Guns and kids; how did you handle it?

[sigsauersauce]

Hey everybody. I guess what I'm looking for here is the perspective of parents who have finished (or almost finished) raising their kids. My question is, how did you introduce your kids to firearms? At what age? Etc. I have a 3 year old and 2 year old, and they both love to look at guns online with me and watch me clean them and stuff, so interest is there. Thanks for your perspective!

*note* Before I get flamed or the thread gets taken over, all my guns are locked up and safe, and when they are out they're unloaded, checked, and then rechecked while I quote the rules of gun safety to my boys. I'm not really looking for someone to give me a gun safety lecture (although those are absolutely key), I'm more just interested in parenting perspectives. Thanks!

[OldmanFCSA]

I've been blasted by other parents for my technique, but happily surprised when my 4 yr old son brought me a loaded pistol at a party that another child had found in a drawer near the bed. (Same party that another kid found a 12" black dildo and asked his Mommy in front of everyone what was this for.) My son had opened the cylinder and carried it to me with his thumb in the frame like I taught him and his younger sister, now both are 22 and almost 21 respectively.

Teach them early, take the couriosity out of playing with guns, allow them to shoot in very controlled situations. Then shoot a live animal like a gopher or something and show/relate the damage that could happen to a person if used improperly. Before the PITA people jump down my throat, my children witnessed the aftermath of a bear in a sheep pen at an early age. They grew up understanding death, not a totally sheltered life where kids act out in video games.

Your children - your choice - your responsibility !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have 2 great kids, both Seniors in college, both shooters, both reloaders, both offroad motorcycle racers. Son will be in Air Force after receiving his commission and a degree in AeroSpace Engineering from Texas A&M. Daughter headed off to Graduate School at Texas A&M after graduating at U of MN in BioMedical Engineering.

[photogpat]

Mine have been exposed from an early age. Like you, all mine are stored safely..but from an early age, I've taught mine about safe usage and handling. We started by letting them touch any of the collection (unloaded and safed) anytime they wanted with one of us present. All they had to do was ask. Then we'd prompt them as we were putting them away...if they ever wanted to "see" anything again, just come and ask.

I started mine with a BB gun at 5 (might have been a late 4). We talked about the need for eyes/ears, muzzle control, finger off the trigger, and establishing behavior at the firing line. Even went so far as to teach them about the need to wash their hands when done handling guns or ammo.

Now at 7, they've moved up to a variety of .22's and the .410...all while under adult supervision of course....and the fun stops as soon as there's any break in discipline. We practiced field walks just yesterday with fence/tree crossings, single file walking, walking abreast, and working with dogs. When they take their FAS class eventually, I'm convinced they'll probably be able to "teach" the class! (I kid I kid...but not really).

I'm a firm believer in the way I did it with my sons...they're responsible children around firearms. Once they're old enough (not yet) I'll present them with their own firearms.

[westhope]

The NRA "Eddie Eagale" program has a lot of material available. I think it is FREE to everyone, not only NRA instructors. Can be found on NRA site.

The program teaches: 1 Stop; 2 Don't Touch; 3 Walk Away; 4 Tell An Adult.

[rugersol]

My son had opened the cylinder and carried it to me with his thumb in the frame like I taught him and his younger sister,

this is the way we roll!

I heard bout Eddie eagle... last thing I want is one of my kids "stopping" and "not touching"... while some other kid, who never heard of Eddie eagle, proceeds to run over, pick up the gun, and pretend he's a cowboy ... and my kids are indians!

when we go over guns, first thing is, if they can't get the gun first, GTFO! ... otherwise, get it, eject any mag, open it, and clear it... then, take it to me... and if I ain't around, their mother... and if she ain't around, someone who owns a truck!

[Countryfried Frank]

Your children - your choice - your responsibility !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't be said better.

