Teaching Gun Safety to Kids (Long)

[iratollah]

Another thread here about a newspaper editorial reminded me of this rebuttal I sent to a community paper that had published a story based on American Association of Pediatrics recommendations that if you have kids you shouldn't have guns in your home and that you should query your children's playmates' parents about if they have guns in the home. I thought the author (and the AAP) totally missed their mark and wrote this response, which the very liberal paper published in toto after I shortened it to their word limit.

I'm offering up this lengthy letter for any of you who may need material to counter the antis.

The funny part is that they published the anti-gun story on the same page as a story about Brunetti at Camp Perry that included pics of her shooting her AR. (We were amazed that this particular paper published the pics of the teen with a rifle.)

(Names have been changed of course.)

The juxtaposition of the article on my daughter’s success at the National Rifle Championships and the article by (Ms. M), “Is there a gun in the house?” was an amusing dichotomy.

(Ms. M's) article is so strewn with misconceptions that her message becomes diluted. (Ms. M) states that her grandchildren face a proliferation of guns that previous generations did not experience. This is absolutely incorrect. Many in my generation owned firearms as youths. Accidental firearm deaths are down 89 percent since 1975. Statistically, the odds of a child dying in a firearms accident are 1 in 1,000,000. Access today is much more restricted.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations (cited in Ms. M's article) are ineffective. I wouldn’t approach the National Rifle Association for recommendations on my child’s vaccine schedule, why would I rely on the AAP for recommendations on gun safety?

The only proven method to gun-proof your child is to teach them gun safety at an early age. This will demystify guns and instill basic gun safety. If asked, “You want to see my Daddy’s gun?” the answer would be an emphatic “No!” They’ll know guns are not toys, you don’t point guns at people and if the gun comes out they leave. The only way a child can be injured by a gun is if someone points it at them and pulls the trigger.

It is impossible to screen playmates’ parents for all potential hazards to our children’s safety. Asking parents if they own guns will be viewed as an invasion of privacy. Would you ask parents if they keep alcohol in the house or if they smoke marijuana? Are the playmates current on their vaccinations? What about access to car keys? Are first-person shooter games accessible? Psychology professor David Grossman maintains that exposure to violent video games causes significant harm and is a more accurate prediction of a child’s predisposition to violent crime than exposure to firearms.

The AAP argument that firearms should be removed if there are children in the house is sensationalist and encourages abdication of parental responsibility. Some of the AAP recommendations suggest virtually no experience with firearms. Do (Ms. M) and the AAP have a restrictive firearm ownership agenda camouflaged under the ruse of child safety?

The most certain method of reducing gun accidents and gun violence among youths is through gun-safety education in our schools and parental involvement in disgracing gun violence that is popularized through media and video gaming. The U.S. Department of Justice, the Centers for Disease Control and even the AAP suggest that the introduction of children into recreational shooting sports appears to reduce teenage violence.

Sadly, too many are quick to embrace efforts to disarm. <SNIP> Let’s not be too anxious to forget our own history and right to self-defense.

For more information on teaching gun safety to your children, contact the NRA: Eddie Eagle Safety Program (This program does not encourage gun ownership nor NRA membership.) Disclaimer: I am not an NRA member. Another useful link for parents is http://www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/infoparents.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Ira Tollah
21 August 2008

This newspaper did allow the author to submit a rebuttal to my comments, but basically all she did was reiterate her previously unfounded emotional argument.

[KD5NRH]

The only way a child can be injured by a gun is if someone points it at them and pulls the trigger.

My right thumb disagrees; the latches on side-by-side shotguns are quite dangerous. I still have a bit of the scar.

All the bleeding and pain made me miss the doves, too.

