Teaching young kids about guns(?)

Suggest you purchase "Gun-Proofing Your Child", by Massad Ayoob (prolific gun rag writer, unpaid cop, owner/operator of Lethal Force Institute)--good ideas. I think he has an 800# for The Police Bookshelf in Concord, NH.

At age 3, my daughter, now a university grad, was allowed to handle my unloaded guns when I came in from the range. This satisfied her curiosity about "those things daddy spends so much time with." At age 7 or 8, we set up a range in the basement so she could shoot her BB rifle under supervision. The interest in firearms quickly faded, but she could still recite the safety rules. We "tested" her by leaving an unloaded gun in sight. She would swing a wide arc around the gun--absolutely every time. We reminded her to not tell others that mom&dad had guns in the house. Never had a problem with the neighborhood kids finding the guns nor with daughter finding one at the neighbors' houses.

Buy the book--it will be invaluable.
 
It has already been stated by my fellows. Firearms should be a part of your normal every day routine. Take all mystery out of guns. Don't hide them away and forbid the kids to find and touch them. Allow the kids to handle dry guns. If they want to see the guns, take the time to get the guns out and show it to them, any time its convienent. This will show the kids that all they have to do is ask and mommy is more than happy to show the gun to them. They want to see the gun in action. I'm always looking for an oportunity for some range time. It's always a judgement call as to weather to leave a loaded gun semi-accessable. I choose to. My wife knows where these guns are, and so does my ten year old daughter, both can shoot. The guns are out of reach of my four and two year old. And I will reevaluate my storage methods when they get a little older, based on their actions, interest and other factors. Daddy always had at least one loaded gun accessable around the house. There were six of us yungins, never thought of touching one of his guns. Had my own guns at age twelve. Bought my first rifle at age twelve at K-Mart. Saved a summers earnings from a fruit/vegetable roadside stand. No check, no wait. When I was twelve I could grab my little Stevens/Savage single shot .22, and head for the hills by myself for a little target shooting, or squirell or bunny hunting. After chores of course. Mom would ask my brother, "Where's Bobby"..."Yonder hunting, Maam". "OK, thanks, honey". Never a big deal. You see we have a generation of non-gunners. Never been taught which end the ball comes out. Even people that have grown up around guns are not schooling their kids on their proper use. Of course when a childs only exposure to firearms, is what he sees on TV, well, we all know what happens then. They learn the evilness of inanimate objects, to blame that object for crimes it takes a human act of will to perpetrate. Well Cindy, hope i have helped in some way. My prayers ar with you.
Arrell
 
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