My husband and I were talking about guns a while back. I had never shot one until two years ago. He grew up with them. We currently own one and he has a gun cabinet he inherited from his grandpa full of guns at him mothers house. I asked him what he wanted to do with them when we have kids. He said he wants to keep them and show our kids to respect weapons, just like he was taught. This is crazy to me- I guess because of how I was brought up. What do you think?

My brothers & I were brought up with guns in our house. They were kept in a gun safe, of course, and when we were old enough to understand, we were taught how to handle them safely.

I believe that the NRA offers gun safety courses for parents and for children - you might want to look into one of those, to give you an idea of safe gun handling, even if you don't end up keeping guns in your house.

JMO, but I believe it's important for kids (and adults) to know how to handle a gun safel, even if you don't intend to own one. Plus, it's nice just in case (heaven forbid) your child ever comes across an unsecured gun at someone else's house - he or she will know what it really is and what it can really do, and not be tempted to play with it.

My father has had guns for as long as I can remember. He spent a lot of time teaching me to respect them, and it was quite effective. He demonstrated their power by letting me target shoot at milk cartons with him several times after I turned ten.

I think it depends on the child in some cases... I was fairly impulsive but also very rational, and never, ever thought of using a gun for anything but improving my coordination with targets. Also, my father's guns were all black powder and it wasn't an easy matter to load or maintain them.

We were raised with guns in the house. We were never allowed to touch them and were told repeatedly how dangerous they were. They were kept unloaded and locked at all times.

We also never had toy guns in the house-not even water guns. Because guns ARE NOT TOYS!!! Kids can not tell the difference between a real gun and a toy gun. Sometimes even law enforcement has trouble telling them apart.

My husband and I kept guns in the house (while living in WA). All of our hunting/sharpshooting guns were locked either in cases, with trigerlocks or chamber locks. Keys were kept on out keyrings. My gun keys on my ring, his gun keys on his keyring. And when we had kids over all the guns were put in out bedroom with the door closed. You never know how well other people 'train' their kids.

My point is that just like anything else a little bit of common sense and safety go a long way towards keeping our children safe. Regarless of whether or not you keep guns in your home, you never know what is in another persons home...so you STILL need to teach some kind of gun safety. (Even Don't touch!)

For ideas on gun safty go to a NRA class, or a hunting safety class, or whatever. contact the NRA and see what type of info they have to offer. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way.

We fear things that we know nothing about-Learn about this!

I grew up in a house with guns and I understand your DH's point of view. As a mom, I understand your future concerns as well.

Another voice concurring with your husband. My sister and I were raised with guns that were properly stored, although she and I never were formally trained in their actual care and handling, but we were taught to respect them and knew the basics. Training your children in these skills helps protect them as they grow older and visit in the homes of their friends, so I believe it is the responsible thing to do.

I can respect the points of view I see here, but in the interest of having a broad sample group, I'll pipe up to say that I was raised in a house without guns and still have plenty of respect for them, and my gut reaction is closer to yours. That may be in part because I can confidently say that there wasn't a hiding place or locked cabinet in my parents house I hadn't been into by the time I was twelve. I wasn't neccessarily a reckless child, but I was very curious.

I was raised in a home with loaded, unlocked guns (I'm not going to get into a conversation about my whackjob biological father). We knew where they were and we knew gun safety, and furthermore I learned how to use guns and was a good shot. My parents were both champion skeet shooters. I spent a lot of time around both long guns and hand guns.

That being said, because of things I saw growing up, I absolutely hate guns; they make me vomit. My finace has his guns, unloaded, in a gun safe for which I do not know the combination. I hate having them in my home. But it is what it is. I am also not at all comfortable being with people who carry weapons (though I won't say who it is I travel with that CCWs :wink: )

So, this is simply a testimonial from someone who, as a child, was exposed to guns, knew how to act around them, knew gun safety and was not in danger from myself or my siblings because of the guns. We never even mentioned, let alone showed, them to friends (like much of the anti-gun rhetoric claims children will do, and who knows, some may). And I still grew up to have quite an unhealthy relationship to guns.

