| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/5/2007 1:23:34 PM | Guns have no place in the home and certanly not in the hands of a young child. Just as you would not allow a child to handle any other dangerous tool so too a gun is to be treated with caution and a professional attitude.
No way, would I let my child become ivolved with something like that at such an impressionable age. It is irresponsible and wrong. You are right the law is backward and needs to address the obsurd situation that exist at present.
Good luck. | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/5/2007 1:44:45 PM | LOL, i enjoy how a thread takes on a life of its own after an origial poster posts.
Andrew i hope your child doesn't watch any soccer matches or is invloved in soccer then. I have seen how english soccer matchs can get out of control.
Does this also mean my son should be remvoed from hockey? I have seen first hand the stick work by kids in hockey games, and kids get injured from them. Does this mean i need to remove all hockey sticks from my house as well? | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/5/2007 1:56:53 PM | wantsumthinreal,
Ok I don't get around to those type places if I'm going to get something it will be given not bought I I defenatly agree with you that is no place to take a kid even when he gets 16 or so as said but that comment was probably more to get you twisted up then anything else. Mine did/does stuff like that allot
Honestyplustwo,
Education of any tool is better then igronace even if you never intend to use one and by educating you help prevent that curiosity that so many kids (and adults) have
I would like to present two more things tat happen with m child and see how you would explain it to him if he had been yours in that situation . First law enforcement officers are great but many times they handle a gun for the first time during training and only learn the basics of the weapons they will handle on a regular basis in situations like this we are lucky that there are other officers that are more comfortable with mutlipy weapons .
these actual happened:
1) police officers come around the corner after a shot going off ,there normal proceeder is to ask for the weapon first witch is handed over to the younger female officer who did not handle the gun safely at all did not know how to safety or unload the gun one of the other officers had to take it form her......... later as they where walking off my 8 year old at that time looked kinda confused an then asked "daddy why didn't the police man know how to handle your gun? " I did the best I could and explained the officer and probably never been educated about guns until she started working at the police dept and was unfirmluar with any other type then the dept assigned ...... point being education is important
2) We pulled back in to the boat ramp after a morning duck hunt loaded the boat on the trailer and there was about four game wardens there checking people again not uncommon . we got a younger officer again picked up the gun and handed it to him with one shell (two in the mag) so he could check it and expressed there where two in the mag he proceed to pull the chamber and loaded the gun but could not unload the weapon the older officer standing near by saw me trying to explain how to do it and walked over took the gun away form the younger officer and handed back to me then explained the younger guy was new and learning .............. again I got basically the same confused look on my younger sons face and the same question "daddy why didn't the police man know how to handle your gun? " witch I expressed the same answer I explained the officer and probably never been educated about guns until he started working as a State Game Warden and was unfirmluar with any other type of gun then the dept assigned......point being education is important | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/6/2007 7:13:19 PM | | I think your son is mature enough if it is just him and his dad hanging out. He is starved for the attention and you said so yourself that your ex needs to spend more time with his kids. This is something that he wants to do with his son and I don't see a problem with it. I would be proud to say that my daughter's dad taught her something. It should make you feel good that he even wants to spend time with the boys, let alone teach them something. | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/6/2007 7:24:45 PM | Ridiculous.
OP you are right to be concerned. What does a 6 yr old know about that kind of responsibility.
I don't care how responsible the parent teaching the gun skills is. What if the child goes to a less responsible household and gets a gun and thinks " well, dad is cool with me shooting this"
Kids at that age are only just beginning to understand what death is and even then the concept is still a little over their heads. No matter how much you tell them that guns can hurt or kill and should never be pointed at people, kids are kids and they don't understand the impact a lapse in judgement could cause.
I'm the wrong one to post here as I'm opposed to guns for any age group, but for children of that age who should be playing with dinky cars and lego, I think a gun is
just a bit too grown up. | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/6/2007 10:45:06 PM | | ^^^^ you get my whole point...even if his dad is safe with him..he goes to a friends house...they have a gun and bam someone gets hurt because "daddy is ok with it" ! | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/6/2007 11:20:05 PM | I am Canadian (even though this is not about nationality).... my dad used to teach a part of the hunter training through the Rod and Gun Club. My brothers and I were all taught how to safely handle and shoot guns when we were young.
I agree it needs to be taught by a responsible adult but, I also think 6 is a little young for a real gun... How about a BB gun? | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/7/2007 9:12:55 AM |
^^^^ you get my whole point...even if his dad is safe with him..he goes to a friends house...they have a gun and bam someone gets hurt because "daddy is ok with it" !
