Guns in kids' bedrooms?

[Heffay]

Isn't it kind of old-school thinking that you can just beat sense into your kids? Problem kids are problem kids because they just didn't have enough discipline at home?

[DeanC]

The boy, who has pleaded the equivalent of not guilty to a charge of murder as a juvenile, dealt with "anger issues," family members say. He was enrolled in an elementary school that specializes in children with behavioral problems and had a history of poor behavior, including one instance in which he smacked his school principal in the face with a dust pan. His parents had recently separated and were planning to divorce, said his uncle Tony Miller.

The guns in his bedroom — given by his father — were a source of conflict between the boy's parents, his uncle said.

"She kept bringing the issue up about getting rid of them," Miller said, referring to the weapons. "But every time she did there was an argument about it with the father."

This looks like root cause of the problem. If one of my kids smacked the principal with a dustpan, he would essentially be living in solitary confinement. Certainly no guns.

Psychologists caution that a 10-year-old cannot fully comprehend the long-term consequences of using a gun to harm another person.

This is bullcrap.

[tman]

"Used to be" is now out the window in MN

MN STATUTE 609.666 NEGLIGENT STORAGE OF FIREARMS

609.666 NEGLIGENT STORAGE OF FIREARMS.
Subdivision 1.Definitions.For purposes of this section, the following words have the meanings given.

(a) "Firearm" means a device designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled a projectile by the force of any explosion or force of combustion.

(b) "Child" means a person under the age of 18 years.

(c) "Loaded" means the firearm has ammunition in the chamber or magazine, if the magazine is in the firearm, unless the firearm is incapable of being fired by a child who is likely to gain access to the firearm.

Subd. 2.Access to firearms.A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor who negligently stores or leaves a loaded firearm in a location where the person knows, or reasonably should know, that a child is likely to gain access, unless reasonable action is taken to secure the firearm against access by the child.
Subd. 3.Limitations.Subdivision 2 does not apply to a child's access to firearms that was obtained as a result of an unlawful entry.

[DeanC]

Isn't it kind of old-school thinking that you can just beat sense into your kids? Problem kids are problem kids because they just didn't have enough discipline at home?

There are certainly bad seeds out there. I have second hand knowledge of that kid from St. Louis Park who killed those convenience store workers in Iowa. I guess the father used to come into work shaking his head that there was nothing he could do with him.

I don't know all the details, but it seems if you have a troubled kid, firearms are one privilege he doesn't partake in. And, yes, at that age, it's a privilege.

[photogpat]

(c) "Loaded" means the firearm has ammunition in the chamber or magazine, if the magazine is in the firearm, unless the firearm is incapable of being fired by a child who is likely to gain access to the firearm.

Subd. 2.Access to firearms.A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor who negligently stores or leaves a loaded firearm in a location where the person knows, or reasonably should know, that a child is likely to gain access, unless reasonable action is taken to secure the firearm against access by the child.

With all due respect to tman -- my firearms on the wall in my bedroom were un-loaded...therefore would break no laws even today. Today, I don't leave anything in reach of my children (they're under 10). They know no combination, and I hold the only key on my person.

*underlining is mine...

[tman]

With all due respect to tman -- my firearms on the wall in my bedroom were un-loaded...therefore would break no laws even today. Today, I don't leave anything in reach of my children (they're under 10). They know no combination, and I hold the only key on my person.

UNloaded is fine and dandy with me!

[photogpat]

With all due respect to tman -- my firearms on the wall in my bedroom were un-loaded...therefore would break no laws even today. Today, I don't leave anything in reach of my children (they're under 10). They know no combination, and I hold the only key on my person.

UNloaded is fine and dandy with me!

[mrp]

With all due respect to tman -- my firearms on the wall in my bedroom were un-loaded...therefore would break no laws even today. Today, I don't leave anything in reach of my children (they're under 10). They know no combination, and I hold the only key on my person.

UNloaded is fine and dandy with me!

I dunno. First, there's Rule #1. And even if you stored it unloaded, your kid or your kid's friend may still be able to do something stupid, and your lawyer may have to convince the jury that you didn't leave a round in it.

If a gun is going to be out, I'll stick with unloaded and locked. When my kids are old enough and mature enough, I'd be OK giving them a key, but I'd still want the guns trigger locked. I just can't help but think they're going to have a stupid (or ignorant, or reckless) friend over at some point.

[chunkstyle]

I had a .22 when I was 6.

With unlimited and unsupervised access? My kids have been shooting since I don't know when. But at the ages of 11 (girl) and 8 (boy) they still have to ask for access.

Pretty much, yeah.

The ammo, though... I had to let a parent know I was taking some. But it was never an issue.