Kids and guns

mykeld · August 12th, 2009, 07:36 AM

My 3 year old has started asking questions about my guns and I like to answer his questions. What are/were the rules in your house concerning kids and guns?
My primary carry is always condition 1 and the others are in locked cases.
So far the rules are:
#1 don't touch without mom or dad
#2 know where the muzzle is pointed and what is beyond (he has toy guns)
#3 if you see a gun, don't touch, tell a parent (many friends are gun owners)

Thanks guys.

aimhigh · August 12th, 2009, 08:27 AM

I had my girl the same way ...when she was 7 i had here shooting a 22 rifle and from there it was every weekend to the range or the back yard.
I always told here that this was not a toy and not to touch it.
But you are in the right track...
If you hide it from them it makes it works they get more curious about it..
talk to them about it.

msgt/ret · August 12th, 2009, 09:52 AM

You might want to check out the NRA's Eddie Eagle program.

NRA - Safety Information for Parents

mykeld · August 12th, 2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgt/ret

You might want to check out the NRA's Eddie Eagle program.

NRA - Safety Information for Parents

Yea, I'm not real happy with the NRA right now but I'll look at it.
Thanks.

Tubby45 · August 12th, 2009, 10:26 AM

Pretty much. My 2 year old son has been shooting for several months now. He sees guns around all the time, he sees me being armed all the time, etc. Drilled it into his head from day one. I built him an AR15 pistol in .22LR. It's a pistol but the short buffer tube makes a perfect "stock" for him so that's how he shoots it. Of course hearing protection doesn't fit him, so I make a suppressor for his gun.

2ndsupporter · August 12th, 2009, 10:39 AM

4-H in manny locations offers a Shooting Sports program that 8 years and up can participate in anything from Air pistol and rifle to Shot gun and Archery.

Both of my girls are in Shooting Sports and love it. I started teaching them at an early age firearm safety and the rules concerning when to handle them (when Dad or mom says it's okay).

I'm a firm believer that if all parents taught their kids proper firearm safety, then the ND/AD by a child would be almost non-existant!

punk rocka · August 12th, 2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2ndsupporter

I'm a firm believer that if all parents taught their kids proper firearm safety, then the ND/AD by a child would be almost non-existant!

While I don't disagree with this statement in theory, it assumes that all adults understand firearms safety... For every AD incident involving a child there is an adult somewhere who is responsible for it.

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.

2ndsupporter · August 12th, 2009, 11:25 AM

[QUOTE=punk rocka;1257158]While I don't disagree with this statement in theory, it assumes that all adults understand firearms safety... For every AD incident involving a child there is an adult somewhere who is responsible for it.

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...

Monkeytown · August 12th, 2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykeld

My 3 year old has started asking questions about my guns and I like to answer his questions. What are/were the rules in your house concerning kids and guns?
My primary carry is always condition 1 and the others are in locked cases.
So far the rules are:
#1 don't touch without mom or dad
#2 know where the muzzle is pointed and what is beyond (he has toy guns)
#3 if you see a gun, don't touch, tell a parent (many friends are gun owners)

Thanks guys.

This is a no-no in my house, so my 2y/o never gets confused. IMHO mixing toy guns and real guns is a recipe for disaster. Also, he is with me when I shoot, or as he calls it "make noise". In about 12-18 mos. I will start getting him shooting.

.22 rifle - kept unloaded
12 ga. - mag loaded, chamber empty
LCP - kept out of reach

Rcher · August 12th, 2009, 11:48 AM

Wow, guns and 3 yr olds can be a bad recipe. We all know how curious they are and how unpredictable they can be. Turn your head away for 2 seconds ... you get my point.

Like already suggested, look into the Eddie Eagle program. Although patterned for kids a little older, it is still a very successful program at any age. Its very tough to keep a SD firearm in the home "at the ready" that is accessible to an adult and not to a child. I believe that firearms safety should be mandatory for everyone. Good luck.

August 12th, 2009, 10:26 AM	#5
Tubby45 VIP Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Making suppressors Posts: 2,406	Pretty much. My 2 year old son has been shooting for several months now. He sees guns around all the time, he sees me being armed all the time, etc. Drilled it into his head from day one. I built him an AR15 pistol in .22LR. It's a pistol but the short buffer tube makes a perfect "stock" for him so that's how he shoots it. Of course hearing protection doesn't fit him, so I make a suppressor for his gun. __________________ Freakshow Manufacturing LLC Ammunition- Retail, Wholesale, Law Enforcement

August 12th, 2009, 10:39 AM	#6
2ndsupporter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 629	4-H in manny locations offers a Shooting Sports program that 8 years and up can participate in anything from Air pistol and rifle to Shot gun and Archery. Both of my girls are in Shooting Sports and love it. I started teaching them at an early age firearm safety and the rules concerning when to handle them (when Dad or mom says it's okay). I'm a firm believer that if all parents taught their kids proper firearm safety, then the ND/AD by a child would be almost non-existant! __________________ [One Nation Under God]

August 12th, 2009, 11:25 AM	#8
2ndsupporter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 629	[QUOTE=punk rocka;1257158]While I don't disagree with this statement in theory, it assumes that all adults understand firearms safety... For every AD incident involving a child there is an adult somewhere who is responsible for it. 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... __________________ [One Nation Under God]

August 12th, 2009, 11:48 AM	#10
Rcher Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Montana (resident) Utah (currently) Posts: 1,092	Wow, guns and 3 yr olds can be a bad recipe. We all know how curious they are and how unpredictable they can be. Turn your head away for 2 seconds ... you get my point. Like already suggested, look into the Eddie Eagle program. Although patterned for kids a little older, it is still a very successful program at any age. Its very tough to keep a SD firearm in the home "at the ready" that is accessible to an adult and not to a child. I believe that firearms safety should be mandatory for everyone. Good luck. __________________ >>----> Keep it Concealed: *"The Element of Surprise is Far Superior than the Target of Fate".*

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August 12th, 2009, 07:36 AM	#1
mykeld Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: GA Posts: 95	Kids and guns My 3 year old has started asking questions about my guns and I like to answer his questions. What are/were the rules in your house concerning kids and guns? My primary carry is always condition 1 and the others are in locked cases. So far the rules are: #1 don't touch without mom or dad #2 know where the muzzle is pointed and what is beyond (he has toy guns) #3 if you see a gun, don't touch, tell a parent (many friends are gun owners) Thanks guys. __________________ Mykel more later...

August 12th, 2009, 08:27 AM	#2
aimhigh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 559	I had my girl the same way ...when she was 7 i had here shooting a 22 rifle and from there it was every weekend to the range or the back yard. I always told here that this was not a toy and not to touch it. But you are in the right track... If you hide it from them it makes it works they get more curious about it.. talk to them about it. __________________ "You can say 'stop' or 'alto' or use any other word you think will work but I've found that a large bore muzzle pointed at someone's head is pretty much the universal language." NRA Member GeorgiaCarry.org

August 12th, 2009, 09:52 AM	#3
msgt/ret Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,014	You might want to check out the NRA's Eddie Eagle program. NRA - Safety Information for Parents __________________ When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk. "Don't forget, incoming fire has the right of way."