Guns and kids? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Pearl Mussin · 01-26-2005, 02:21 PM

At what age do you introduce guns to your kids? I have a 2.5yr old and my wife dosent even want him to see my handgun. He dosent know the difference between fake and real. It will ALWAYS be out of his reach, out of sight.

Just wondering what your thoughts are on this topic?

I'd like to show it to him and make sure he knows it is not a toy but I think he might be too young right now.

Jeremy

invssgt · 01-26-2005, 02:34 PM

you teach them. Sooner or later, they are going to be around guns- and they might as well have learned the safe way to handle them. Then, there is the future of gun ownership that depends "building" new shooters.

So you teach them. It is a father's perogative- and duty. Too much is at stake if you don't.

http://thesixgunjournal.com/preservi...n_heritage.htm

Verm · 01-26-2005, 02:36 PM

I learned about firearms from my dad when I was 8. It all depends though on when you feel your son is able to understand and start learning.

fliptopwillie · 01-26-2005, 02:44 PM

I have a 5 year old daughter. I can take out my XD and point to the magazine, magazine well, barrel, slide, trigger guard, trigger and have her tell me what they are called. The only thing she has a problem with is the sights. She's got it in her head that they're called "spies." I started her on the XD because it's small, but she's been able to transfer some or her knowledge to rifles. She knows that firearms are not toys, but the way I figure, the more she knows about them the less of a chance there is that she'll want to just play with one. She knows that if she ever wants to see one all she has to do is ask and daddy will take it out and show it to her and talk to her about it.

**hobocircus** · 01-26-2005, 02:49 PM

2 1/2 years old is too, too young. Don't forget to teach him later, but he is way too young right now. Teach him some old fashioned common sense and manners, it's never too early for that. Be patient, they grow up soon enough.

hummel · 01-26-2005, 02:59 PM

my oldest son (13) started when he was 6 maybe 7 when he started but we also started teaching 1 year before he got a firearm to shoot...he went hunting with grandpa or me for about 4 years and after his hunters safety course he has been on his own....my youngest (7) he has kinda started but i have to get mama to let go a bit...she a little too protective..but that can be a good thing as well

Pearl Mussin · 01-26-2005, 03:15 PM

Thanks guys... I figured around 5-6yrs old.. I have to keep her tucked away and clean it when he is napping..

Jeremy

mr0w1 · 01-26-2005, 03:39 PM

I was 4...maybe 5. My dad took my hand, put the tip of his finger in my palm, and said to tell him when it started hurting. He began pushing the tip of his finger into my palm, and as instructed, I told him when it started to hurt. He then said to me, if I ever got shot, that's what it would feel like, except worse and it would go all the way through my hand. That's why I should never play with a gun.

That lesson has stuck with me throughout my entire life. The reason I say this is that there is no point in teaching gun safety until they're old enough to remember it forever. If my dad said anything before then, I don't remember, and nothing I've heard afterward has stuck with me as much as that has (as a vivid memory, that is).

I agree that at this point in time, it's best to just raise the kid up to be a decent human being, and the time will come later to teach about guns.

(BTW, my dad isn't insane

Just unconventional)

dolanp · 01-26-2005, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pearl Mussin

Thanks guys... I figured around 5-6yrs old.

Yeah that's what I would suggest.

FatMatt1981 · 01-26-2005, 04:03 PM

my stepson turns 4 soon....and he's already into playin cops and robber type games
i never really introduced him to anything.....the tv had alot to do with it
bein we only get a couple local tv channels, his selection besides tapes and dvd's was law and order etc.
then his papa got him one of them nifty neat toy shotguns with little shells that fly out and stuff
this is a very very good subject to have on here i think because advice to everyone with kids should be taken into consideration since every child is different
mine seems to be hyper active but at this time of year i can't blame him...it's too nasty for him to go outside since he gets sick very easily
i've already talked to him about going deer hunting and he loves camping
i'd say as time goes on he'll be just fine....he knows not to play with daddy's anything lol all my weapons are well locked and the keys well hidden
my dad never had a gun in the house till i was maybe 5-6 and he went out and bought a bb-gun....from then he tought me the basics with his close eye on me.....i never got a "real" gun till i was 13 and from then on it's been just me being me

01-26-2005, 02:21 PM	#1
Pearl Mussin XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lima. OH Posts: 64	Guns and kids? At what age do you introduce guns to your kids? I have a 2.5yr old and my wife dosent even want him to see my handgun. He dosent know the difference between fake and real. It will ALWAYS be out of his reach, out of sight. Just wondering what your thoughts are on this topic? I'd like to show it to him and make sure he knows it is not a toy but I think he might be too young right now. Jeremy

01-26-2005, 02:34 PM	#2
invssgt XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,264	When the time is right... you teach them. Sooner or later, they are going to be around guns- and they might as well have learned the safe way to handle them. Then, there is the future of gun ownership that depends "building" new shooters. So you teach them. It is a father's perogative- and duty. Too much is at stake if you don't. http://thesixgunjournal.com/preservi...n_heritage.htm __________________ It ain't personal. Nothing contained herein is intended is to offend the immature, retarded, hyper-sensitive, emotionally/hormonally unstable, or otherwise easily-offended. But if it does- don't cry to me. I don't care. "Sarge" www.thesixgunjournal.net http://sargesrollcall.blogspot.com/ LOCK & LOAD the VOTE!