This is not a recommendation one way or another. Just some information for you that may help in making your decision.

And while in my ideal world neither guns nor meat products would exist due to my personal comfort level, I recognize, albeit begrudgingly, that in the United Stated there is a constititional right to keep and bear arms. Not to turn this into a debate. I just wanted to be clear that despite my very clear personal feelings for guns, and my very liberal leanings, I fully believe that gun ownershipis a constitutional right to be protected. I don't know where this idea came from that we can pick and chose the bill of rights that work for us.

Why do people think it's necessary to have guns in the house to teach a healthy respect for them? Can't it be taught without having them near to hand? Or are they being kept for other primary purposes, and the healthy respect is secondary?

I mean, I think it's important to have a healthy respect for the power of wild animals, but I wouldn't keep one in the house to teach that. I'm not being facetious here. I'm really wondering what the main reason is. Do people feel they need them for defensive purposes? Hunting? To exercise their constitutional rights? I'm curious. I have a brother who lives in the US and keeps guns partly as a way of honouring the constitutional right to do so. He's a Libertarian, politically. Do others share this reasoning? Me, I wouldn't keep a gun in the house unless I had a very good reason to believe I might need it to defend myself, and even then I'd probably use alarms, locks, and anything else like that first.

Why do people think it's necessary to have guns in the house to teach a healthy respect for them? Can't it be taught without having them near to hand? Or are they being kept for other primary purposes, and the healthy respect is secondary?

I mean, I think it's important to have a healthy respect for the power of wild animals, but I wouldn't keep one in the house to teach that. I'm not being facetious here. I'm really wondering what the main reason is. Do people feel they need them for defensive purposes? Hunting? To exercise their constitutional rights? I'm curious.
I couldn't agree more, Sally What is the thing about having weapons in the house anyway? I never understood it.

Do people feel they need them for defensive purposes?

I do. I went and picked up a gun at my mom's last night because my DH found a butcher knife in our mailbox. The night before that a neighbor had someone in her bushes and recently the man across the street had his house robbed. I live in an okay neighborhood too- it is just scary and I will protect my family.

Locks and alarms keep honest people honest.

I do. I went and picked up a gun at my mom's last night because my DH found a butcher knife in our mailbox. The night before that a neighbor had someone in her bushes and recently the man across the street had his house robbed. I live in an okay neighborhood too- it is just scary and I will protect my family.

Locks and alarms keep honest people honest.

Good grief. That really is scary. Be safe :grouphug: .

Joanne my DH and I are about the same as you. I grew up with out, he grew up with.

We have guns in the house. All but one is kept locked and out of reach of the children. That one is kept loaded but way up out of reach of the children (a very high shelf in the kitchen that I need a step stool to reach it- but I can see it so I know it IS there). This one is because we have coyotes in the area that attack the calves on the farm where we live. As part of our living here, DH helps to protect the calves (and the peoples since we don't want a chance of one attacking the two legged babies either).

Oh, Our DS12 is learning to use all the guns. We use the rules the BSA has set up then expand it to teach him more. DS4 and DD1 will be the same as they get old enough.

Just remember It is the person doing the killing, the gun just happens to be the tool used.

My :twocents:
IR

I grew up in a non-gun house as well. I know I knew how to get into just about every hiding place my parents had, and I know my brother was even worse about it. Kids are just too curious and clever to count on locks keeping them out of something. My inclination is to not have guns in a household with kids. It just adds one more thing which could go wrong, unnecessarily.

Kids often have poor judgement, even when taught what's right. You might teach your child that they should handle guns carefully, never aim at another person, etc. But they'll also see other use of guns, through tv, movies, etc. These will glorify gun use, or show guns as a way to settle arguments, and various other messages competing with yours. There will be times when your kids want to challenge your authority, and look outside your home for guideance on how to act. Why provide the option of them acting out that inclination with a gun you've chosen to make available?