I can understand your worry and have seen kids since moving down here that either form the area or lack of maturity are not ready to handle a gun. But if your worried about him going somewhere an playing with a gun wouldn't it be batter for him to know how to be safe and that it is not a toy? if you look at the statistics of minors involved in a shoot accident you would find that a strong majority of these are kids who just don't know any better and have never been taught gun safety | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/7/2007 6:36:46 PM | | My ex called me today and while on the phone made a comment about getting the jackass of the year award...when I finally got it out of him what he was talking about...He had left one of his guns loaded....it was in the safe but still loaded...now he says it was because he had been drunk when he put it away...hmm yeah not happy...didnt look good on his part at all! just some food for thought! | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/7/2007 7:54:49 PM | | Me and my siblings were brought up around firearms. taught how to shoot and all that at a very young age.. We were taught that guns are not toys and you respect them. They are for hunting or self defense. Not to be played with.. To this day all of us can shoot and shoot well. I would have no problem with protecting my family if the need ever arrived. I also have taught my daughter and am now teaching my son.. I see no problem with it. | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/8/2007 1:48:45 AM | In my opinion 108 would be a good age to start.
I am ex military and now in Private Military Services, I have been involved with guns all my adult life. I live in the UK which has some of the worlds most restrictive gun laws and am a Section 5 licence holder, which means I may hold anything from a high power air gun to a howitzer. At any one time I have access to some of the best hardware money can buy. It is all kept locked in a room, with locks that I have trouble getting through. The ammunition is kept completely separately, my daughter have seen and handled firearms, but never fired one, nor will they until they are at least 16.
All this rubbish about gun safety, I am yet to meet an American that really understands it. Can I just say to all of those that say teach them because of gun safety, do you also teach them to drive at 6. There should be no issue or worry, you weapons should never ever come in contact with your children. They should be locked away unless they are under your direct control.
As for using a gun to protect yourselves, thats a laugh. Even most military personnel are taught to assault or defend real estate not persons. My CP training took years. If I were threatening you and you pulled a firearm, I would lay you better than evens I could take it off you and use it on you before you took a kill decision, if not and you have had no CP training, you cant evaluate risk properly anyway.
Guns have no place in a civilised society. Except for perhaps hunting and that is not something for children, and perhaps sporting such as clays. | |
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daisie
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Joined: 9/22/2004
Msg: 87 | |
| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/8/2007 6:06:41 AM | i dont think i could pick an exact age that is too young to use guns. It has to to with maturity and kids mature at different rates, and...not being my typical wise-ass self...there are lots of adults who are too immature to use guns.
Someone (Canadian) above commented about "kids in USA shooting REAL guns". hmmmmm that is truly something to think about. I have to tell ya that TOY guns and video games and movies really horrify me with the way they portray guns and death as some laughing matter, and desensitize us all to guns and death. I scratch my head looking at kids (yes even little canandian kids ) playing with toy guns.
*****I think kids screwing around with toy guns/video games and pretending to kill each other is a FAR WORSE message to send your kid than to teach the kid to use a real gun properly and with respect. ***** guns are NEVER a joking matter...and theres no reason for kids to PLAY with toy guns.
it makes as much sense as these new Xmas toys at toys-R-us: a Matel Crack House for kids, a build it yourself Meth-lab, a doctors kit with all paraphernalia to shoot up heroin or free-base and throw some zig zags in there for the doc after a hard day at the office...he can go to the back lawn, get some grass and roll a joint to wind down, or Matel kitchen set with wet bar and martini glasses, or Joes porno movie set (with props) for toddlers. come on...some thigns are NOT jokes.
why do people let their kids play with TOY guns and video games? that make NO good sense to me at all.
again, i dont know when (or IF some) kids can handle guns. some should not handle those daily DEADLY WEAPONS called CARS either. and they should not be fartin around in those deadly missles called automobiles , texting, yakking, (but mommy and daddy do it)balancing the checkbook , reading a newspaper, showing off....while in control of a deadly weapon. Its about, maturity, respect, and an understanding of the finality of death isnt a bad idea either. Toy guns and games are so disrespectful...and serve no purpose.
i know people get all hot and bothered and turn all shades of purple with steam coming out their ears when they discuss this topic....some have valid points. and some do not. I dont know how you want to define a "civilised" society....that is a BIG question right there. I think I live in a civilized society and im certainly a cvilized individual. But the PROBLEM is that as long as there is a good chunk of people who are not civilized, who have no respect for others, who are angry at the world, who want to take out their frustrations on us nice civilzed people....welll then is it a civilized society or not? i guess thats your personal call. the point is that as long as those types of people exist around me who are willing and able to do me harm then I am OBLIGATED to protect myself. Obligated.
