Your children and loaded weapons

[liberty47]

In response to the thread regarding "girl shoots intruder" I am wondering how many members here allow firearm access to their kids while alone. I'm assuming the Glock was easily available and the girls knew exactly where it was.

It happened to save this girls life but I'm curious as to how parents handle firearms with children. My thoughts are that I will not allow my kids to have access to weapons by themselves when they are 18 and under. In other states it might be different, and some kids are more mature than others, but generally they are not intelligent enough to make smart decisions, especially with a gun.

Do you feel me or am I being too protective?

[Anti-Hero]

My kids don't have access to firearms unless I'm there with them. My wife doesn't even have the safe combo.

[dieselpower]

I was about 10 when I was given my first firearm...I kept it in my closet or tied to my bike. we hunted and shot squirrels, birds, rabbits, trees, a old barn. I think I may have done a few "bad" things but nothing like shooting at people, or dogs, cats or peoples houses. I may have shot some stop signs and things like that. I was 12 - 14 when I got my first shotgun... many people here say my mom was a criminal for buying it for me..since I had to ask her more then once to buy it for me...and she used my money to buy it... so in their weird-minds it was a straw buy...

[voiceofreason]

If they're not old enough to own their own gun, then I do not allow free access to them without a responsible adult that knows gun safety present.

Kids shouldn't be left alone in the first place. If you don't trust the people you want to leave them with to protect them... don't leave them there.

It's a compromise no matter how you do it. Easiest solution is to host/bring/take the group most often.

[Charlie50]

My kids (now adults) did not have access to my firearms without me present. If the risks were such that it would be appropriate I might have considered allowing them access (civil war, riots) but in general the risk was not worth the return.

I'm an old guy and things were different... shooting somebody was not even a thought. My grandfather would get mad when we played cops and robbers and pretended to shoot each other... different times for sure. I had unfettered access to virtually any gun I wanted, and we had more than a few since I was about eleven. Did a couple of stupid things, nothing horrendous. Kids today can be responsible but they (lawyers, cops, society at large) would have your n.ts in vice if they did something wrong.

[Powerkraut]

Growing up (I'm the oldest of six) we all had access to firearms. We were also instructed in their safe use from a very young age and we had no issues. Usually when I read or hear about a kid finding a gun and doing something stupid it's a kid who's parents kept firearms around, but also never introduced their children to shooting.

Safes, locks, hiding places, all useless in my mind. The most important safety measure is education.

Outside of that, your castle, your rules on what's allowed. Being the oldest of six I babysat for my parents on a lot of date nights basically from the time I was 13 on. I had access to firearms if they were needed (thankfully never were), I knew basic first aid, and how to call 911. There's no right answer other than use your best judgement on what's right for your family.

[jlbflyboy172]

I have a 16 year old that has gone to self defense handgun classes and she can shoot the piss out of .40 S&W all day long. She has access, is trained and knows how to use it. Wife too. We shoot regularly. Some may not agree but that is how MY castle runs.

[G-Solutions]

[...] Usually when I read or hear about a kid finding a gun and doing something stupid it's a kid who's parents kept firearms around, but also never introduced their children to shooting.

Safes, locks, hiding places, all useless in my mind. The most important safety measure is education.

Outside of that, your castle, your rules on what's allowed. [...]

The only thing I would add is raising responsible kids - but I know I'm preaching to the choir .

In all seriousness - youngsters who are raised right will be responsible around firearms!

[liberty47]

thanks for all the replies. in my mind, when my son is mature enough, i would like him to be able to defend our castle.

proper education, no doubt

[dieselpower]

thanks for all the replies. in my mind, when my son is mature enough, i would like him to be able to defend our castle.

proper education, no doubt

You just need to start teaching him from birth. Guns are like fire, the stove, the furnace, the car, bleach...whatever. If kids are taught, they know. Its that simple.

[Supertac916]

I had a 20 gauge and .22 rifle in my closet at 10 or so. My Dad gave me a Sig 226 in 9mm, when I was 16 that was in a safe in my room next to my bed. I have two boys now, but it's going to be years before I allow them to have access to a firearm. It all depends on how responsible, mature, common sense, and if I believe they are trust worthy. If they're lacking either one of those elements I won't give them access to a gun, even if they're 20.

[Renaissance Redneck]

I grew up with access to firearms and ammunition. Got the first gun of my own (a 20g Ted Williams branded shotgun) in 1975 at the age of 12. My kids (they're all grown now) had free access to firearms. My oldest daughter never touched a gun after she shot my son in the back with her BB gun; I spanked her pretty good, and smashed her gun against the fireplace bricks; she never touched another gun since that day. My son's now a Marine Scout/Sniper, and his experience being raised with guns has helped throughout his military career. (Plus, he teaches me some cool, and valuable skills!)

[John3:16]

my son is 8 and has his own .22. but keep it in the safe

[kcjr1125]

Accidents happen. Its about communication and safety. When i was 3 years old my father ran a dry cleaning joint in oxnard, ca. There was a recent burglary at a shop across the street in broad day light so he brought is ruger .357 in and left it in his office in a cabinet next to his desk. The next day my mother brought me in not know my father had it there and left me alone in the room while she grabbed supplies from the back and a few minutes later i happened to get to it and shoot myself in the leg. Luckily for me it was loaded with 38s and not magnum rounds, unluckily the were reloads with soft lead that he made so the bullet upon impact shattered into dozens of smaller fragments that i still live with to this day. Accident, yes. Preventable, yes. So if you do have have firearms in the house with young children that cannot be trained or not old enough to comprehend the dangers of firearms just keep them where they cant be reached or if circumstances call for it keep the kid out of the danger zone.

[john67elco]

My 3 year old helps me clean my guns. Told him over and over how dangerous they are and I don't sugar coat it. I tell him flat out you can die or kill me if pointing at me. He has seen videos of gun blowing up watermelons on YouTube. He loves to put the mag in and out of the broken down poly frame. He's OCD like his daddy so he does it pretty much the whole time. All weapons are stored in safe not loaded except my daily CCW weapon which is stored in a high wall safe behind a picture and the night gun stored in a gun vault lagged into the frame of the bed. I also believe education is more then a safe. I worry about this often. With him seeing me carry each day he is not so intused by it already.