We all know, or know of, people who grew up safely around guns. But we all also know, or know of, kids who were hurt or killed playing with guns, or in accidents while trying to use guns as taught, and kids who, despite their parents teaching them otherwise, decided a gun would solve their problems at home, or at school, or in the neighborhood, etc. Teaching kids safe gun use is not 100% successful. Like any learning process, there will be times when the kids forget, or make mistakes, or want to experiment, or are just feeling contrary and want to be bad.

While many kids grow up perfectly safely around guns, having guns around does increase the chance of mishap. Are you willing to live with that increased risk, and the consequences if something happens? The answer to that question will tell you whether guns belong around your kids.

I think I am just not comfortable with guns. A couple nights ago I had a dream that two gang members were coming at me to kill me and my friend. I was hiding so they wouldn't find me. To protect myself I shot at them but the gun malfunctioned and the sound just gave away my hiding spot.

I've also had dreams where a man breaks into the house and when I go for the gun he takes it from me and uses it against me.

I guess what I am saying is that guns do not make me feel safer. My husband keeps a loaded gun in an accessible place at all times and I don't give it much though on a day to day basis. But, I do not think I feel safer. Even worse, what if I did use it and shoot someone. That would be a nightmare. But I guess it would be a nightmare if a bad person broke into the house and got away with raping or killing me.

As someone who grew up in a non-gun carrying society, I think I have a healthier respect for guns because of the way they are handled here. The fact that I never saw one in real life made them much scarier than say, a knife which I saw and used everyday. Now I understand that the culture is different in the US and a child is unlikely to grow up without seeing a gun, but I have to agree with Sally. I don't think you need to have the gun to teach respect and safety.

Pol

I do. I went and picked up a gun at my mom's last night because my DH found a butcher knife in our mailbox. The night before that a neighbor had someone in her bushes and recently the man across the street had his house robbed. I live in an okay neighborhood too- it is just scary and I will protect my family.

Locks and alarms keep honest people honest.

What a terrible, terrible thing to have happen to you -- I'm so sorry. The only reason I'm commenting is this: years ago, I knew a woman who had been raped. After it happened, her mother went out and got her a gun, a permit to carry it concealed (I'm not sure how that worked, but that's what she said), and signed her daughter up for many months worth of target practice at a shooting range. The reason for all of the target practice, according to my friend, was that even people who are familiar and comfortable with guns generally aren't able to use them efficiently for defense in an emergency. Unless a person is practiced to the point of mindless reflex, the gun is more likely to be used against them by their combatant -- who is already psyched up for committing a crime. At the time I knew her that woman no longer carried her gun, because she didn't have time to do enough shooting to feel it was safe. I just felt like I ought to share that.

esme

Unless a person is practiced to the point of mindless reflex, the gun is more likely to be used against them by their combatant -- who is already psyched up for committing a crime.
esme
Are there statistics on this? This is what I have always been afraid of. Plus, I haven't used a gun for years. I should take my husband up on taking me to target practice next time he asks.

Esme: Those are valid points in my opinion. I know in panic situations we all tend to respond diferently than we thing we should. I am confident enough to say that I would what I was trained to do. I have had many years of experience with guns and the only reason we did not have one here is because DH is against them. I have a maternal instinct to protect my family and that is what I plan on doing.

It makes me profoundly sad that I feel this way. *shakes head*

Hi Sally, maybe ya just have to get inside the mind of some Americans, but we're already suspicious of our government; we're taught that being so is a good thing, and since our right to bear arms is Consititutionally protected, we're not giving that up. I suppose that's how I was reared. I know it's how my elder relatives think, and my husband's, as well. I've also held this discussion before (also thoughtfully, nice to see and experience!) with a close European friend, and we came to understand that he, being typically European (as he felt he was) did not hold such a strong right to privacy as Americans hold, and therein we established a fundamental difference as to why many Americans so proudly own guns, while Europeans often chill at the thought. Americans seem to be a bit more suspicious and protective of themselves and their property, as that's our heritage. Yes, many do own guns to keep the government in check. Removing guns and other weaponry are among the first steps that totalitarian governments employ to subjugate a given populace.

