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This may not be a topic some would post on or approve of ? Should you teach your child to defend themselfs with a gun and if so at what skill level with a firearm would they be competent . Also what general age , I realize we progress at diffrent speeds . I'm thinking more of the after schooler type that is home alone till the parents get there . Was just wondering .

chuck j wrote:This may not be a topic some would post on or approve of ? Should you teach your child to defend themselfs with a gun and if so at what skill level with a firearm would they be competent . Also what general age , I realize we progress at diffrent speeds . I'm thinking more of the after schooler type that is home alone till the parents get there . Was just wondering .

Every child is different. I know 12 year olds I would turn loose with a shotgun for home defense, and some 45 year olds that I would not let near a cork gun. You have to make that decision by working with them and determine what level of maturity and safety that show when handling the firearm and how they would react to a defense situation.

AGree w/ Keith. I have trained one as young a 8 w/ a small handgun & .22 rifle.

I have said no wont do it to a 16 yr old. Had several othere inbetween. Trained some & said no to some. Attitude, desire, attention span is the key.

I agree with Keith on that one. All of my kids are quite capable to defend the home 12/16/18. However most of my weapons are locked up in the safe and the ones that are not are there for me. It is my job to protect them. Should the need arise they could use one but I pray they never have to face that day.

Just wondered if anyone went out of the way to prepare a child if they were faced with home invasion , pedophiles , whatever . My daughter is 14 years old now but when she was 12 we worked out a plan in case such an event happened . I consider it the same as having an escape plan in case of fire or what to do in case of a tornado if I'm not there for any reason .

chuck j wrote:Just wondered if anyone went out of the way to prepare a child if they were faced with home invasion , pedophiles , whatever . My daughter is 14 years old now but when she was 12 we worked out a plan in case such an event happened . I consider it the same as having an escape plan in case of fire or what to do in case of a tornado if I'm not there for any reason .

I don't know if "going out of the way" applies. It was part of a well rounded education for ours, the administrator allows the keeping of and carry of firearms in their school.



Yes, I AM the administrator.

I'm not sure that I'd be willing to give a young teen that option. I've got a few years to decide. Teen brains aren't fully wired in terms of judgement and self-control...

I started my daughter early and I trust her with firearms from a safety standpoint, heck she is better than me . She loves to work with anything mechanical and likes shooting a variety of handguns and rifles , she has five guns of her own including Blackpowder .
cb1000rider you touched on the hard part of any plan you might come up with in trying to scenerio an attack while at home , teenagers just don't have experience. .Knowing this to begin with we devised a simple plan and she is to stick with it in case of trouble thereby reducing critical thinking while under pressure .

I kept my loaded shotgun under my bed from the time I was 14 or 15, with my parents' knowledge.

cb1000rider wrote:I'm not sure that I'd be willing to give a young teen that option. I've got a few years to decide. Teen brains aren't fully wired in terms of judgement and self-control...

This is entirely a matter of which 12-year-old. Some people at that age are quite mature, but others go around in long baggy shorts with their shirt tails out and their hats on backwards.

kenobi wrote:

cb1000rider wrote:I'm not sure that I'd be willing to give a young teen that option. I've got a few years to decide. Teen brains aren't fully wired in terms of judgement and self-control...

This is entirely a matter of which 12-year-old. Some people at that age are quite mature, but others go around in long baggy shorts with their shirt tails out and their hats on backwards.

soooo, you're saying if they can't tie their shoes and get the buttonholes lined up right, they don't need to be handlin' a gun huh?..lol

The plan we have practiced is simple .
There is a walk in closet in a bedroom . We installed a light with a pull cord , we bought a cordless phone from the dollar store and have the speed dial loaded numbers for ;
911
the sheriff's dept
myself
and a few others
We installed an exterior keyed lockset on the closet door so it can be locked from the inside
She will have easy access to a loaded 9mm auto before she reaches the closet
on a storage tub in the closet there are 2 loaded mags and an open box of shells sitting by the phone
to set up this 'safe' room cost about $50.00

I would really like to hear any ideas that would improve what we have done , input is welcome .

A cell phone might not be a bad idea as a backup. Another phone off the hook somewhere else in the house could deny the cordless phone from dialing out on the same line. You can pick up a prepaid phone for less than $25 at Target or Walmart and a cell phone doesn't need to have service to be able to dial 911. It does need to be kept charged though.

Another thought is the possibility of her being in so much of a hurry that she doesn't grab the 9mm before she locks herself in the closet. Is there a backup plan? How easy would it be for a home invader to find that loaded 9mm?

Now that I criticized the plan, let me circle back and say I think it's a good plan overall. More importantly, you have a plan and put the pieces in place. Make sure she drills it so she doesn't have to think in an emergency. On that note, family fire drills are a also good idea even if they feel silly.

The cell phone idea may have merit , she already has a Trac phone and could trade out and not even be an extra expense .
I am honestly not worried that she would forget the 9 mm but there is a 32 cal in the closet also but no provision for mags and ammo . Might think about that also .
No one will find the 9 mm , I would let a kid sleep over and not even secure it , it will not be found but is easy to grab .

I dont consider your ideas negative , I welcome them , thanks .

Dang ! Got my small brain riled up , kind of a scary thing !! I have an identical 9 mm We will put it in the closet but unloaded , she could slam a mag in and be in operation in about 3 seconds extra . Would be better than the 32 loaded and unsecured .