gun is empty

August 14th, 2009, 01:22 AM	#19
Eagleks Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,756	AT 3 yrs old...... they are not going to understand it nor the dangers. It's all on you.