As for keeping guns away from children and youths because there's a small chance that they might harm themselves, guns are not unique in being dangerous. A simple walk to school can be deathly to children due to the potential that rush-hour commuters can hit them, especially when the weather is bad, or it's darker out, like in winter (not every winter storm results in snow days, and many are the times that I've seen young childen (5/6/7) walking in the streets because of knee-deep snowdrifts on the sidewalks). Inside the home, kitchen knives are common weapons of choice in domestic battery cases, more common than guns. Plastic bags cause childhood deaths, and so do overhead garage doors. When I was 6 months old, I nearly drowned in the bathtub with all of 3 inches of water in it. Insect stings can kill allergic children. So can peanuts, bicycles and some pets, or neighbors' pets.

I realize that "guns are weapons," but parents that unload them and lock them up, maintaining diligent guard over them, will have more to fear from traffic on the street or a host of routine household hazards before their guns are likely to cause harm to their children or any children. I think this is the perspective that such parents hold.

Hope this helps!

I hate guns, they only have one purpose, and that is to kill. I refuse to have any, anywhere near me. DH sorta joked he was going to keep one in the house, I said "h#ll no!!!!!!!!!!"

Hi Sally, maybe ya just have to get inside the mind of some Americans, but we're already suspicious of our government; we're taught that being so is a good thing, and since our right to bear arms is Consititutionally protected, we're not giving that up. I suppose that's how I was reared. I know it's how my elder relatives think, and my husband's, as well. I've also held this discussion before (also thoughtfully, nice to see and experience!) with a close European friend, and we came to understand that he, being typically European (as he felt he was) did not hold such a strong right to privacy as Americans hold, and therein we established a fundamental difference as to why many Americans so proudly own guns, while Europeans often chill at the thought. Americans seem to be a bit more suspicious and protective of themselves and their property, as that's our heritage. Yes, many do own guns to keep the government in check. Removing guns and other weaponry are among the first steps that totalitarian governments employ to subjugate a given populace.

As for keeping guns away from children and youths because there's a small chance that they might harm themselves, guns are not unique in being dangerous. A simple walk to school can be deathly to children due to the potential that rush-hour commuters can hit them, especially when the weather is bad, or it's darker out, like in winter (not every winter storm results in snow days, and many are the times that I've seen young childen (5/6/7) walking in the streets because of knee-deep snowdrifts on the sidewalks). Inside the home, kitchen knives are common weapons of choice in domestic battery cases, more common than guns. Plastic bags cause childhood deaths, and so do overhead garage doors. When I was 6 months old, I nearly drowned in the bathtub with all of 3 inches of water in it. Insect stings can kill allergic children. So can peanuts, bicycles and some pets, or neighbors' pets.

I realize that "guns are weapons," but parents that unload them and lock them up, maintaining diligent guard over them, will have more to fear from traffic on the street or a host of routine household hazards before their guns are likely to cause harm to their children or any children. I think this is the perspective that such parents hold.

Hope this helps!

::standing ovation::

Well said! :thumbsup:

[QUOTE=Arianwen] they only have one purpose, and that is to kill. QUOTE]

I have to disagree with you there. If it wern't for hunting and killing (with guns) and butchering our own meat last fall (2003), we would not have had meat that winter. Between the two of us we brought in over 200 lbs of meat and paid $80 for tags. You can't beat that price.

So I gues that having a couple rifles in the house that year really improved our quality of life.

