Children and guns.?

Question

I have 4 year old twin girls. Up until this weekend they didn't even know what a gun was. Toy guns are not allowed in our home or at their day care center. We never watch movies that show violence or guns while the kids are at home or awake.

On the weekend we were at my parents house (they live on a farm) when my step dad pulls out an air rifle, sets up a target and everyone starts shooting. I understand that on a farm guns are need for a number of reasons but using them for target practice in front of 4 year olds is not one of them.

My husband and I were upset that they would pull guns out in front of our kids so we took them inside. My parents then went on at me that I should let the kids have a turn at shooting them. My husband was mortified (he grew up with guns) at the idea and my family were really angry with us. They can think what they want as far as I am concerned.

My question is who lets a 4 year old shoot a gun?

I understand the need to teach children about guns, don't get me wrong. But a 4 they are still getting the hang of remembering to look both ways before they cross the road.

Answer 1

I am not arguing with you. I think there are more constructive ways to spend time as a 4 yr. old.

That being said, I work in a trauma rehabilitation center. More than 50% of my patients' injuries are the result of car related injuries. Firearms are always on the top ten list for causes of death and injury and motor vehicles are always before them on the list, usually way above. I have seen so many kids maimed physically and emotionally by cars in so many different ways that it's becoming incredible to me that people are so laze fare about them, but choose something like guns to be so passionate about. Every day, several times a day usually, we put our kids in a deadly weapon and hurtle through space at crazy speeds, and eat and drink and talk while doing it and then go crazy about guns. Then when they are hormonal teenagers we give them the keys. You know why? Because we 'need' the car, and until teleportation is invented we'll put our kids into harms way for the sake of our own gratification. When we don't 'need' the car then we'll have fits about our kids being near one or seeing one like we do about guns now.

Answer 2

Until your children are old enough to understand what it is that a gun can do, I wouldn't advise letting them shoot anything. With that said, however, I do believe that you're incorrect in hiding guns from them. You don't have to own guns for your children to be exposed. Television glorifies the ways guns are handled and the typical enthusiast would never consider using a gun in such a manner. The sooner you educate your child about guns and the consequences of handling them, the better off they'll be when they come across one. Perhaps your family was more surprised over your reaction considering you obviously grew up with guns and your husband did too.

I started shooting when I was 5. I grew up on a ranch where guns were commonly used for a variety of reasons. My dad, with my mothers support, was very gun conscious and raised both my brother and I to respect guns. I've never had a fear of guns, only the person handling them. I can throw a gun out into the desert and it will never fire off until some idiot with no respect for its power picks it up and squeezes the trigger. Teach your children now before they learn about guns the wrong way!

Answer 3

I'm a mom of a 3 and 2 year old.... My husband both go hunting and shoot skeet... We only kill what we can eat! At about 5 our kids will join in. They already know about gun safety. We have a gun safe that everything is locked up in so that NO ONE besides my husband and I can access them. Guns don't kill people, PEOPLE kill people.... Just because we enjoy shooting doesn't mean we're bad people. I would rather have my kids grow up around them and realize how careful you must be incase some other kids parents didn't teach them gun safety!

Answer 4

I live on a farm and own a registered gun. It is locked away in a safe and the bullets are in a completely different safe. My gun is rarely fired and in the last few year it may have been fired maybe 3 times.
It is never ever used in front of my children, to be honest I don't think my kids even know I own one. If on the rare chance I do use it Andrew takes the kids out far far away.
Guns are not toys, like you my children don't own toy ones. I would literally hit the ROOF if a member of my family or anyone else used a gun in front of them. There is no reason for this at all!
And to think a child at 4 years old can firer a gun at a target is bullshit. Here there are laws against that. If you don't have a licence you don't get to touch.
If my family said that to me, you can be your bottom dollar I would smack them in the face. And they would be damn lucky to see my kids again.

Answer 5

Everyone is different, bottom line.

While visiting my sister ( who lives off the land in northern Wisconsin) I said "oh my God, Cole has a gun (my 5 yr old nephew).

My sister casually turned around and said "oh yea, and it's loaded." And it was. He was raised a hunter, now he is 12 and can butcher chicken, skin a deer etc.

I on the other hand have a daycare, and I follow the rules of our public school which has a ZERO tolerance for guns. Kids can't even "pretend" to shoot anyting at my house. I recently added a 4 yr old to my group and it turns out his dad is a big hunter, so this kid always wants to shoot or kill things.
.
BOY did he have a rude awakening. So after a week, he learned that shooting / guns/ killing are not allowed here, but once in awhile it comes up- i.e. "my dad shoots deer" and I NEVER hesitate to say " we don't shoot ANY animal or person- hurting animals and people is naughty.

I don't care what the parent thinks of this- they can take him out if it's an issue.

Answer 6

No you should not let a a four year old shoot a gun. But if your parents are setting up target practice in front of them i would not get to freaked out. As long as you are raising your children good (which it sounds like your are) then I wouldnt be worried that your children are going to turn into mass murderers.

Answer 7

nicely.. they do no longer. evaluate what you say. somebody who has long previous in the process the approach of having a Federal Firearms License, and has in basic terms spent approximately $2 hundred,000 setting up the keep will positioned their liberty, and income possibility to sell to a baby. This in basic terms does not happen interior the actual worldwide. the owner might get as much as ten years in reformatory. BATF can, and characteristic been nicely-known to snatch all the supplies of the keep. As an extremely final element, the vendors of gun shops are gun people and don't choose any incidents of considered one of those difficulty. Has it in no way handed off, i'm effective someplace at a while an remoted incident befell. yet however, you're far greater probable to win the lottery than to locate a gunshop prepared to sell to infants.

Answer 8

I shot targets at 5 with my dad and uncle. it's not a bad thing for kids to know what a gun is, or how to be safe with one.

Answer 9

guns dont kill people, PEOPLE kill People. Its a gun and just because they shot a gun or even look at a gun does not in ANY way trigger them to become a killer. Its not like they were pointing the gun at everyone. If you practice safety and TEACH safety things will be fine.

Answer 10

I do not like guns. I am afraid of them really. But when my son was 16 years old, I gave him shooting lessons for his birthday. In my opinion, I thought it would be better for him to learn from a professional. Also, I wanted him to learn how they worked, what they felt like, sounded like, etc. Who knows if or when he would come across a gun, in the street, at a friends house, or where ever, and I wanted him to be prepared and know what to do, like how to take out the ammo, if needed to.
Four years old is not an age to start shooting. It is fun and games and even though you talk about how serious it is, a
4 year old, 5 year old etc, will forget and think only of fun/