| As a firearm instructor, you might not | | | | to find what they are looking for. I am |
| believe how many times I hear from | | | | sure at some point in her life she will |
| someone that they would like to own a | | | | find the gun safe keys. |
| gun, but their spouse will not allow it | | | | For the second step, we have taught her |
| because they have kids in the house. On | | | | the NRA's Eddie Eagle gun safe rules. |
| a grand scale, I understand and agree | | | | This strategy was to teach the child |
| with the REASONING behind this feeling. | | | | what to do if they find a gun. The rules |
| It's a parent's job to keep their | | | | are simple and effective. Eddie Eagle |
| children safe, and no one wants to bring | | | | says if the child sees a gun they |
| something into the home that is | | | | should: stop, don't touch, leave the |
| dangerous to their child. | | | | area, and tell an adult. These rules are |
| However, while I agree with wanting to | | | | particularly important, as over 50% of |
| keep children safe from harm, I must | | | | American households have firearms. If |
| disagree with the blanket thought that | | | | she is visiting a friend's house, we do |
| guns in the home are by themselves | | | | not want her to try to tell another |
| inherently dangerous. With proper | | | | child not to play with a gun, as that |
| education, storage, and supervision, | | | | might cause that child to point the gun |
| firearms are no more dangerous than any | | | | at our child in order to tease her. We |
| other tool. I am not in the habit of | | | | want her safely away from any unsecured |
| making broad demands on how others | | | | gun, not to act like she is in charge of |
| should act. Generally, I teach options | | | | it. |
| and tell the reasons for using each of | | | | The last thing we do is take away her |
| those options. I can tell you how I deal | | | | curiosity. My wife and I took her to the |
| with this issue of guns in my home with | | | | range, and she watched her momma shoot a |
| my child and hopefully give prospective | | | | pistol. I sat with our child and |
| to other parents who question guns in | | | | explained to her about guns and answered |
| the home. | | | | all her questions. This did not work too |
| When I was growing up, my parents were | | | | well because even with hearing |
| not anti-gun, but they were | | | | protection, my child thought the |
| anti-me-having-a-gun. There were guns in | | | | handguns were too loud. She did not want |
| my home. My dad was a law enforcement | | | | to be around them. We then got her a BB |
| officer and as such always had at least | | | | rifle. We let her shoot it when she asks |
| one handgun in the home. My father | | | | to, but she doesn't really like it very |
| subscribed to the "old school" policy on | | | | much. Furthermore we don't force her, |
| kids and guns. Dad said, "Boy, I've got | | | | but she knows if she wants to shoot, she |
| a gun in that closet, and if I ever | | | | can as long as she asks and her mother |
| catch you playing with it, you'll wish | | | | or I take her. |
| you hadn't". Well, being the bright | | | | This works well for us. We keep the guns |
| child I was, I figured that meant as | | | | in a locked safe and the ammo locked in |
| long as I applied my gun handling skills | | | | a separate room (this does not include |
| I learned on TV to keep me from | | | | our personal carry firearms; they are |
| accidentally firing the gun, and I put | | | | kept out of reach but not locked up, as |
| it back EXACTLY as I found it, I could | | | | they are considered to always be in |
| pose in the mirror in my gunfighter | | | | use.). We taught our child firearm |
| stance whenever I was alone in the | | | | safety rules, particularly what to do if |
| house. Luckily I never fired the pistol | | | | they encounter a gun outside the home. |
| into the mirror or myself. As I got | | | | Lastly, we took away her curiosity by |
| older, dad did take me out shooting once | | | | exposing her to firearms and what they |
| or twice. We even went hunting once, but | | | | can do and allowing her the privilege to |
| they never let me have my own gun so I | | | | own her very own BB rifle that she can |
| always had that curiosity. | | | | use when supervised. As she gets older, |
| I imagine that even if there were no | | | | we plan on increasing her exposure to |
| guns in my home and if my parents forbid | | | | firearms, but at this point we think she |
| me to even mention guns, I would find | | | | is only ready for the basics. |
| someone to let me see one (It happened | | | | As the parent, you are the best judge of |
| just like that with a motorcycle, but | | | | what your child is ready for. This is |
| since mom still doesn't know about that, | | | | only a guideline for when your child |
| we won't get into details…). The above | | | | asks about guns for the first time. For |
| two examples are the first two of the | | | | us, it was when my wife told me to look |
| three most common attitudes parents that | | | | out the window, and our little girl was |
| I have spoke with have toward children | | | | on the porch with a red rubber training |
| and guns. I subscribe to the third. | | | | pistol in one hand, a rubber training |
| In my house we have a smart and | | | | knife in the other, and yelling "Pay |
| independent 7 year old girl. She thinks | | | | attention! I am trying to give you a |
| for herself and is not afraid to abandon | | | | class!" to the family dog. My wife told |
| what she has been told, if she thinks | | | | me I created a monster. It was pretty |
| she knows better. What I have to do | | | | cute though and served to reinforce in |
| first is keep her from being able to | | | | my mind the responsibilities I have |
| access the firearms if she chooses to | | | | toward being a positive role model. If I |
| disregard my gun rules, This is not | | | | am unsafe in my attitude toward guns, I |
| foolproof. Kids have an uncanny ability | | | | can be sure my kid will take notice. |