Photobum Loc: Auburn, Washington

Don't be an ass. It's a totally acceptable past time. Sorry to know of your insecurities and limited understanding of a well rounded upbringing. Ken.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

As a firearms instructor I have found from personal experience that when children are taught about firearms safety at an early age they are far less likely to, "play", with firearms later on. They are also far more likely to tell other children not to play with firearms if one is found at a friend's home. As parents we teach our children to be safe with any number of things around the house, matches, electrical outlets, hot water faucets, the cars we own, strange pets and people, and so on. Yet in many Liberal homes parents teach their children to never ever touch firearms because they are dangerous. What has happened over the years is that those very same Liberal raised children to to the homes of children where there are firearms, pick up the gun, point it at someone and pull the trigger. With some basic firearms safety training where children at a young age are taught to respect firearms and what they, the guns, can do, this happens far less.

As an owner of firearms since I was about 10 years old, I have seen kids of friends come to my home, pick up a gun and point it at someone else and pull the trigger. This from parents who hate guns and never want their kids to be around them. They knew I had over 100 firearms in the house and some of them were loaded at all times due to two legged and four legged predators that were on my land 24/7. Fortunately when I knew people were coming my wife and I moved all of the loaded firearms to an area where we allowed entry to nobody.

This same thing happened to a ranch woman I worked with. Friends with children came to visit. She had a loaded rifle on her wall because she also had predators come onto her land. One of the children pulled the rifle off the wall, aimed it at another wall and pulled the trigger. Of course the gun fired through the wall. Fortunately nobody was hurt. Do you not agree that a basic safety class from that kid's parents would have saved that incident from occurring? Should children not be taught that firearms are dangerous and be given a basic firearms safety class. I suggest that even in grade school there should be a mandatory training class regarding firearm safety.

Firearms are tools and just like other tools, knives, hammers, saws, screwdrivers, tools should be respected and treated as dangerous.

Are parents so very busy they cannot teach their children safety as well as being creative? Should not safety take precedence?

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Well said.

Dennis

Mncarpenter

Not likely. There are several more layers of training that go with handling nukes. I do however, prefer the folks handling the nukes, to be trained very carefully, much like this young man. Better than picking it up on the street, by one of those yahoos that hold their handguns sideways.

Flakes Mill

I love the photo and I love the concept. Both my sons are gun safety instructors. They learned from their father first just like this little boy in the photo. I love a man with a gun, makes a woman feel so safe.

Paul J. Svetlik Loc: Colorado

Teaching children to handle the firearms.

Thank you Dennis for your defensive, but expected comment - well considered even before I wrote my reaction to the picture of a boy displayed with a gun.

We live in a free country and everybody knows, that you can teach your kid whatever you consider useful?

You can even teach your kid to walk on the edge of a tall building roof. (Unless, there is a sidewalk crowded with people bellow.)
Then you are stepping out of your social responsibility as a parent.

However, the question is, that teaching the kid something, does not mean that with the new skill comes also a strong mental control and a respect for the safety rules?
Another important question is an emotional set up of your child: How can you guarantee a rational behavior of any person in a stress, frustration, despair, or under alcohol or drug?
Even professionals can not do it.
That is - before the person snaps?
Can you tell that your kid will be a doctor or an engineer?

I am writing this "essey" not as a liberal opposing any of our 18 or 19 century tradition.
I know, that you may not always need a weapon - even for the wild country. I spend weeks in the wilderness, every season - far from public trails and other humans - sleeping in a tent without a gun - just with my cameras.

Memories come to my mind when I see the gun issue:
After the war, we played with the live ammunition and hand granades that were left behind - in the public spaces, parks and woods.
We were kids and thought we are invincible - regardless of what our parents told us, the injuries and deaths of other kids around doing the same thing - still could not make a change of mind...
Because it was EXCITING!

I also hope, the lower killing statistics in Australia where they officially reduced the number of
firearms support my point?
Good Day, Dennis.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

That's the most asinine thing I have ever heard!!!

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Good job on teach gun responsibility, performance, accuracy, concentration and patience.

BTW... My Dad was like your Dad. He always worked. He was full of shrapnel from his landing at Omaha Beach on DDay (June 6, 1944). His squad was killed. My Dad never complained about his injuries. He never had "issues". He displayed silent courage, a work ethic that was incredible and a role model as a Father that is hard to match. He taught us patience, showed us how good he could shoot, including winning turkey shoots with a single shot Ivers Johnson 12-gauge shotgun that I still have, and his Daisy BB gun from long long ago.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

I grew up in the country and we all had guns. No one ever got shot. And no one ever broke into our homes. My hand gun is in my night stand loaded. If someone breaks in, they wont be walking out.

Gerry Haverland

Not just Sons! My daughters routinely amazed those who saw them shoot. (Better than I did) My Granddad taught me, and I pass it on. Real Quality time!

Hamltnblue Loc: Springfield PA

A fine example of someone who lives off of others including security.

When they reach the age of 13 they won't be handling nuclear weapons but 5-6 years later they very well may if they join the military. Teaching responsibility and self preservation should be number one above basket weaving (being creative).

The true creative people in American history started out this way.

Dannj

Like any other activity, as long as the boy enjoys it and isn’t being forced into it for Dad’s sake, go for it. Target shooting, painting, baseball, writing poems...whatever...go for it! Dad’s need time with their kids.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I am a true believer that women can shoot as well or better than men IF they choose to do so and put in the time and practice.

Dennis

raferrelljr Loc: CHARLOTTE, NC

When age appropriate teach him about clay target shooting, especially Trap. It's a great sport. I'm 68 and shoot about 3 times a week. Last Monday I shoot at 125 targets hitting 117.

Gerry Haverland

My wife had never shot a gun when we met. I taught her. She out shot me regularly, and got so good she got bored shooting skeet. (No Challenge!). She never killed a deer, she would not pull the trigger. She did Very quitely hand me the gun, and said, "Drop him!". She loved to eat it. Kids did not hesitate.