I love the police, but until they assign me a 1:1 body guard i cannot expect the police to care for me 24 hours a day. only ONE person is with me 24 hours a day...and that is ME. so i am obligated to protect myself. You may have some valid points about being able to ge the gun from me ....however...i will have a HELL OF a big element of surprise on your ass and that right there gives me some advantage. Pretty decent chance it gives me all the advantage i need to take control of the situation. surprise!! is a biggie!
as far as evaluating risk.....again...if they give me a 1:1 cop to quickly evaluate the risk and then protect me. COOL! if i dont have a 1:1 guard, then i have to do the best i can being careful, avoiding risk (number ONE rule), but when it comes down to it....im pretty dang sure if some stranger dude quietly sneaks in my window at my house.....he's not there to sing me Happy Birthday. And Ill shoot fvckin ass and ask questions later. and i still believe I am very nice an civilized
merry xmas
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/8/2007 6:19:46 AM | | My son is 2 and for christmas I am buying him his first gun...granted it will be a BB gun...Try not to worry so much...learning at a young age will teach him to respect the weapon....Now by age 5 my son will get his first rifle...now if my son can prove at an earlier age that he is ready...then by all means I will get it sooner, but the use of any should always have adult supervision....as well as taking the Hunters safety course... Please just always have talks as you normally would...try not to show the negativity and that you are agianst it...it will only make him want to do it more....instead get involved...and drop educational and rational and light on the subject..you know small questions/answers in small doses where he will both learn and retain the information..like when you taught him how to cross the street, not talk to strangers, and fire safety....it's all a learning process...the more informed you both are the more confident you will feel... | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/8/2007 12:31:24 PM | Allcrackedup, huge difference between military training and assaulting/defending.
Most people that break into a house, do NOT have your level of training. Period. Most are desperate.
I REALLY doubt this father is buy his kid a gun, and going to give it, and ammunition to the kid, and walk away. I don't know of ANYONE that does that. Those people that I know of, that buy very young kids guns, buy .22 rifles, and bring them out, and have direct, and full supervision of the child at ALL TIMES when the child is handling the gun. When the child is not handling the gun, it is put up, and safe.
I find it funny, how the people defending this, are gun owners, and have experience. Those that are bashing it, tend to have almost no experience with firearms, and nothing to base their decisions upon, except emotions. | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/8/2007 7:28:49 PM | "find it funny, how the people defending this, are gun owners, and have experience. Those that are bashing it, tend to have almost no experience with firearms, and nothing to base their decisions upon, except emotions."
It's funny how perceptions can be so different, because i wonder what emotion would drive someone to need a gun in the first place ( let alone a child). | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/9/2007 3:40:15 PM | | nothing wrong with target shooting, I love in our "free" society there are always groups trying to limit what "freedoms" we have because of their foolish outlooks on life. | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/9/2007 6:19:38 PM | Fecking Yankees ye are off ur heads, headcases!! 3500 people were killed in 30 years of struggle in Ireland. 11000 people shot dead EACH in ameriaca, and you want too know wheather you shuld give a child a gun!!!! fecking headcases!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/9/2007 6:40:49 PM | | I am against it and trying to get other's opinions...read my post before saying anything about me...oh and spell check is a wonderful thing that most Americans use...you should try it!!! | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/9/2007 7:10:05 PM | | well safe practice of fire arms is the only way to go! six years old i would wait but if guns have alway,s been in the family he,s going to be shooting before you know it and i hope they explain how dangerous they can be when you let your gaurd down for one second.. maybey you can have a talk with him i took a course with a retired police officer and the story,s were amazing if he did,nt tell me some of the thing,s that happend i could have made the same mistakes maybey you can take your son and take a course it,s cheap and you will enjoy it and ask the ex to go and dont let him give you any crap about knowing it all most of the people where i was were hunters all there life and you can never be to safe with a gun. i will go again like alot of the other people too... and this might help you and your son bond if he thinks dad,s cool and your not letting him do things your son will teach them thing,s safety!!!! because if his dad is bringing gun,s out this soon that tells me he not thinking 1oo% i,m not saying it,s wrong but they are going to do it any way so do what you can to be more comfortable i think gun,s are awsome and i showed my ex girlfriends boy to shoot he was 12 yr,s old he was more intrested in the story,s and safety tip,s than shooting . | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/9/2007 7:32:42 PM | | hey martin023 you might want to take the course too! never mind the yankees or the i.r.a. guns are at