Hey All,
I've got some questions if you don't mind:
1) At what age were you introduced to guns?
2) Were you allowed to play with toy guns (pop guns, Super-soakers, Nerf guns, etc.)?
3) How accessible were firearms in your home, and at what age would you say you were reasonably comprehensive that it wasn't something for you to touch without an adult handing it to you?
4) Would you say taking a child shooting early on helps mitigate intrigue, and if so, how young?
5) What does your spouse that isn't 100% 2A say about these things, or are they?
A lot of this stems from me growing up knowing there was a firearm in the house. I was taught around the age of 12 to load and fire a .357. Obviously young but smart enough to know you pull the trigger and the gun goes bang with consequence. Just curious as to others experiences and open to advice. I'm looking to purchase a bedside type safe but am mostly concerned with painted/cerokoted guns these days should my kid find one and what they might actually do in the moment.
Thanks in advance for any knowledge you can send my way
1- they were always there. A rack up on the wall with a sporterized 1903, a Marlin 336, and a Remington model 12 pump. I was probably about 4 when my Dad told me that if I wanted to see them to ask him any time, but not to touch them without him there.
2- tons of toy guns
3- very accessible, as mentioned above. I don't specifically remember learning the safety rules, but I think the "all guns are always loaded" was so beat into my brain that the other rules seemed to just be a natural extension.
4- I think the younger the better as long as they're able to be safe mentally and physically. I got out of shooting when my daughters were young so didn't start my oldest as young as I wished. When she got to be about 14 I needed to find something for us to do to spend time together. Great bonding time!
5- My wife 1991 - I don't think I'm comfortable having a gun in the house.
My wife by 2013: They want to ban AR15s? You should get one.
Me: I have one
Her: you should get another one.
Full disclosure: she doesn't "like" guns now, but is glad I have some. What really pisses her off though is the gov saying we shouldn't have them.