15 replies to this topic

[Lil Red]

Came across this article (which is really part of a series) on kids and gun safety. I know plenty people here are gun owners and parents, which is why I thought some would be interested.
http://www.corneredc...e_First_Lesson/

There is another article in the series, which is Storing Firearms Around Children.

She also has good articles about women and guns, concealed carry, etc.

edit: forgot to add, she is a licensed gun instructor for the state of Washington.

Edited by Lil Red, 14 June 2012 - 05:22 PM.

[Slappo]

I read the first arcticle,. Don't have time for the second one, but I liked the first!

[arfink]

Hrm, the article makes plenty of sense to me. Though I doubt I'll need to worry about it too much- nobody in my immediate family owns any guns. I don't plan on getting any guns soon or maybe never. I know, IMABC, I don't even plan on owning a gun. Lol.

I might take one of those megawatt-class pulse laser pistols though.

Edited by arfink, 14 June 2012 - 05:37 PM.

[Marie-Therese]

Pretty basic, decent advice. One thing I'd add is that when a child is old enough to understand, and incrementally thereafter in accord with the developmental age/comprehension level of that child, the safe operation and workings of a firearm should be taught. It's one thing to teach them not to touch (which is great for the wee ones) and to have a single demo to let them touch/become disenchanted with the firearm. That is good and has its' place. However, if a child is going to be in close proximity to a firearm (e.g., one inside their home) then that child should be taught how guns work, what happens when one is fired, and the consequences of operating a weapon. Muzzle safety, trigger discipline, proper way to hold/handle a weapon, etc., should all be covered. Imho, a child taught to fear a gun is not fully, properly educated on the topic. At some point during their life that frightened child will be a frightened person who might need to access that weapon. While safety in the interim is important, making sure that children (and people in general) understand that a gun is a tool and that there are proper uses for said tool is just as important. A firearm in the hands of an undereducated person is just as dangerous as one in the hands of a child who doesn't know better.

My two cents.

[Lil Red]

Pretty basic, decent advice. One thing I'd add is that when a child is old enough to understand, and incrementally thereafter in accord with the developmental age/comprehension level of that child, the safe operation and workings of a firearm should be taught. It's one thing to teach them not to touch (which is great for the wee ones) and to have a single demo to let them touch/become disenchanted with the firearm. That is good and has its' place. However, if a child is going to be in close proximity to a firearm (e.g., one inside their home) then that child should be taught how guns work, what happens when one is fired, and the consequences of operating a weapon. Muzzle safety, trigger discipline, proper way to hold/handle a weapon, etc., should all be covered. Imho, a child taught to fear a gun is not fully, properly educated on the topic. At some point during their life that frightened child will be a frightened person who might need to access that weapon. While safety in the interim is important, making sure that children (and people in general) understand that a gun is a tool and that there are proper uses for said tool is just as important. A firearm in the hands of an undereducated person is just as dangerous as one in the hands of a child who doesn't know better.

My two cents.

she goes into that in other articles (which i found after i posted the first post).

[Jesus_lol]

Im gonna hve to leave a post here when i get back from fire dept.

but just wanted to say, teach your kids how to shoot! Its super fun for you and them, and teaches them gun safety. No kid who has been hunting since they were ten accidentally shoots themselves or lets a inexperienced friend shoot them. Its only the kids who have not been properly exposed to guns, and find them later that hurt themselves.

[FuturePriest387]

Im gonna hve to leave a post here when i get back from fire dept.

but just wanted to say, teach your kids how to shoot! Its super fun for you and them, and teaches them gun safety. No kid who has been hunting since they were ten accidentally shoots themselves or lets a inexperienced friend shoot them. Its only the kids who have not been properly exposed to guns, and find them later that hurt themselves.

Exactly. I love shooting guns. I've been shooting them since I was about twelve, and I'm a decent shot, too. It's always fun. Though to be honest I would shoot guns just for the smell of gunpowder. I love the smell of gunpowder...

Anyway, I echo Marie-Therese's statement, though according to Lil Red the woman agrees with her, so there are no problems here.

Moral of this post: Go guns!

[Lil Red]

seriously, this woman kicks some major arse.

of course, she's a redhead, so how could she not?

[FuturePriest387]

seriously, this woman kicks some major arse.

of course, she's a redhead, so how could she not?

Redheads: Kicking major arse since you declared them to be.

[Lil Red]

ask around - it's not a major secret.

[Groo the Wanderer]

especially irish left-handed redheads with beer

[Rowan d'Alexandre]

I like this. ^.^ Living in the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin, I've been around firearms & bows for most of my life. I'm a recurve girl at heart, but I know how to load and fire a gun if I have to.

A friend of my family's is a big hunting family as well, only the dad always kept the firearms locked in a passworded safe. His daughter (hacker extraordinaire; the kid is insanely smart) figured out the password, went in and started fooling around with the guns. She had no idea what she was doing.

I agree with this lady, it's much safer to educate the kids as an additional precaution.

[TheresaThoma]

I totally agree on educating kids (and young adults) about how to use firearms safely. If kids know that they can touch, and when they are ready use, firearms by asking the temptation isn't there.
I know how to get into my dad's gun safe and use each of the firearms in there safely because he taught me how to do so. Knowing how to use firearms means that I really respect what they can do and the potential consequences if I act unsafely. So unless we are getting ready to go out to the range then I don't handle them, much less even think about using them.
I started shooting in my early teens and the author is totally right about it being a really great way for parents and kids to bond. It builds trust. I always love going out to the range with my dad because it is typically just me and him. We shoot for a couple of hours and then go have lunch together.

[eagle_eye222001]

The article makes so much sense. You raise children to respect guns. It's a life skill they'll never lose.

[Ice_nine]

I remember as a kid they were like "IF YOU EVER FIND A GUN DON'T TOUCH IT IT CAN BLOW YOUR HAND OFF." And by they I mean like schools and such.

I wish i was exaggerating.

[fides' Jack]

Every child should have one.