[ironsights]

Oh my God!..........
When are you supposed to teach responsibility.........I am under the strong impression that you should teach right from wrong as soon and maybe more so before your child can talk...let me Para-phrase



This is truly sad and I agree that the loss of his child is punishment enough. I have a young son and like many other boys his age he is intrigued by firearms and loves to go shooting. I put him through safety training as soon as he was old enough to understand and we talk about the responsibility that goes along with that. I've taught him how to disassemble, clean and re-assemble every firearm that he shoots. And just like school we have pop quizzes when were just hanging out. I'll say, "Firearms safety pop quiz"! Then we will go through the motions....When first handed the weapon, Never put your booger picker on the trigger until you are ready to fire, point it in a safe direction (down range, away from people) Then check the loaded condition (I have him check three times to be sure!), and when he is finished with the weapon he lays it down barrel facing down range, unloaded, or hands it back pointed in a safe direction with the slide or bolt open again unloaded.
I try to hammer this in his brain, and even though he always does excellent on his pop quizzes, I still do them to this day. I know that he has respect for them and fully understands how dangerous they can be in unsafe hands, and although I trust him, I do not make them easily accessible or leave him unsupervised. He is eleven now and I don’t know how I could go on without him. I feel awful and it's not even my child.

[iratollah]

This is truly sad and I agree that the loss of his child is punishment enough. ... I feel awful and it's not even my child.

Not sure I understand. Did you mix threads?

[SCone]

I made sure my boy knew not to touch "Dad's guns" when he was still in diapers. Took a pistol, made certain it was unloaded & no clip (even tied the action to please the wife). Every now and then I'd leave it laying on the coffee table or in my chair. Everytime he'd get close to it he was to do three things...

1) DON'T touch it
2) RUN AWAY from it
3) TELL Mom & Dad

We made a game of it & he was real good at the game. Before very long, he'd see the guns on the gun cabinet and come running to tell me about them. I'd test him by leaving it out and them watch him from upstairs. He never tried to pick it up, never went close to it & best of all, he remembered it.

Once he was old enough to shoot (about 6 or 7) we started with BB guns, then moved to pellet guns and finally, a 22 rifle. He has always maintain a healthy respect for firearms. When it came time for to qualify at boot camp, he shot the third highest his first time out with an M16.

[WarHawk-AVG]

I made sure my boy knew not to touch "Dad's guns" when he was still in diapers. Took a pistol, made certain it was unloaded & no clip (even tied the action to please the wife). Every now and then I'd leave it laying on the coffee table or in my chair. Everytime he'd get close to it he was to do three things...

1) DON'T touch it
2) RUN AWAY from it
3) TELL Mom & Dad

We made a game of it & he was real good at the game. Before very long, he'd see the guns on the gun cabinet and come running to tell me about them. I'd test him by leaving it out and them watch him from upstairs. He never tried to pick it up, never went close to it & best of all, he remembered it.

Once he was old enough to shoot (about 6 or 7) we started with BB guns, then moved to pellet guns and finally, a 22 rifle. He has always maintain a healthy respect for firearms. When it came time for to qualify at boot camp, he shot the third highest his first time out with an M16.

Well you cant ALWAYS rely on that...the 4th thing you should teach him is if he REALLY REALLY want to touch it, come get mom or dad and they will let you see it (and after double/triple checking it to ensure its safe) let them play with it, put their fingers all over it, point it in a safe direction and dry fire it a few times...after about 10 min they will get bored and go play with something else...its always better to remove the taboo of guns rather than have them "fear" them

When I clean my rifles I have the kids get their favorite one and after double/triple checking no ammo and completely safe I get them to help me clean them..they usually get bored about 1/2 way thru, but it builds a familiarity with them, a respect and not a fear and they grow used to them by exposure not by DON'T EVER TOUCH IT....EVER

Plus I take them shooting..those too small to hold the rifle properly I will load the .22, put it in my shoulder..sight downrange and let them stand beside me and pull the trigger while I keep the muzzle in a safe direction..this way they get to "shoot" the gun..but its done in a safe and controlled manner (and unlike my wifes friends husband, NEVER EVER EVER walk away from the line with a round in the weapon..he had a Marlin 60, was holding it with his thumb over the muzzle kinda nonchalantly talking with his buddy..his son thinking it was ok to shoot walked over and pulled the trigger...put a .22 thru the tip of his thumb straight up in the air[it was NOT pretty])

Remove the fear of guns, make them boring and tedious (make them FINISH) cleaning the guns and they will respect them and you won't ever have to worry about curiosity getting the better of them if/when you aren't looking.