For my wife and I, we focus on demystifying firearms. Similar to what has already been stated, my four year old only has to ask her mother or I politely to see any of our firearms. She also has a Red Ryder (pink of course) with the zip tie still on the lever that she gets to carry around until she either chooses to put it down or breaks one of the four rules. Since her arms aren't quite long enough for the Red Ryder yet I have a Daisy Buck that we use to practice with eyes/ears/etc.

One thing to be cautious of is that if you choose this or a similar approach your child will probably think that talking about firearms in any setting is no big deal. Letting them know that some subjects are polite conversation in the home but not when out at a restaurant can help avoid possible issues.

I don't disagree with the prevailing sentiment for Eddie Eagle however, I think it is a GREAT program for kids of parents who either can't or won't teach their children about firearms safety.

[rukwikenuf]

My kids know that thy don't get to touch my guns. I have educated them to an extent, but at 6, 4 and 1 they are all too little to shoot. I did show them what dead is by shooting a squirrel up at my aunt's place in Cambridge. Three hours later it was still dead.
I test them too. I'll leave my 1911 I the holster unloaded and thumb break on. It'll be on the kitchen table within eyesight. Then I'll ask one of the older two if they could bring it to me. She has not ever said yes. If she does, however, I can't get mad.

Also,they help me sort brass and clean the guns. They both said that they want to have guns "when I'm old enough "

[rukwikenuf]

My kids know that thy don't get to touch my guns. I have educated them to an extent, but at 6, 4 and 1 they are all too little to shoot. I did show them what dead is by shooting a squirrel up at my aunt's place in Cambridge. Three hours later it was still dead.
I test them too. I'll leave my 1911 I the holster unloaded and thumb break on. It'll be on the kitchen table within eyesight. Then I'll ask one of the older two if they could bring it to me. She has not ever said yes. If she does, however, I can't get mad.

Also,they help me sort brass and clean the guns. They both said that they want to have guns "when I'm old enough "

[45Badger]

Mine have been exposed from an early age. Like you, all mine are stored safely..but from an early age, I've taught mine about safe usage and handling. We started by letting them touch any of the collection (unloaded and safed) anytime they wanted with one of us present. All they had to do was ask. Then we'd prompt them as we were putting them away...if they ever wanted to "see" anything again, just come and ask.

I started mine with a BB gun at 5 (might have been a late 4). We talked about the need for eyes/ears, muzzle control, finger off the trigger, and establishing behavior at the firing line. Even went so far as to teach them about the need to wash their hands when done handling guns or ammo.

Now at 7, they've moved up to a variety of .22's and the .410...all while under adult supervision of course....and the fun stops as soon as there's any break in discipline. We practiced field walks just yesterday with fence/tree crossings, single file walking, walking abreast, and working with dogs. When they take their FAS class eventually, I'm convinced they'll probably be able to "teach" the class! (I kid I kid...but not really).

I'm a firm believer in the way I did it with my sons...they're responsible children around firearms. Once they're old enough (not yet) I'll present them with their own firearms.

Almost exactly as I did it. Kids are 14 and 17 now, both safe and responsible.

[sgruenhagen44]

Well I don't have any kids but ill add my .02 anyhow. I started coming on pheasant hunts at 8 years old. That was huge because I was taught a lot about gun safety in the field. Such as unloading firearms and crossing fences and such. He wouldn't let me have my own gun loaded in the car until I was about 18. (this is south dakota pheasant hunting). My dad is an actuary so he analyzes risk for insurance companies all day, needless to say he is a safety fanatic!!! Pistols for the longest time were the devil because "the barrel is too short" and he didn't like rifles cuz "they shoot too far". I didn't get my first pistol until I was 17. All that did though was turn me into a pistol nut. Our guns were always locked up until I was about 15. By then I was leaving the house to go shoot rodents with whomever could drive. Judge if ya want but either way, I was a safe kid. My dads approach my have been a little extreme cuz when it comes down to it, a gun is a gun and it can kill regardless of what it is. By the way, I have converted him and he is going to take his PTC after this pheasant season. I think a lot of it comes down to your own kid. Some are safer than others, I can tell you right now that when I started pheasant hunting I was a lot safer than some adults. ALways uloaded my gun when crossing a fence, let birds fly if I thought it was potentially unsafe (sometimes I would get razzed because it would be more than a safe shot).