I grew up in a non-gun house as well. I know I knew how to get into just about every hiding place my parents had, and I know my brother was even worse about it. Kids are just too curious and clever to count on locks keeping them out of something. My inclination is to not have guns in a household with kids. It just adds one more thing which could go wrong, unnecessarily.

Kids often have poor judgement, even when taught what's right. You might teach your child that they should handle guns carefully, never aim at another person, etc. But they'll also see other use of guns, through tv, movies, etc. These will glorify gun use, or show guns as a way to settle arguments, and various other messages competing with yours. There will be times when your kids want to challenge your authority, and look outside your home for guideance on how to act. Why provide the option of them acting out that inclination with a gun you've chosen to make available?

We all know, or know of, people who grew up safely around guns. But we all also know, or know of, kids who were hurt or killed playing with guns, or in accidents while trying to use guns as taught, and kids who, despite their parents teaching them otherwise, decided a gun would solve their problems at home, or at school, or in the neighborhood, etc. Teaching kids safe gun use is not 100% successful. Like any learning process, there will be times when the kids forget, or make mistakes, or want to experiment, or are just feeling contrary and want to be bad.

While many kids grow up perfectly safely around guns, having guns around does increase the chance of mishap. Are you willing to live with that increased risk, and the consequences if something happens? The answer to that question will tell you whether guns belong around your kids.

I agree, I grew up in a gun house and I will never have guns in my house. My father kept a handgun hidden and under lock and key. He educated my brother about guns, me on the other hand refused to have anything to do with them. I wouldn't shoot it and was very uncomfortable around it. Didn't read any of the gun magazines, and did not grow up educated about them like my brother. Kids do get into everything and my brother found the gun, somehow got into the lockbox, don't ask me how because I wasn't home when it happened, and loaded the gun and took it all around the neighborhood showing it to all of his friends. A loaded gun. Very scary. The cops were called because one of his friends told their parents about it, and thank god no one was hurt. My brother was was nearly sent away to a boys camp for that fiasco. It really was a horrible, scary, embarrassing experience for our entire family.

I don't think it makes a difference whether you educate you kids or not, because their KIDS! They think and act completely different from adults. How many times was I told to never touch the hot stove, but you know what I still had to find out the hard way by getting burned. Guns are just not something I would want to gamble with if it came to a child's life.

I can see the rationale to teach the basics about staying away from guns if they came across them at a friends house, and hopefully that would work. But what kids do with that knowledge is so unpredictable.

[QUOTE=Arianwen] they only have one purpose, and that is to kill. QUOTE]

I have to disagree with you there. If it wern't for hunting and killing (with guns) and butchering our own meat last fall (2003), we would not have had meat that winter. Between the two of us we brought in over 200 lbs of meat and paid $80 for tags. You can't beat that price.

So I gues that having a couple rifles in the house that year really improved our quality of life.

I am a Vegetarian :P. I don't need meat.

If having a gun in the house, even locked up, makes you feel so uncomfortable to the point that it's negatively affecting your quality of life, I feel that your husband should respect that. Perhaps rent a space to keep his guns (at his gun club?) would be more appropriate and lessen your distress.

If it comes to self-defense against intruders etc., I'd recommend looking into self-defense lessons or perhaps a non-lethal weapon, such as a taser or pepper spray. If these items get into the hands of children they could still be very dangerous, so exercise caution, but I personally feel there's less chance of a child dying because of pepper spray than a gun. You might feel the same way.


And I said I would never get into gun debates. Hmm.

FYI, I'm a left-wing liberal who was raised in a country with gun laws and have never owned or been intimately invovled with anyone who owns or carries. I am, however, interested in maybe owning one day, perhaps in conjunction with law enforcement work.

[ETA: personally, I love my right to privacy, and find that I had more of it when living elsewhere than the US. I wouldn't say that gun ownership is related to privacy; more it's related to personal autonomy, which the US is very big on. Pioneer spirit and all that.]

