I got made today!

[westhope]

For the first time in the 10 years or so that I have been carrying (yes, I had a permit before 2003) someone questioned the bulge in my pocket. He knew there was something in that pocket, touched the pocket and wanted to know what was in there. I exclude the one time my wife said something, she now knows what the bulge is and hasn't said anything in years.

I mostly pocket carry a Colt Pocket Nine, 9 mm, in a Mika holster in blue jeans. I used to carry a SW J-frame, 38 Special, but mainly the Pocket Nine now because it carries two more rounds than the J-frame. I carry 99 % of the time I'm out. Probably 10 % of the time I carry, it is a Kimber Officer's 4 inch, 45 ACP in an Wilson IWB. Then I have a cover garment. The rest of the time it is the pocket carry gun in blue jeans with or without a cover garment. No one has ever questioned me before.

Who was the person?

My 4 year old grandson.

We were riding in the back seat of his parents minivan and he saw the bulge in my pocket and wanted to know what it was. I made some obscure comment and that made him even more interested. He reached over and touched the outside of the pocket, felt something hard and repeated the question to me. I told him it was a "special tool". I then quickly changed the subject. His parents have never said anything about me carrying. I doubt they know how often I carry. (I store my carry gun in lock box in my car when at their house. I do get it from my car if we go anyplace.) This kid loves tools. For Christmas, I give him a Sears Tool catalog. His favorite bedtime book when I'm there. He knows I carry a pocket knife (Benchmade Mini Griptillian), car keys, money and change all in my left (weak side) pocket. My cell phone in my shirt pocket. He usually checks these out when I arrive at their house. Whenever he needs something opened, he comes to me and asks me to open it with my knife. He knew there was something different in my right pocket.

We'll see if he remember's the next time I see him. I've already purchased him his first rifle, a Marlin 915 Youth, for when he is ready. His mother is all for him learning to shoot, she was disapointed that no one ever taught here to shoot. I told her, anytime she wants, I will.

Just thought I'd share.

[hammAR]

Great story, at least it was in the family..........

[06flhxi]

Thank's for the post. I have a 3 year old grandson, i don't carry when I'm with him per his mother's request. I was curious, what age do you or any one else on the forum, think it's O.K. to start training him in gun safety and shooting? His parents have no objection to him learning safety and target shooting.

[Norsesmithy]

IMO, "Gunproofing" children should start immediately.

This doesn't always mean taking them shooting as toddlers, but you can demystify the firearm and cultivate respect and caution at a very young age.

I was shooting my grandfather's single six by the time I was 6. I don't have kids yet, but I intend to start my theoretical children even younger.

[jgalt]

Thank's for the post. I have a 3 year old grandson, i don't carry when I'm with him per his mother's request. I was curious, what age do you or any one else on the forum, think it's O.K. to start training him in gun safety and shooting? His parents have no objection to him learning safety and target shooting.

Let me start with making it perfectly clear that honoring your grandson's mother's (your daughter?) request is entirely your choice, and - when in her home - her right to require...

Having said that, you might want to try to educate her prior to educating your grandson. Other than protecting yourself, isn't the protection of those you love the main reason you carry? Is there anyone you love who might need that protection more than the very young children in your family? I know I would have a very difficult time dealing with the aftermath of a situation where some young member of my extended family (I don't have kids) were harmed because I was honoring their parents request not to carry around them...

Again, obviously, I am most emphatically not trying to tell you what to do or how to deal with your family. I only gave the answer I did because the way your question was phrased makes it seem (to me) that you might not have thought about the situation in this way. If you have, then please ignore my ramblings...

To answer your actual question - as soon as you believe the particular child you are dealing with can understand whatever it is you want to teach them, do it. The Eddie Eagle stuff may come first & at a very young age, with more hands-on learning as they increase their ability to understand the concepts of what you are teaching them, as well as the physical strength & dexterity to safely handle whatever gun you are working with.

That's how I would approach it.

[06flhxi]

Thank's for the post. I have a 3 year old grandson, i don't carry when I'm with him per his mother's request. I was curious, what age do you or any one else on the forum, think it's O.K. to start training him in gun safety and shooting? His parents have no objection to him learning safety and target shooting.

Let me start with making it perfectly clear that honoring your grandson's mother's (your daughter?) request is entirely your choice, and - when in her home - her right to require...

Having said that, you might want to try to educate her prior to educating your grandson. Other than protecting yourself, isn't the protection of those you love the main reason you carry? Is there anyone you love who might need that protection more than the very young children in your family? I know I would have a very difficult time dealing with the aftermath of a situation where some young member of my extended family (I don't have kids) were harmed because I was honoring their parents request not to carry around them...

Again, obviously, I am most emphatically not trying to tell you what to do or how to deal with your family. I only gave the answer I did because the way your question was phrased makes it seem (to me) that you might not have thought about the situation in this way. If you have, then please ignore my ramblings...

To answer your actual question - as soon as you believe the particular child you are dealing with can understand whatever it is you want to teach them, do it. The Eddie Eagle stuff may come first & at a very young age, with more hands-on learning as they increase their ability to understand the concepts of what you are teaching them, as well as the physical strength & dexterity to safely handle whatever gun you are working with.

