Tellin Kids About Carrying?

Yep, my 7yo knows I carry. In fact, before we leave to go somewhere, she sometimes asks me "Mommy do you have your gun?"

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"At last we shall reveal ourselves to the Gun-Grabbers, at last we shall have revenge at The TFL End of Summer Meet on August 12 & 13, 2000..."
 
My kids are 13 and 11. They know that I carry most of the time. Sometimes my 11 year old daughter will come up, hug my arm, reach down and pat my hip to see if I am. Then she gives me a big smile. She knows that Daddy is serious about not letting anything bad happen to her or the rest of the family.

Halffast

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"There are people who do not mind the fact that O.J. Simpson walks free. There are people who do not mind the fact that Lon Horiuchi is not only not punished for his atrocity at Ruby Ridge, but he continues on the public payroll. There are those who know who killed Vince Foster, but are not bothered by the fact that the subject has been dropped officially. I mind those things. Do you?" - Jeff Cooper
 
Told my kid. However, she was an early teen when I started.

One reason is that if for some reason, I was incapacitated - say in an accident - she could tell a responsible adult.

This was separate from tactical considerations.
 
I've heard two common arguments for and against:

For: You do not want you child discovering your sidearm and declairing to the world, "Whay do you have a gun, dad/mom?" You can count on that happening at the most inappropriate time.

Against: You do not want your child to proclaim defiantly to the mugger/robber/car jacker/etc , "My dad/mom has a gun and will shoot you!" You can count on a bad situation rapidly deteriorating.

There are variations to the themes, of course.

I think it depends on the age and understanding of the children in question.
 
Yeah, that's what I thought. I read the post about the "kmart incident" with great interest...particularly the part about riddleofsteel's kid knowing he was carrying. I've been debating on whether to tell mine or not. He's 8, has been shooting and hunting with me for a couple of years, and, while I supervise him very carefully, he follows his safety rules better than some adults I know.

The other day, at the mall, waiting on mommy, he gave me an unexpected hug and his arm brushed against my pistol ("Dad! Is that your gun??") No one heard him...at least, I think no one did. In any case, we didn't get tagged by security or a LEO, but I still felt stupid for not being able to control that "variable." Needless to say, we had a talk then and there about it.

Now, he's a good kid, and I'm proud of him, but I'm still concerned about his not being able to resist talking about it with friends.
Then again, around here, I'm the token "gun nut," so nobody would be surprised.
 
All three of mine know, and know the 4 rules of gun safety. They were also glad he had his toy with extra magazines this last Sat. morning when two black bears came a little close to the cabin while we were asleep. The funny thing is that the two youngest actually look forward to target night. I agree I am sure they have talked to their friends about it but they know there is a strict code of silence when we are out. We live in the country and have a large bank behind the house. A few weeks ago our eldest brought home her first "boyfriend" we were out back "shootin" when he arrived. Needless to say I didn't have to give him the "rules of dating my daughter". Even though he dressed as a "droopie drawer boy" he suddenly found a way to say "yes sir and yes mam"! Miss manners ain't got nothin on us!
 
My son, now 13, has always known, but then he was the kind of kid who could keep his mouth shut. My step-grandson however, (who is with me all the time) did not learn about it until about a year ago, cause he was the kind of kid who couldn't keep his mouth shut. He's almost 9 now. I knew he couldn't resist telling everyone that I had a gun on me. Last year he grew up some, and also got old enough to realize just how much sheep-dip he'd be in if he talked about it in public.

Not telling can backfire on you. When Kasey got just the right height, he whoaped his head into my gun three different times. He'd immediately start digging at my jacket and hollering, "What you got in there?" Which made more of a scene than if he'd already known. After the third whack in the head, I stopped carrying under my arm and went to an inside the waist holster.

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Refuse to be a "helpless" victim.
Knowing Your Rights WAGC in Indiana
Come have some fun at theTFL End of Summer Meet, August 12th & 13th, 2000
 
I am probably the worst one to comment on this, since I do not have kids. I would say it would depend on the kid. It all depends on if the kid could keep their mouth shut. As I have learned from the kids I had the experience being around, they are totally unpredictable!

