nightowl64
Inactive
I'll post mine in a while.
What are your general rules of guns in the household with children?
- Thread starter nightowl64
- Start date
Aguila Blanca
Staff
Lock 'em up.
(Either the guns or the kids, your choice. Just don't let them intermingle.)
(Either the guns or the kids, your choice. Just don't let them intermingle.)
Start training them about safety and respect as young as I can.
Secured until they are old enough and responsible enough to not have them secured all the time. I have no specific age for this, could be that some will never be old or responsible enough.
Even during the secured years I allow and encourage all of the supervised access they want. Taking the mystery out of the locked up forbidden items goes a long way to building safety and respect.
Might not sound restrictive enough for many people. But it is more restrictive than when my siblings and I were growing up. We were trained from before I can remember being trained and had nearly unrestricted access and nothing bad ever happened.
Were we just lucky or did dad train us right?
It might have helped that due to hunting and a lot of garbage dump target practice we were all very aware of the destructive power of firearms. Just punching paper will not demonstrate this very well.
Secured until they are old enough and responsible enough to not have them secured all the time. I have no specific age for this, could be that some will never be old or responsible enough.
Even during the secured years I allow and encourage all of the supervised access they want. Taking the mystery out of the locked up forbidden items goes a long way to building safety and respect.
Might not sound restrictive enough for many people. But it is more restrictive than when my siblings and I were growing up. We were trained from before I can remember being trained and had nearly unrestricted access and nothing bad ever happened.
Were we just lucky or did dad train us right?
It might have helped that due to hunting and a lot of garbage dump target practice we were all very aware of the destructive power of firearms. Just punching paper will not demonstrate this very well.
I have raised all three of my boys around guns, they are all older now; 27,21,13
My rules are; No one handles a gun unless I supervise them. All guns in the safes are loaded and ready. No one but me has keys to the safes.
I would/will occasionally pull a gun out of one of the safes and either unload it or leave it loaded and hand it to one of the boys and ask them to show me how to clear that weapon or if the gun is loaded. Its good practice. So many kids don't know or they think any gun left out is empty. I drill it into thier heads that assume all guns are loaded and need to be checked.
My rules are; No one handles a gun unless I supervise them. All guns in the safes are loaded and ready. No one but me has keys to the safes.
I would/will occasionally pull a gun out of one of the safes and either unload it or leave it loaded and hand it to one of the boys and ask them to show me how to clear that weapon or if the gun is loaded. Its good practice. So many kids don't know or they think any gun left out is empty. I drill it into thier heads that assume all guns are loaded and need to be checked.
I started their instruction at age three. These were my niece and nephew. At all time my guns were under my control if I had to remove my guns They were placed on a high shelf in the hall closet. Under my instruction they would handle them after I cleared them in front of them with me showing all the details of clearing the weapon.
When they got older say six they cleared the weapon with my instruction.
By age 10 each had their own weapons kept at their parents house. I would pick the child up with the weapon and take to the cabin or parent would bring child and weapon to where I lived to go shooting.
Some of you have read my discription of an event that happened at the cabin when my niece was nine. Without her having instruction I would not have been able to resolve that situation. Because she had had instruction I was able to leave her with her friend with the handgun that would become hers at her tenth birthday.
Because of my nephews instruction numerous individuals were relieved of their firearms at parties where they should never of had a firearm and the firearm was rendered inert.
I now have two great nephews. The oldest is seven. He too has had instruction since he was three. Firearms are handled the same way as with his father and aunt. Largest firearm seven year old great nephew has fired at present was a .308 from a bench.
When they got older say six they cleared the weapon with my instruction.
By age 10 each had their own weapons kept at their parents house. I would pick the child up with the weapon and take to the cabin or parent would bring child and weapon to where I lived to go shooting.
Some of you have read my discription of an event that happened at the cabin when my niece was nine. Without her having instruction I would not have been able to resolve that situation. Because she had had instruction I was able to leave her with her friend with the handgun that would become hers at her tenth birthday.
Because of my nephews instruction numerous individuals were relieved of their firearms at parties where they should never of had a firearm and the firearm was rendered inert.
I now have two great nephews. The oldest is seven. He too has had instruction since he was three. Firearms are handled the same way as with his father and aunt. Largest firearm seven year old great nephew has fired at present was a .308 from a bench.
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Sandiphete
Inactive
This is a great thread for me right now. We have never had guns. I have been antigun for the pat 20+ years due to a very bad experience. But I'm over the antigun thing now 
and am currently working on purchasing my first handgun (I say first, because after reading this forum, it sounds like it won't be my last!). I'm unsure how to introduce it to my kids. My old, antigun instinct is to lock it up, hide it from them and not let them know it's there, so I don't have to deal with the questions. The new and improved me knows that's not the right approach. Any advice is welcome....
and am currently working on purchasing my first handgun (I say first, because after reading this forum, it sounds like it won't be my last!). I'm unsure how to introduce it to my kids. My old, antigun instinct is to lock it up, hide it from them and not let them know it's there, so I don't have to deal with the questions. The new and improved me knows that's not the right approach. Any advice is welcome....This is a great thread for me right now. We have never had guns. I have been antigun for the pat 20+ years due to a very bad experience. But I'm over the antigun thing now
I assume you are choosing T380 for the multiple safeties?
The built in locks are nice and easy to use. 13 months ago, I bought my 1st personal gun in 20 years. All 4 of my kids are trained in handling semiautomatic pistols now. The youngest in my house though is 20.
My guns aren't locked up, but would be if kids are over, I have locks for all of them. Going on vacation soon, and all guns are going with me. 20 year olds with a house to themselves for a week, need no alcohol or guns left to tempt them or whoever they have over.