the bottom of the list when it come,s to getting killed lack of safety is up there would you rather have him blasting on the street or have him doing it for a sport in safe places and when it comes to war they are shooting to kill 11000people what in one year!! how many people in herosima in minutes!!! war is war showing kids the right way shooting can,s in the back yard with the gun his grandpa carried threw two world wars is something between father and son. | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/9/2007 10:17:21 PM | "hey martin023 you might want to take the course too! never mind the yankees or the i.r.a. guns are at the bottom of the list when it come,s to getting killed lack of safety is up there would you rather have him blasting on the street or have him doing it for a sport in safe places and when it comes to war they are shooting to kill 11000people what in one year!! how many people in hirosima in minutes!!! "
I was really trying not to get involved in the topic again, but i don't see how 11,000 people dying and dropping a bomb in Hiroshima adds any logical weight to your side of the discussion. As for saying would you rather have him blasting in the street, it doesn't have to be in one place or the other whats wrong with neither. | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/9/2007 11:06:24 PM | I have not had the time to read all of the posts on this thread. I am sure that there are far more men coming to side with teaching your son to shoot. As a competitive shooter and a woman who has a son that also competes I would like to throw my 2 cents worth in.
I was taught at an early age how to properly handle and respect a firearm. I find it is far better to educate children. It is far better that they know what it really is that they aren't toys to be pointed indisriminately and triggers pulled. It sounds like the father wants to teach his son to be responsible ... but by not sending the rifle home with him acknowleges that he is too young to have possession of such a thing to be used without adult supervision.
I don't think the father is being irresponsible ... in fact I think he is probably trying to be responsible. I honestly believe that there is far less chance of a child being hurt if they understand what they are dealing with and are taught proper respect for the firearm. It is also a wonderful activity for a parent and a child to do together. I am a single parent ... I was the one to teach my son the safety rules of firearms handling ... which he then conveyed to my ex and his grandparents because they were being careless.
On another note ... shooting is often something fathers share with sons, a bonding type thing. In my case my dad had all girls and we all learned to shoot. I am the only one that shoots regularly but all of the grandkids have been taught as well. Remember this is the boys dad ... he loves him too. | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/9/2007 11:24:08 PM | Having read a few of the posts I would like to add something to mine.
I agree with daisie that it is far worse for kids to play with toy guns and videos without having the realization that guns are not toys and should always be respected.
What I wanted to add was that people who think young kids cannot be responsible when it comes to weapons.
We have quite a few youngsters that shoot competitions with us. Several are very young and just starting to learn with their dad, girls and boys. As adults sometimes we get careless and don't think as much about safety. It is more often than not one of the kids that will spot the deer in the woods behind the range and call cease fire. Or will spot an adult carrying a weapon in an unsafe manner down the line.
We teach kids early on to beware of strangers, and just say no to drugs. If they can learn this what makes learning gun safety and respect any different.
EDUCATION is key. | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/9/2007 11:45:35 PM |
It is far better that they know what it really is that they aren't toys to be pointed indisriminately and triggers pulled.
I think this is the crux of the discussion.
When my kids are playing around, with friends or whenever, and one of them even points a stick at me, I ask them not to do that. It's reaction borne of my training from being around guns. I feel it in my guts.
The kids are in play mode, just as I was as a kid when me, my brothers and my friends played 'guns' or 'Cowboys and Indians' or 'Army guys'.
When we played those games, we were all well aware that the toys we played with were toys and the games we played were games. I can't think of one kid I hung out with who hadn't had a father take them out and teach them proper gun safety, what was ok with a gun and how to shoot.
My kids get it, just as I got it. There is play, but real guns mean the reality that pointing anything that resembles a gun is not ok. | |
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| Guns...how young is too young?
Posted: 11/10/2007 12:32:56 AM | Honestly i do recognise that it is your right to have guns ?
I accept it as an individual thing , I believe in treating everyone as an individual so just help me out, as someone wanting to learn here ok.
I just looked up the number of deaths by Firearms in the USA in 2004 through your justice department stats and was given the total number as 29,569.
They said there was a direct correlation between the greater amount of deaths in countries where guns were kept in house holds than in countries without.
That being the case even with good education, wouldn't the restriction of firearms decrease the amount of deaths in the country each year. | |
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