Gun Safety

My 5 year old informed this morning that Daddy said he could use a real gun when he turns 7.

Excuse me? He did? Did he think about asking Mommy?

"Well he said I could so I am."

Of course I make a call to my husband this morning on the way to drop off my soon to be gun-toting PRESCHOOLER. My husband laughs, LAUGHS, at first and then says, "I said a BB gun that's not a real gun."

I don't get it. I don't like guns. I don't see the needs for guns in the home and frankly they freak me out.

My husband, on the other hand, grew up watching the corn grow in West Jefferson, Ohio and really what else is there to do there. His dad, uncles and brothers all hunt. They grew up with guns in their homes and no one was ever accidently shot or killed.

I still don't get it.

Tonight I see a picture on Facebook of my cousin's 12 year daughter posing while aiming a rifle. To be honest, it startled me.

I wasn't raised with a gun in my home. I am quite conflicted on my husbands view about guns. He doesn't think using a BB gun is that big of a deal. I think it is. I don't think my view is going to change in two years when my son turns 7.

What are your views about guns and children?

Tags: Children, Guns

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Comment by Simone LeCompte on January 27, 2010 at 10:04pm: My Husband's Dad is, and has been for 20+ years, the President of a gun club in the S.F. Valley. My Husband grew up around guns and we do have 2 in the house. When my son is old enough...about 7 he will go to the shooting range with his Father and Grandfather and beging to learn to respect and use a gun.

My Husband has 2 younger sisters who know how to shoot and they have many friends who do as well and there have been no insidents of accedental shootings. I think that if you grow up with the idea that guns are in the house to keep you safe and you are taught to respect them then you are not tempted to play with them.

Comment by Jackie MacDougall on January 26, 2010 at 9:23pm: When I was dating a guy a zillion years ago, I went to the shooting range. I thought it was so much fun. Where else can you be competitive and feel so powerful?

Now, absolutely not! In fact, I almost forbid my kids to sleep at a relative's house who has a gun somewhere locked away. I am terrified by the stupidity some people have with not keeping guns in a safe place or somehow children get their hands on them.

Frankly, if someone were to break into my house, I'm doubting the gun would be handy enough to make a difference anyway.

But you weren't asking that. My husband and I made a deal when Jacob was two and we were in Massachusetts with a bunch of pretend-gun-toting kids. We agreed that we wouldn't buy our kids any sort of toy guns but we wouldn't forbid they play with them at someone else's house. Since then, I've softened a bit and can understand the Nerf stuff and all. But as for real guns, they will not be 7 when they start to shoot them. I can't say they never will but that seems way too young -- at least in my house.

Wow, there's my ramble for ya.

Comment by Cassandra Z on January 26, 2010 at 8:32pm: They are intimidating, but you should go to the shooting range, i think its really fun.

My husband is in the military, so he almost always carries one and we have 3 under the bed in a safe.

The handgun he carries, i plan to learn on shooting, so i feel more comfortable around them.

JSYK i am a red blooded republican american, who left her presidential selection ballot blank.