Another person posed the question on here about the risk of firearms to a toddler in the house. I had to "go back in time" in my mind and recall my own very young days. My father had a gun cabinet (no locks on it) in the den where I used to play as a very little boy. The guns were there, in plain sight, yet I knew that I was not allowed near the thing. I have a pretty good memory of my very early days, but I don't recall what my parents said or did to make sure I never approached the cabinet. Again, it was in the same room that I played with my toys as a child and I was rarely supervised. Of course, the guns were not loaded, and as a toddler, I would have no idea how to load them. But again, I never even went near the thing. Does anyone else recall similar circumstances in their early youth?
Anonymous2008-11-16T07:16:28Z
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Yes, I grew up around guns from the day I was born. Guns were kept unloaded in the house. There was no need for a loaded gun in the house since we had no dope crazed idiots trying to break into our house in those days. Anyway, there were many guns in my house as a child. They were stored in a closet and I was taught from infancy, I guess, that they were off limits. If I had touched them without specific permission, I would have been shown the error of my ways with a paddle.......an excellent teaching tool.
As I became old enough to hold a gun, about 5 years old, I was allowed to shoot with my grandpa. He would take me out to an old abandoned gravel pit and we would shoot cans. I knew that there was no need to sneak around to look at a gun because I would be taken out to shoot frequently. My curiosity about guns was satisfied at the range. Any urges I had to disobey, about anything, were satisfied with the paddle. Too bad so many people have abandoned the use of such an excellent teaching tool for fear of damaging little Henry's self es team.
Being that I'm 17, I still remember it pretty well lol We have a gun cabinet and it has a lock on it. It has storage on the bottom too- that's where the ammo is stored. All the guns are unloaded, but the actions are closed because if the actions are open, the springs will get worn out quicker. I'm also on the local modified trap team and I have my own gun in my room. My shotgun is in a case in the corner of my room- with the gun lock thru it and the ammo is on the other side of my room and only me and my family know here it is- that's the same way with my rifle. I also wasn't taught how to shoot a gun until I was about 13. But even then the only time that I was allowed to be around a loaded gun was around someone else. Now, since I'vee taken gun safety classes and a hunter's safety course, I can now just ask to get my gun out of my room and get some ammo. But my dad hasn't really taught me how to use a gun properly (besides the BB gun). I was taught how to use a gun properly by my shotgun coach and my coach is also a gun smith too.
My dad was in the Army and served in vietnam. He was a LRRP. I was born in the late 80's. My dad Had 2 gun cabinets full of firearms one in his room one in the basement, and a gun rack mounted on the wall in the living room.(NO LOCKS) On that gun rack were, 1 AR-15 sp-1, The one that replicates an M-16A1. an m1 Carbine. And 2 shotguns I believe an 870 and a 500A. I was told not to touch the guns without dad's permission, I didn't. As I got older, 8 years old I shot my first rifle. An M1a. I was hooked. I wanted to know everything about firearms... all kinds. My dad gave a 22. to keep in my room. marlin model 60.. And the first gun that was bought for me specifically, was a mosin Nagant M-44 for my 14th birthday. By the time I was 18 I had 10 guns to my name... Including 3 Ak's.
I have been around guns my entire life.. That's why it makes me very mad when people try to take em away.... Or make some firearms "ASSAULT WEAPONS" illegal.
Yes, there were guns in the home and for some reason, I knew better than to mess with them. However, I do recall playing with one once when no one was around. As much as it can be a hinderance at times in a "situation", in today's society the only responsible thing to do is have a good gun safe. Not a gun case, not a gun cabinet, but a gun safe.
I truly believe that the problem with firearms today can be traced back to the problem with discipline in general. There has been a very large cultural shift with regards to parent-child relationships. I am only 21, but I was raised in a large part by my grandparents. I don't remember specific rules regarding the guns we had in the house (most of them kept unlocked, and some loaded). I simply understood that I was not allowed to touch them, and if I did, I could expect the belt or the flyswatter (my grandma is amazingly quick with a flyswatter).
I think it's a good idea to lock guns up to keep them out of irresponsible or ignorant hands. I think it is even more important, however, to raise children responsibly and without keeping them from any reality (firearms included). People who use firearms as children are probably less likely to use them irresponsibly, especially if the parents instill basic safety.