Do You Tell Your Children That You Own Guns?

Question

I will espeically like to hear answers from other parents who are gun-owners to hear what they did but any opinion or advice is welcome.

I just had everything finalized in my gun permit and I now am allowed to own a revolver. I have 2 boys; one is 15 and the other is 9. Should my children know that their dad has a gun in the house? Should I teach them personally about gun safety and be open to them about it?

Of course I will not tell them where I keep it. Maybe my older son when he gets a little older and I sense he is responsible. My younger one is definitely not ready for that yet.

Answer 1

Be honest with them - yes, you do have guns.... of course, they should be mature enough to understand the consequences... I wouldn't tell them where it's kept - but make sure it's NOT where they can get to it/them...

Get them trained as soon as you feel they're ready. Take them out to the range for an NRA course (maybe your local PD has courses they can offer). Unless you're well trained in training others, I'd let someone else train them - someone that has some credentials and training experience.

Calif Deputy

Answer 2

Yes definately. It is better to sit down with them and explain about the gun, and gun safety, then to have them stumble onto it blindly, and be like oh cool!. The more you can teach them about gun safety, the better. And I disagree about the 9 year old being to young. I have a 6 year old daughter, and she knows exactly what guns are, and has been told numerous times what they can do if handled improperly. I find that if you take all the glamor out of it, they will not be so tempted to touch them. My daughter doesn't even give mine a second look when she passes them, because she knows they are there, and I haven't made a big deal about them. Everybody knows kids, and the first thing they do when you tell them not to do something, and make it secretive, they do it the first chance they get. So if you make it an open subject and talk to them, it will take all the glamor and mystique out of it, thus lessening the temptation to play with it, and learn about it on their own. Just be safe, and keep it secured. If you take all the glamour out of something, it makes it less likely they will want to mess with it. I had unlocked access to every gun in my house growing up, and I never thought once about playing with them because of the safety I was taught by my grandfather while hunting, but the was no "magic" because I already knew about them, and was aware of the damage they can cause if handled improperly.

Answer 3

Only you know your children well enough to decide. If the older one is mature and responsible, you can talk to him about it and explain gun safety, gun laws, etc. The younger one you probably don't want to tell right now, or he will tell his whole school and your entire neighborhood will find out.

Keep it locked in a safe and do not let them have access to it under any circumstances.

Answer 4

My 3 kids know I have guns, though they are pretty much too young (9, 7 & 3) to care or learn anything about them. They do know to NEVER EVER touch them, to get their Mom or I if they see one (they won't but just so they know what to do) and with the exception of my carry-gun, the rest are all locked up, unloaded, in my safe. My carry-gun is never in a place they can reach it and when they are old enough, I will teach them safety, marksmanship, etc.

Answer 5

Yes, and Yes!

Keep the weapon secured at all times. So that you and you alone can unlock it. But, contrary to the "Out of sight out of mind" mentality that many advocate. Actually teaching your boys how to safely handle, check if it's loaded and tell them what it does will take a lot of the curiosity out of it.

If given the chance, take them with if you go shooting. One at a time would be preferable. The best place would be an open outdoor range. I did this with all three of my children. got out and shot at some water jugs and pumpkins with each of the guns that I own. Once they see the actual devastation that a firearm causes they will respect it deeply. And stress that everytime you talk about it.

Another thing that can be done that I strongly reccommend is a Hunter's safety course.

Answer 6

If I had a 15 year old and a 9 year old, they would both be TRAINED to use the gun properly. They would also know EXACTLY were the gun AND the ammunition were kept. If your 9 year old is not ready for that, YOU are not ready to keep a gun in the house.

Answer 7

In our homestead the two babies know there are LOCKED weapons in the homestead. My husband is a police officer so needless to say we've a gun in the homestead yet we are the two additionally avid hunters and function a selection of rifles in the basement in a locked secure, thoroughly unloaded and the babies know all the hazards of weapons to boot as gun secure practices. Hell my 8 twelve months previous step daughter is a staggering shot while we took her to the style. our babies know weapons are for looking and for secure practices, they are actually not toys and that they are to no longer be touched at any time without proper grownup supervision. they additionally know the right thank you to shield a firearm.

Answer 8

my children know I have guns (kind of hard not to, I have over 20). they touch them when I let them, and I even let them hold them unloaded. I then teach them firearm safety. when they get older, they will learn to shoot FROM ME, and will eventually be given a gun of their own. if you treat the gun like it is a tool, the kids will respect it as a tool and won''t be in such awe of it. if you hold it up as an untouchable icon, they will only want to touch it. teach them responsiblity and it will last for a lifetime.

Answer 9

Oh yes, I definitely tell my three kids about it, they know where the guns is at, the only thing they don't know is, where I hid the keys, I would eventually tell them about the keys, when they are more mature, till then, they know not to touch the guns.

Answer 10

You should probably not tell them, until there is some kind of gun safety course that is offered. You will have to take it with them. By doing so there is questions asked by them, and also gives you time to spend with your boys.