[sgruenhagen44]

Well I don't have any kids but ill add my .02 anyhow. I started coming on pheasant hunts at 8 years old. That was huge because I was taught a lot about gun safety in the field. Such as unloading firearms and crossing fences and such. He wouldn't let me have my own gun loaded in the car until I was about 18. (this is south dakota pheasant hunting). My dad is an actuary so he analyzes risk for insurance companies all day, needless to say he is a safety fanatic!!! Pistols for the longest time were the devil because "the barrel is too short" and he didn't like rifles cuz "they shoot too far". I didn't get my first pistol until I was 17. All that did though was turn me into a pistol nut. Our guns were always locked up until I was about 15. By then I was leaving the house to go shoot rodents with whomever could drive. Judge if ya want but either way, I was a safe kid. My dads approach my have been a little extreme cuz when it comes down to it, a gun is a gun and it can kill regardless of what it is. By the way, I have converted him and he is going to take his PTC after this pheasant season. I think a lot of it comes down to your own kid. Some are safer than others, I can tell you right now that when I started pheasant hunting I was a lot safer than some adults. ALways uloaded my gun when crossing a fence, let birds fly if I thought it was potentially unsafe (sometimes I would get razzed because it would be more than a safe shot).

[Mn01r6]

I had pellet guns from about age 6. Helped carry pheasants in the field at age 8. I moved up to a .22 nylon when i was 9. Shot clays at 10, ducks at 11, pheasants at 13 and deer at 15.

My dad was anti-handgun so it took until I was 22 to get one of those. I did shoot a few at the range - friends of my dad had them and he would let me take a turn with them.

Now I have a 2-year old and a 4-year old. I have shown them my guns and told them they can look at them with me any time they would like, but never by themselves. They get the Eddie eagle speech regularly for other people's houses. I don't think either one is strong enough to press most mag releases, much less lock a slide open, so they won't be instructed to touch the gun and make it safe - just gtfo and tell an adult.

[Grandpa Rex]

Bringing them up in a gun culture is a good starter. I would echo what the other posters have said.

When guns are part of your upbringing, taught correctly, you have a healthy respect for them.

I started the kids on BB guns and then shotguns or .22's. Let them tell you when they are ready. A 22 or shotty and some reactive targets like cans or water filled milk jugs seal the deal.

The grandson was the earliest starter. He is very mechanical and fearless. Started him with safety and wise choices when shooting even BB guns and he learned quickly. He was shooting most anything at 8 years old and learned to love recoil. He would ask to try a specific gun and I would let him shoot one round in a very controlled manner. With the bigger calibers he would often feel that one was enough. I always included the mechanics of the gun as part of the experience. He would often switch back to a tamer gun and they later decide he wanted to use the big ones again a few minutes later.

At thirteen, he now is a great shot, very safety aware and loves to go shooting with grandpa. He clears guns like a pro and always asks to get a gun out at the range.

Every kid is different and it is hard to go wrong if you help them follow how they like to shoot. Paper punching, trap, hunting, gun history, maintenance, reloading, shopping, and auctions are all possible activities that you can share with them. Just be aware that your kids in their teens may decide for a time that you are not cool anymore! They often return to awareness that you are pretty great at some point though!

[OldmanFCSA]

Do as I say, not as I do.

What does that mean = I must have taught my son something correctly.

When talking to an elderly neighbor, he mentioned he was going grouse hunting the next day. I asked if my son and I could tag along. He said he didn't hunt with "kids" because of the danger to himself, but finally agreed. We had a GREAT time !!!
However at the end of the day, I asked if we could hunt with him again, he said "your son can go, but you are staying home!". (At 6'8" with long legs, I have a tendency to hold gun accross the wires of a fence and just step over, instead of setting gun down or handing to another while crossing the fence. I also was so concerned about my son's safety that I forgot to watch my own actions.)