One pistol and one AR live outside the big safe. The pistol is loaded in a biometric safe in the nightstand. The rifle is unloaded with a trigger lock hanging in the closet (mags in an unlocked small Pelican case within reach. I live in a VERY SECURE location and have zero concern about theft.
My girls are 4 and 6. They see me handle the pistol almost every day. They know that they can ask any time they want to see it and handle it (they do about once a month) under my supervision. They have to tell me the Eddie Eagle rules before I hand it to them though.
If you see a gun: STOP!
Don't Touch.
Leave the Area.
Tell an Adult.
Once they tell me the Eddie Eagle rules, I usually ask them a scenario question "What if you're at a friends house and their Dad is outside and your friend wants to show you their Daddy's gun?"... I've got a few of those that we review. Then they get to handle the gun (they love the Tritium sights), field strip it and name the parts, then I put it back together. I wait until they leave to insert the mag and chamber a round (don't want to give them any ideas no matter how safe I think they are).
My girls are 4 and 6. They see me handle the pistol almost every day. They know that they can ask any time they want to see it and handle it (they do about once a month) under my supervision. They have to tell me the Eddie Eagle rules before I hand it to them though.
If you see a gun: STOP!
Don't Touch.
Leave the Area.
Tell an Adult.
Once they tell me the Eddie Eagle rules, I usually ask them a scenario question "What if you're at a friends house and their Dad is outside and your friend wants to show you their Daddy's gun?"... I've got a few of those that we review. Then they get to handle the gun (they love the Tritium sights), field strip it and name the parts, then I put it back together. I wait until they leave to insert the mag and chamber a round (don't want to give them any ideas no matter how safe I think they are).
Don't forget - you may train yur kids well , they may be responsible .BUT do the friends they bring home have the same training and responsibility ??
Another point is that a two year old is far more intelligent ,far more physically capable than the parents believe , and more curious !!!
Another point is that a two year old is far more intelligent ,far more physically capable than the parents believe , and more curious !!!
2ndsojourn
New member
Of course they'll be kept locked up. The guns that is. Kids have a way of finding things they're not supposed to have.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEG7JDVv3ec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEG7JDVv3ec
SPEMack618
New member
The LadyFriend and I are in that stage where we don't have our own kids, but often babysit the bevy of nieces and nephews that come with both of us having two siblings.
Generally, when it's just the two of us and the dog, I keep my AR- under the bed and amber.
When the little people come to visit, I dump the mag and disassemble it, putting the upper and lower in different gun bags. (Safe is full, currently)
My daily carry piece stays tucked in my belt except at bed time, when I place it on my night stand, after the little ones are asleep.
Generally, when it's just the two of us and the dog, I keep my AR- under the bed and amber.
When the little people come to visit, I dump the mag and disassemble it, putting the upper and lower in different gun bags. (Safe is full, currently)
My daily carry piece stays tucked in my belt except at bed time, when I place it on my night stand, after the little ones are asleep.
I taught my kids about firearm safty and how to shoot by the time they were in elementry school and now have my Grand Son 6 shooting and Grand daughter 2 watching . The big rule is do not touch fire arms unless Im there . I was raised the same and prievious genarations also . I keep a Sniper rifle and Tac 870 12 ga next to my bed loaded but empty chamber and a .357 Mag on a book shelf out of reach of little ones that is loaded . If we have visitors with kids that room is closed . This must work because as far back as I know My family and extended family has never had a death or injury from a firearm accident except one Cousin did shoot himself in the ankle (just a graze) by twirling a simi auto Ruger.22 pistol . Trying to show off .
The best way to impress upon children about the power of a gun is to take them shooting, or better yet, hunting. Once a child has had the opportunity to see, with their own eyes, the effect of a bullet on a living creature, they learn fast. Guns in the home demand safety training of every person who has access to them.
I don't believe in "locking my guns up". I believe in training my family members in the safe use of and respect for firearms.
When my kids have friends over, they are either supervised or I take the time to place the guns where they can't get them. Simple. Most of the time, I take them shooting! I can't tell you how many kid friends have gone home smiling from my house.
I have a safe, it is for the protection of my guns, not for the protection of my kids.
As a member above stated, The unknown is far more tempting than the known!
I have guns, my family has guns. We are not ashamed of the fact. We will not hide them and make them mysterious. We will adhere to safety, we will advance the idea.
If you are new to guns and have kids in the house, include them in your learning and safety lessons. Training, education and responsible common sense are the best ways to prevent accidents.
I don't believe in "locking my guns up". I believe in training my family members in the safe use of and respect for firearms.
When my kids have friends over, they are either supervised or I take the time to place the guns where they can't get them. Simple. Most of the time, I take them shooting! I can't tell you how many kid friends have gone home smiling from my house.
I have a safe, it is for the protection of my guns, not for the protection of my kids.
As a member above stated, The unknown is far more tempting than the known!
I have guns, my family has guns. We are not ashamed of the fact. We will not hide them and make them mysterious. We will adhere to safety, we will advance the idea.
If you are new to guns and have kids in the house, include them in your learning and safety lessons. Training, education and responsible common sense are the best ways to prevent accidents.
zincwarrior
New member
I have a simple rule.
No one is allowed to shoot Daddy!!!
No one is allowed to shoot Daddy!!!
I keep them all in a safe, except one that I keep out for possible intrusions. My kid knows never, ever even think about touching my gun(s) without my direct, hands-on supervision.
If I know a child or other children will be coming over to play, everything goes into the safe, even the antique percussion pistol.
If I know a child or other children will be coming over to play, everything goes into the safe, even the antique percussion pistol.