My personal opinion is that guns do not belong in the hands of
private citizens. We have very tight gun control laws here.

DH grew up in a house full of all types of weapons- but they were there for protection against wild animals. I grew up in a house where weapons were readily available. My father was a marksman for the military. I spent many days with dad at the firing range on base.

We both DH and I have a more than healthy respect for weapons of every kind - rifles, handguns, knives, etc. We do not have weapons readily accessible to those who do NOT know how to have that same healthy respect. We hunt and fish but at no time will we be carefree about those 'tools' for which we use in these persuits.

Due to our surrounding neighbors, we do however have loaded weapons in locations near the door. I will not answer the door at night and if somone doesn't identify themselves, they don't get an open door.

Our children know we have these weapons in the house, but they don't know where. Being 3 and 4, it's easier for us to keep any weapon out of sight and well out of mind. We will be teaching our children respect for these things as they mature but at no time do we plan on them to have access to them even then.

This is our choice with our children. I firmly ask that you think over for yourself about this decision. Weapons of any kind are made for protection as well as the ability to put food on the table. It is your choice then as to what you choose. I know what my choice is - the right to keep and bare arms, for protection and food.

I think I am just not comfortable with guns. A couple nights ago I had a dream that two gang members were coming at me to kill me and my friend. I was hiding so they wouldn't find me. To protect myself I shot at them but the gun malfunctioned and the sound just gave away my hiding spot.

That's why you have 2 guns, and know how to use them so you're comfortable with them.


I've also had dreams where a man breaks into the house and when I go for the gun he takes it from me and uses it against me.

That is highly unlikely.



I guess what I am saying is that guns do not make me feel safer. My husband keeps a loaded gun in an accessible place at all times and I don't give it much though on a day to day basis. But, I do not think I feel safer. Even worse, what if I did use it and shoot someone. That would be a nightmare. But I guess it would be a nightmare if a bad person broke into the house and got away with raping or killing me.

YES that would be a bad thing. What also would be a bad thing is if he got away unscathed and did it to some OTHER poor woman, and then another and another. Or he went to jail and you support him with taxes for 5 years and then he gets out and brutally murders you. How FUN!
I say shoot the bastard... in the stomach.

Hi Sally, maybe ya just have to get inside the mind of some Americans, but we're already suspicious of our government; we're taught that being so is a good thing, and since our right to bear arms is Consititutionally protected, we're not giving that up. .... I've also held this discussion before (also thoughtfully, nice to see and experience!) with a close European friend, and we came to understand that he, being typically European (as he felt he was) did not hold such a strong right to privacy as Americans hold, and therein we established a fundamental difference as to why many Americans so proudly own guns, while Europeans often chill at the thought. Americans seem to be a bit more suspicious and protective of themselves and their property, as that's our heritage. Yes, many do own guns to keep the government in check. Removing guns and other weaponry are among the first steps that totalitarian governments employ to subjugate a given populace.

Hope this helps!

That does help, Lady G (and others). I find hte constitutional and historical angle really interesting. Also, just the much greater sense Americans seem to have of it all coming down to themselves. (Clearly, not all Americans. But this seems to be much more a debate in teh US than almost anywhere else, so there must be something to a cultural/historical/political explanation.)

Thanks :flowers:

I have a bolt-action rifle which I use for hunting deer.

I don't keep it for protection, just for hunting. I keep it locked up and I keep the bolt and ammo locked up in a different place. I feel it is secure.

I have a son and I have stressed to him MANY times the danger of it. He is the kind of kid that I trust not to try to touch it when I'm not around. Kids are individuals. Some are daredevils and try to test you all the time, some are super curious and impulsive. My son is not. If my son had a different personality, I would prob. worry more.

Also, (and I think this is more important) my *husband* is not an impulsive person with a bad temper. I trust him to NEVER use or even threaten to use the rifle in anger. If he had a different personality, I wouldn't want to have it in the house either.

