Young kids and guns...

[rangermonroe]

Have you given any thought to the appropriate age to tell your kids where "the loaded one is!" , and when it is OK to ""go get it".

As a child, I knew that my father had "Death its own self" personified in his sock drawer. It was a pathological .22 Ruger revolver that was loaded and if I were to touch it , it would be miraculous if a soul in the house survived.

I waited to play with it until I was twelve. They lied to me about the tooth fairy, lets see what els is on the choppin block. P'rolly lied about Santa too!

So, I'm trying a different approach. This one has worked through two kids, but I have two (boys) to go.

"Yes, that's my (loaded, bedside gun...chamber empty). Yes I like it too, do you want to check it out? "

After a litle fondling and admiration, away it goes with stern admonishment.
"I will show you this whenever you want, but dire punishment awaits unaccompanied dalyances".

(ie. "touch this when I'm not a round and I'll beat that ass)

Has worked to date.


Any thoughts for improvement?

 

[Dark Wolf]

I have done the same thing with my daughter. She knows what a gun is, and what it is used for. She also knows that they are ALWAYS loaded. Since she was 3, she knew that all she had to do was ask, and I would show it to her, as well as how it worked.
To this day, she will not pick up a gun in my house without first asking permission. The wonder and the mystery (well, maybe the mystery) have been taken out of the equation. She now has her own .22, but she is still very safety conscious when she handles it, and I am not afraid to leave a loaded AK or AR leaning in the corner.
Just my opinion. But congrats on (in my opinion) raising your kids well where firearms are concerned.

 

[Cowman]

As a child, I knew that my father had "Death its own self" personified in his sock drawer. It was a pathological .22 Ruger revolver that was loaded and if I were to touch it , it would be miraculous if a soul in the house survived.

My parents did similar with me, except it was "every gun in the house is loaded" which was often true. I'd see shotgun propped up agains the wall and I'd be afraid to walk by it even.

I think it's good for kids to be around guns provided they are also made to understand how dangerous they can be. It teaches you respect for the firearm and what it is capable of.