[glockowner]

I made sure my boy knew not to touch "Dad's guns" when he was still in diapers. Took a pistol, made certain it was unloaded & no clip (even tied the action to please the wife). Every now and then I'd leave it laying on the coffee table or in my chair. Everytime he'd get close to it he was to do three things...

1) DON'T touch it
2) RUN AWAY from it
3) TELL Mom & Dad

We made a game of it & he was real good at the game. Before very long, he'd see the guns on the gun cabinet and come running to tell me about them. I'd test him by leaving it out and them watch him from upstairs. He never tried to pick it up, never went close to it & best of all, he remembered it.

Once he was old enough to shoot (about 6 or 7) we started with BB guns, then moved to pellet guns and finally, a 22 rifle. He has always maintain a healthy respect for firearms. When it came time for to qualify at boot camp, he shot the third highest his first time out with an M16.

Well you cant ALWAYS rely on that...the 4th thing you should teach him is if he REALLY REALLY want to touch it, come get mom or dad and they will let you see it (and after double/triple checking it to ensure its safe) let them play with it, put their fingers all over it, point it in a safe direction and dry fire it a few times...after about 10 min they will get bored and go play with something else...its always better to remove the taboo of guns rather than have them "fear" them

When I clean my rifles I have the kids get their favorite one and after double/triple checking no ammo and completely safe I get them to help me clean them..they usually get bored about 1/2 way thru, but it builds a familiarity with them, a respect and not a fear and they grow used to them by exposure not by DON'T EVER TOUCH IT....EVER

Plus I take them shooting..those too small to hold the rifle properly I will load the .22, put it in my shoulder..sight downrange and let them stand beside me and pull the trigger while I keep the muzzle in a safe direction..this way they get to "shoot" the gun..but its done in a safe and controlled manner (and unlike my wifes friends husband, NEVER EVER EVER walk away from the line with a round in the weapon..he had a Marlin 60, was holding it with his thumb over the muzzle kinda nonchalantly talking with his buddy..his son thinking it was ok to shoot walked over and pulled the trigger...put a .22 thru the tip of his thumb straight up in the air[it was NOT pretty])

Remove the fear of guns, make them boring and tedious (make them FINISH) cleaning the guns and they will respect them and you won't ever have to worry about curiosity getting the better of them if/when you aren't looking.

i too have a 5 year old and was wondering about safety tips about keeping it around the house at night and weekends. i am using the educational approach, he understands " the real gun will make you dead forever" and i let him handle the parts when i clean it also and was wondering if that was a good idea.

[Excaliber]

I made sure my boy knew not to touch "Dad's guns" when he was still in diapers. Took a pistol, made certain it was unloaded & no clip (even tied the action to please the wife). Every now and then I'd leave it laying on the coffee table or in my chair. Everytime he'd get close to it he was to do three things...

1) DON'T touch it
2) RUN AWAY from it
3) TELL Mom & Dad

We made a game of it & he was real good at the game. Before very long, he'd see the guns on the gun cabinet and come running to tell me about them. I'd test him by leaving it out and them watch him from upstairs. He never tried to pick it up, never went close to it & best of all, he remembered it.

Once he was old enough to shoot (about 6 or 7) we started with BB guns, then moved to pellet guns and finally, a 22 rifle. He has always maintain a healthy respect for firearms. When it came time for to qualify at boot camp, he shot the third highest his first time out with an M16.