That's how I would approach it.

My daughter, yes. She had no interest in guns as a child growing up and I didn't force the issue. This was a mistake on my part I now realize. Her and I are getting there though. We went shooting together for the first time just before Christmas. She had a good time and wants to go again. Her husband loves going with me to the range and shooting my .45 ( He doesn't like buying ammo though ). I'm slowly changing her mind about carrying and guns as I really want to shoot with my grandson, some day.

[jgalt]

My daughter, yes. She had no interest in guns as a child growing up and I didn't force the issue. This was a mistake on my part I now realize. Her and I are getting there though. We went shooting together for the first time just before Christmas. She had a good time and wants to go again. Her husband loves going with me to the range and shooting my .45 ( He doesn't like buying ammo though ). I'm slowly changing her mind about carrying and guns as I really want to shoot with my grandson, some day.

Woohoo!

Good on you, and good on your daughter for being open too it. Here's hoping you can make quick progress in your efforts...

[1911fan]

My kids had the knowledge that guns were around very early. They were given a demonstration of what a gun could do about as soon as they were able to understand it, I would say about 4 to 4 1/2 years old. We were up at the hunting land, and I had bought a coconut. I playfully tapped them with it and had them head knock it, and let them understand how hard it was etc, then I put it on a post and shot it with a shotgun. I purposely did not put ear protection on the kids and they were only a few feet away and slightly behind me when I did it. I wanted that shock and awe.

It worked. They learned what the power of the gun was, and by letting them comprehend the hardness of their head vs the coconut, it was an easy lesson for them learn that if it blew up that hard shell thing, what it would do to them. Did the same drill a few weeks later with a .44 special, but had them put ear protection for that one, same results.

Later I would make sure if they had any questions they were answered as much as I could, That year when I had killed a deer, they were able to see what it did to a living animal. We never did the "the deer is sleeping" BS or anything like that, they had watched us kill and clean fish several times, as well as game birds, so they understood the concept of eating what you killed. I think that is a HUGE thing kids need to learn, that meat means something dies.

By age 6 both had shot hand guns, (a ruger bearcat) and rifles, a cut down H&R that has traveled around the family. There were guns around the house the whole time they were growing up, and both kids knew they were there, and understood that they had a purpose.

[RobD]

IMO, "Gunproofing" children should start immediately.

This doesn't always mean taking them shooting as toddlers, but you can demystify the firearm and cultivate respect and caution at a very young age.

I was shooting my grandfather's single six by the time I was 6. I don't have kids yet, but I intend to start my theoretical children even younger.

Never to early to start gun proofing. Kids have an infinite amount of free time and curiosity. It is better to take they mystique out of it.

Ask my daughter what she does when she see's a gun. She will yell "STOP! DON'T TOUCH, LEAVE THE AREA, TELL AN ADULT"... We routinely practice this with dummy guns, and occasionally a empty real gun (we are peeking just around the corner) as I don't want her to think all guns are blue or orange. She has done excellently for the last year.

My 3 year old already wants a pink Cricket. I'm tug-o-waring with the wife right now as to when she can start shooting. She first said 10, I said 4... I've worn her down to 8 so far... We'll see how it goes. She is an amazingly responsible, attentive, and obedient 3 year old, right now I would have no trouble getting her started in a year, but a lot can change in a year.

I can just imagine it now.... If you don't finish your veggies, you cant go to the range with daddy...

[Srigs]

Sounds like you handled it well.

For my wife and I having SGH car signs on our vehicles causes a lot of looks and has brought in business . I'm sure someone can guess but most times I doubt anyone would know by looking. My family and most of my friends know but even they don't every really know when we are carrying.

[Shipyard]

i'm personally glad that i've never got picked out. i live in a neighborhood where the mere thought of someone next to you with a gun is cause for the SWAT team to be called in. wouldn't want anyone causing any trouble with the yoga mats....

i learned to shoot my grandpa's Marlin 39A when i was 5 years old. i couldn't hold it right, so he knelt down on the ground and steadied the rifle over his shoulder, leaving me both of my grubbie little hands (we were working in his machine shop so he made me clean my hands with gasoline first so i wouldn't get the rifle dirty )to work the lever and shoot pop cans. it was glorious.

my brother and i were drilled early - respect guns and they will respect you back. never act a fool with a firearm. every time i go to an indoor range i wish other peoples elders had instilled the same lesson start 'em early - teach 'em right!!!

[Pezhead]

I bet the gas had lead in it too. Just like the kind I used to clean bike parts etc. as a kid. Tahn again that might explain a few things.

[BRL]

she now knows what the bulge is and hasn't said anything in years.

Uhhh... To much information

That's a good story. kids can be the most observant. I was pretty shocked at the behavior of the person who made you until you outed him as your grandson.

[R.E.T.]

she now knows what the bulge is and hasn't said anything in years.

Uhhh... To much information

That's a good story. kids can be the most observant. I was pretty shocked at the behavior of the person who made you until you outed him as your grandson.

Kids are very observant and curious.