01-26-2005, 02:36 PM	#3
Verm XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Carson City NV. Posts: 814	I learned about firearms from my dad when I was 8. It all depends though on when you feel your son is able to understand and start learning. __________________ Enough firepower, the will and the guts to use it all.

01-26-2005, 02:49 PM	#5
hobocircus XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Nevada Desert on a Dry Lakebed. Living in a trailer with thunderstorms looming in the distance. Posts: 3,334	2 1/2 years old is too, too young. Don't forget to teach him later, but he is way too young right now. Teach him some old fashioned common sense and manners, it's never too early for that. Be patient, they grow up soon enough. __________________ Ported V-10 XD9 Service SOLD Tactical XD9 in Basic Black I like to shoot Wolf ammo out of my Hi-Point pistol and rifle.

01-26-2005, 03:39 PM	#8
mr0w1 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,525	I was 4...maybe 5. My dad took my hand, put the tip of his finger in my palm, and said to tell him when it started hurting. He began pushing the tip of his finger into my palm, and as instructed, I told him when it started to hurt. He then said to me, if I ever got shot, that's what it would feel like, except worse and it would go all the way through my hand. That's why I should never play with a gun. That lesson has stuck with me throughout my entire life. The reason I say this is that there is no point in teaching gun safety until they're old enough to remember it forever. If my dad said anything before then, I don't remember, and nothing I've heard afterward has stuck with me as much as that has (as a vivid memory, that is). I agree that at this point in time, it's best to just raise the kid up to be a decent human being, and the time will come later to teach about guns. (BTW, my dad isn't insane Just unconventional) __________________ guns.freaksho.net - My awesome gun website! More guns than ever! (Last updated: July 24, 2006)

01-26-2005, 02:44 PM	#4
fliptopwillie XDTalk Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 53	I have a 5 year old daughter. I can take out my XD and point to the magazine, magazine well, barrel, slide, trigger guard, trigger and have her tell me what they are called. The only thing she has a problem with is the sights. She's got it in her head that they're called "spies." I started her on the XD because it's small, but she's been able to transfer some or her knowledge to rifles. She knows that firearms are not toys, but the way I figure, the more she knows about them the less of a chance there is that she'll want to just play with one. She knows that if she ever wants to see one all she has to do is ask and daddy will take it out and show it to her and talk to her about it.

01-26-2005, 02:59 PM	#6
hummel XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: st. louis Posts: 156	my oldest son (13) started when he was 6 maybe 7 when he started but we also started teaching 1 year before he got a firearm to shoot...he went hunting with grandpa or me for about 4 years and after his hunters safety course he has been on his own....my youngest (7) he has kinda started but i have to get mama to let go a bit...she a little too protective..but that can be a good thing as well

01-26-2005, 03:15 PM	#7
Pearl Mussin XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lima. OH Posts: 64	Thanks guys... I figured around 5-6yrs old.. I have to keep her tucked away and clean it when he is napping.. Jeremy

01-26-2005, 04:03 PM	#10
FatMatt1981 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,467	my stepson turns 4 soon....and he's already into playin cops and robber type games i never really introduced him to anything.....the tv had alot to do with it bein we only get a couple local tv channels, his selection besides tapes and dvd's was law and order etc. then his papa got him one of them nifty neat toy shotguns with little shells that fly out and stuff this is a very very good subject to have on here i think because advice to everyone with kids should be taken into consideration since every child is different mine seems to be hyper active but at this time of year i can't blame him...it's too nasty for him to go outside since he gets sick very easily i've already talked to him about going deer hunting and he loves camping i'd say as time goes on he'll be just fine....he knows not to play with daddy's anything lol all my weapons are well locked and the keys well hidden my dad never had a gun in the house till i was maybe 5-6 and he went out and bought a bb-gun....from then he tought me the basics with his close eye on me.....i never got a "real" gun till i was 13 and from then on it's been just me being me __________________ \"Through strength, we deter tyranny\" ICVM OD XD-40 4\" Black on black XD-9 4\"

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