Well you cant ALWAYS rely on that...the 4th thing you should teach him is if he REALLY REALLY want to touch it, come get mom or dad and they will let you see it (and after double/triple checking it to ensure its safe) let them play with it, put their fingers all over it, point it in a safe direction and dry fire it a few times...after about 10 min they will get bored and go play with something else...its always better to remove the taboo of guns rather than have them "fear" them

When I clean my rifles I have the kids get their favorite one and after double/triple checking no ammo and completely safe I get them to help me clean them..they usually get bored about 1/2 way thru, but it builds a familiarity with them, a respect and not a fear and they grow used to them by exposure not by DON'T EVER TOUCH IT....EVER

Plus I take them shooting..those too small to hold the rifle properly I will load the .22, put it in my shoulder..sight downrange and let them stand beside me and pull the trigger while I keep the muzzle in a safe direction..this way they get to "shoot" the gun..but its done in a safe and controlled manner (and unlike my wifes friends husband, NEVER EVER EVER walk away from the line with a round in the weapon..he had a Marlin 60, was holding it with his thumb over the muzzle kinda nonchalantly talking with his buddy..his son thinking it was ok to shoot walked over and pulled the trigger...put a .22 thru the tip of his thumb straight up in the air[it was NOT pretty])

Remove the fear of guns, make them boring and tedious (make them FINISH) cleaning the guns and they will respect them and you won't ever have to worry about curiosity getting the better of them if/when you aren't looking.

i too have a 5 year old and was wondering about safety tips about keeping it around the house at night and weekends. i am using the educational approach, he understands " the real gun will make you dead forever" and i let him handle the parts when i clean it also and was wondering if that was a good idea.

While raising my own children, I added three changes to the good ideas above:

1. You can see any gun any time - just ask Dad. He'll stop what he's doing and show it to you. (No secrets - no mystery).
2. If you see someone handling a firearm unsafely, either help them get back on the right track or leave the area immediately and tell a trusted adult.
3. Do whatever you have to do to prevent anyone from ever pointing the muzzle of any firearm at you.

[Lumberjack98]

Great thread and great letter iratolla. I have a 2 1/2 yr old at home and have been thinking about this a lot.

[USMC-COL]

I was elated to have been invited to teach gun safety at a local elementary school in the San Antonio area last year and will be doing so again this school year. I had an opportunity to teach gun safety (assisted by props, charts, and my wife who is a school teacher) to all kids at the school during an eight-hour period. Received positive feedback.

I also had an opportunity to take the administration of a high school to the range for a four-hour range session on shooting last year. I will be doing so again this year. Received positive feedback.

NRA Certified Firearms Instructor

[SCone]

The "hands off" approach worked great when my son was a small child. My son was in diapers when we played the "game". By the time he was 5 or 6, we had started on the rest of the process.

4) You can play with TOY guns, NEVER play with a real gun
5) All guns are REAL, unless Mom or Dad say so
6) If you want to see a REAL gun, you have to have Mom or Dad

As he started shooting BB guns, we added three more rules.

7) Guns are ALWAYS loaded
8) Never point a gun at anything you don't want DEAD
9) Dead is dead and it can't EVER come back

Keeping the lessons in short easy to learn segments seemed to work best for us. My biggest fear was him going to a friends house and finding a firearm. The situation never happened, but I'd like to think that if he'd ever found one, he'd have done the right thing.

One of the biggest eye openers for him was when we went out shooting when he was about seven. We took his BB gun, a 22 pistol, a 45 long colt and a shotgun. I set up some targets, milk jugs, cans and such. He had a great tiem shooting them with his BB gun.

After a little while I took out the 22 and filled one of the cans with water. I showed him how the can was about the same size as his arm. Then I showed him the size of the bullet we wer going to shoot. we put on our ear muffs, I took aim and fired. He was so excited as the can exploded. Then I did the same thing with the 45LC with a gallon milk jug.

Once we had the evidence, then we had a nice little talk. I placed the 22 can next to his arm and talked about the damage the "little" 22 could do to his body. Then we held the milk jug up to his chest and talked about that one. We even took one of his BB gun cans and showed how even his little BB gun could hurt him pretty bad.

We never did fire the shotgun that day, all we had to do was compare the bullets.