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"We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force."

--Ayn Rand, in "The Nature of Government"
 
My three (8,4,& 2) see me put it on as we are getting ready to go out. To them it just the same as grabbing my keys or wallet, just something that you need when you go out. The Post Office Shuffle (or anywhere else that I can't carry) did require a bit of explanation though. :rolleyes: "So, you're trusted everywhere but here? What did you do in here before?" Oh well, even I can't come up with a good explanation as to why the government trusts me everywhere but where they are.
 
If you don't tell your children and they find out, which eventually they will, they will formulate that you have something to hide or that it's bad so that's why you didn't say anything.
My kid's, 9, 10 & 11yr olds, know that I carry. I also have instructed them to never ever tell anyone that I do. I also discussed with them why we shouldn't tell people and that it's not good to even talk about me owning guns. They also know that if one of them should ever think it's cool to tell one of their friends they better hope I don't find out.

I take my kids shooting so there are no mysteries or unventured curiosities.

My spin on this is if it's honorable and legal tell your kid's. Just make sure they understand what is sharable with others and why. If they aren't old enough to comprehend that don't tell them.

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"It is easier to get out of jail then it is a morgue"
Live long and defend yourself!
John 3:16
NRA lifer
GOA
GSSF
KABA
 
I would worry about the "My Dad can beat up yours" being followed up by "Yea, well my Dad carries a gun."

OTOH, there's NOTHING wrong with it. It freaks people out, but that's their problem. No one freaks out if they find out you own a Kenworth (which could take a HOUSE out).
 
I explained it when she was old enough. She was old enough when she began shooting at the range! (grin) That was 3 years ago when she got a Chipmunk rifle from Santa at the age of 7.

She is 10 now and knows to stay on my left side when in public.

Got a great idea today while reading "RiddleOfSteel's" post about KMart excitement. I will now rename my carry pieces "insurance" (first thougth, the name may change in the next couple of days) so that we can openly discuss it without being found out... The point is to get a pet name that would make sense in a discussion in a crowd. Maybe I will ask my daughter to name the pistols and guider her in her name choice. Then it will be her idea and she will readily use it...

Whadda ya think? Should work for anyone...

Lemme know!
 
I'm 53; my three children have all finished college and are on their own. HOWEVER, let me tell you why you should EDUCATE your kids -- from the child's perspective.

My father was an FBI Agent throughout my youth. Naturally, he always carried a sidearm while on duty (and, occasionally, when off duty). Accordingly, I was exposed to semiautomatics and revolvers before I went to elementary school.

My Dad was wise enough to "demystify" firearms. In addition, when I was a little older, he trained me thoroughly in the use, maintenance, and SAFETY associated with all types of firearms (from .380s and .22 to 12 gauges). Consequently, I never had the urge to handle a firearm before I was fully trained and absolutely aware of how -- and how not -- to treat, care for, and SAFELY operate the weapon.

In sum, if you carry it is very likely handguns will be come mysterious and fascinating objects for your children. THIS HAS GRAVELY DANGEROUS POTENTIAL. Demystify and teach your children the proper -- and SAFE -- way to operate, maintain and possess firearms. This will permit your kids to coexist safely with guns -- and it may also provide excellent adult recreational options for them.
 
I don't have children of my own, but my students know of my strong feelings re: RKBA and firearm safety. I try to provide them with statistics on self-protection whenever I can. Because most of my students grew up in street culture and think of guns as cool accoutrements to accessorize a criminal lifestyle, I feel a responsibility to let them know that guns are very serious tools to be used responsibly and legally and are not simply props for rap videos and action films.

I know that my students consider me an authority on most things -- so to me, this is an opportunity to set a good example.

"That's my teacher. She's the smartest person here. She might be the smartest person in the whole world -- I know she's the smartest lady in the whole world! Her IQ is probably thirty-two!"
--One of my students introducing me to new staff

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*quack*
 
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