Teaching your son to shoot

[chris1911]

So I have been an active shooter my entire life. I was raised around guns, taught by my dad how to shoot for the first time when I was 7 and was hunting by the time I was 9. My son is starting to get to the age where I want to teach him to shoot (he's got another year and a half until I think he's old enough though) however my insane ***** of an ex wife says that she will take me to court and fight me to the ends of the earth to keep that from happening. Her entire family is anti-gun mostly out of ignorance. When I was raised we were taught safety and proper handling to where it was never an issue for us to have loaded guns in the house because we were taught correctly that they are not toys.

Does anyone actually know if the court would really prohibit me from teaching my son to shoot? I don't see it as any different than teaching him to play baseball or football, it's just another sport. I WILL have guns in my house, and I'd rather my son be taught about them then get too curious.

[DVSmith]

I don't know anyone who has been in your situation, but I do know someone who's ex went to court over unsecured firearms in the home that resulted in a child endangerment charge. To plea out of it, he sold off all of his firearms.

[davek8s]

I'm no lawyer, but when I was going through custody with my ex. There was another couple in court fighting about weather the mom could take the son to church.

Short answer was, what you do with your kid on your time is your business. As long as it's not illegal.

You may have to go to court if she takes you. But I think you'll be fine.

[guns4life]

I'd make sure everything was locked up and have a pic of the safe handy. If you really want to make it legit you can always take an NRA youth(Eddy Eagle) instructor course, they run around 150.00 and take about 8 hours. It'd be hard to argue safety against a certified instructor.


That's if she has a leg to stand on with her complaint, I'm not a lawyer so you may not even need to lift a finger.


I'd still suggest a quality safe that is properly secured, everybody should have one.

[chris1911]

The only thing I have in the house at the moment is a 1911A1 with a trigger lock on it which honestly I'm really even a little irritated that I have to have that but you gotta love California gun laws!

[ouch1]

I'd make sure everything was locked up and have a pic of the safe handy. If you really want to make it legit you can always take an NRA youth(Eddy Eagle) instructor course, they run around 150.00 and take about 8 hours. It'd be hard to argue safety against a certified instructor.


That's if she has a leg to stand on with her complaint, I'm not a lawyer so you may not even need to lift a finger.


I'd still suggest a quality safe that is properly secured, everybody should have one.

^ +1

I have a friend who did pretty much the same thing when his ex tried to take him to court over teaching his son to shoot. He won solidly.

-ouch1

[chris1911]

I think I will take him to do the NRA class though that is a great idea. She get's very emotional in court and seems to think that if she doesn't agree with something then the court would side with her. I don't know how she hasn't figured it out yet, but if I have him in a safety course before she can bring it to court then I think you're right, it would be hard for them to say anything at all.

[guns4life]

The only thing I have in the house at the moment is a 1911A1 with a trigger lock on it which honestly I'm really even a little irritated that I have to have that but you gotta love California gun laws!

Yeah, but you can't act like you're irritated about it...especially in front of whomever could be deciding your fate. You want to look like a team player.

I like my safes, they store more than just guns...anything I don't want to burn up or get stolen(and can fit) goes in a safe.

[guns4life]

I think I will take him to do the NRA class though that is a great idea. She get's very emotional in court and seems to think that if she doesn't agree with something then the court would side with her. I don't know how she hasn't figured it out yet, but if I have him in a safety course before she can bring it to court then I think you're right, it would be hard for them to say anything at all.

You should take the course and become a certified instructor yourself, If you become the instructor you will be able to teach and certify him yourself.

http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/instructor.asp

http://www.nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx

[Sakiri]

I think I will take him to do the NRA class though that is a great idea. She get's very emotional in court and seems to think that if she doesn't agree with something then the court would side with her. I don't know how she hasn't figured it out yet, but if I have him in a safety course before she can bring it to court then I think you're right, it would be hard for them to say anything at all.

Gonna be honest.

Your ex wife sounds like a *****.

Just coming from a divorced family myself, and while my Mom did shoot for a while, she doesn't now, and didn't really think I needed to, but had no issues with letting my Dad do it. She saw it as bonding time. -_-

So long as you're not endangering the kid the court will likely laugh at her. And if he passes through a safety course, that's another +1 in your book as far as I'm concerned. Every kid should learn gun safety, if not outright how to shoot.

/story
Was at Pacific Outfitters today looking at pistols. Saw a man enter with his young boy. Kid wanted to know when the next hunter's safety course was and if it was before the youth waterfowl hunt. Then him and his Dad were looking through shotguns and fitting them, he was teaching his son how to see if the gun fits or not, and how to operate it, where the safety was, etc.

Was a touching moment. I love seeing parents educate their kids about firearms. Your ex wife can go pound sand in my opinion.

/story

[chris1911]

Oh I am very good at masking my emotions especially in front of these ****** judges. I just might have to do that with the course though.

[chris1911]

Gonna be honest.

Your ex wife sounds like a *****.

Just coming from a divorced family myself, and while my Mom did shoot for a while, she doesn't now, and didn't really think I needed to, but had no issues with letting my Dad do it. She saw it as bonding time. -_-

Oh believe me, she is. She is one of those cut of your nose to spite your face types and does not have his best interest in mind, ever. It's more about what she can do to make my life difficult or try to control. I really hope the court throws some sanctions at her this time for wasting their time. The entire argument is absurd.

I see it the same way, bonding time. It's what my dad did with me, his dad with him, and so on.

[Subotai]

You are teaching your kid skills that can save his life, gun safety, and proper use of a firearm. Eff her. Teach him anyway.

[Sakiri]

Oh believe me, she is. She is one of those cut of your nose to spite your face types and does not have his best interest in mind, ever. It's more about what she can do to make my life difficult or try to control. I really hope the court throws some sanctions at her this time for wasting their time. The entire argument is absurd.

I see it the same way, bonding time. It's what my dad did with me, his dad with him, and so on.

I do have to wonder how people marry people like that.

Then I remember my first husband and the delusion I was under when I married his sorry butt. No kids though. Just an immigration issue and had him deported(Canadian he was, long story short, he left me while on a conditional visa and INS said nono and blocked reentry when he left to visit family lol).

Sometimes I think women like to use the kid as leverage to get back at those they feel wronged them. I bet she'd prevent visitation entirely if she could. Knew someone that crazy once. Her ex husband ended up with full custody. Lady was too nuts to be a fit parent I guess.

[y3kspoo]

I bought my youngest Son his first BB gun for Christmas when I felt he was ready to start learning and absorbing the lessons, His Mom was pissed!
Forward to the Divorce... The court just said that The BB gun had to be kept at my place since she was so upset by it... And, recommended that she not be present while I was teaching, since she was so easily upset. Hold your temper and hold your line!