I'm a responsible gun owner and my husband and I are responsible parents. My son is a responsible kid. I exercise reasonable caution, and I am not worried about it. Your mileage may vary. :-)

Just throwing in my two cents here.

I grew up in a house that had guns where they were kept locked and away from me. I knew they were there, but couldn't get into them -- never knew where the key was; still don't, actually. And, I knew shouldn't try to get into them, because they were dangerous. I was also rarely left alone when I was young, which I think helps.

Interestingly, even though I grew up in a house with guns, I'm terrified of them, personally. Probably because I wasn't ever taught to use them, and I have a horrible fear of loud noises.

But seriously, I think it's perfectly possible to have guns in a house and raise a child safely. It just requires some extra caution. As with all things, you have to weigh the benefits of having a gun with the risks of having one.

Cheers,
Jonobie

Probably because I wasn't ever taught to use them, and I have a horrible fear of loud noises.

But seriously, I think it's perfectly possible to have guns in a house and raise a child safely. It just requires some extra caution. As with all things, you have to weigh the benefits of having a gun with the risks of having one.

Cheers,
Jonobie

Hmm... I seem to have an irrational fear of fire crackers. I will leave the area if someone is setting them off. I don't even like sparklers! So I guess it's kinda strange that guns don't bother me. It might be the noise thing as well as not knowing in what direction a bottle rocket would go if set off. Whoooooo knows!

When I was little I know we had lots of guns in the house. Not sure if they were loaded, I NEVER touched them. They were within my reach... behind curtains and what not. Parents said don't touch so I didn't. They were my dads, not mine so I never felt compelled to act as if they were mine. LOL I am not sure how I'll deal with this when I have children. I'll probably keep it unloaded (as I do now) but not disassembled. Might keep it locked if I feel that I can get it unlocked AND loaded within about a minutes worth of time.

My reason for having a gun is safety. I will not be raped nor have my house robbed if I can do anything about it. Nor will I be tied up while I watch some pervert rape and kill my children. There ARE evil people in the world. We can't be so naive as to not prepare ourselves and be able to defend our family and property. My other reason is for recreation. I find it enjoyable to shoot. I don't hunt. I like everything with fur... just can't seem to get past that. I'd eat something someone else shot, but couldn't bring myself to do it probably.

I do think toy guns are a bad idea. Children shouldn't be taught to point guns at each other. It's just not right... It must desensitize them to a degree... and supplement those AWFUL video games and TV shows. In my opinion those games and shows are much much much worse than a gun in the house and yet the majority of parents let their children watch and play them. It teaches violence instead of maturity the opposite of responsible gun ownership.

IF you choose to keep guns in your house (there's certainly no reason to do it if you don't want to, but the option is and should remain available for those of us who choose to exercise it), there are many locking gun safe options available to keep guns out of the hands of children, yet keep them accessible to adults. Kids certainly may look all around the house to find a gun if it's hidden, but if it's locked in a safe they can't get to it. There are even touch-combination safes that can keep a gun locked & inaccessible to anyone who doesn't have the combination, but are easily accessed by the owner in time of need.

Personally, I think it's a good idea to teach children gun safety even if you never intend to keep a gun, just so the child knows what to do if they or a friend find one, and so if they make the decision as an adult to be around guns you'll have already drilled safe behavior into their heads. (Think of the value of repetition - I still put on my seatbelt EVERY single time I get into a car, even just to move it from spot to spot, b/c my mom drilled 'put on your seatbelt' into me so effectively. Likewise, I NEVER point a gun anywhere other than at the ground, or at a target, even if I'm 100% sure it's unloaded) And if you do choose to own guns, gun safety lessons combined with keeping the guns locked up when you're not actively supervising their use should keep things safe.

We keep guns for several reasons - my husband is a collector, I keep a family heirloom gun, I grew up frequently visiting country relatives who kept guns for protection & hunting, etc. Most recently, several years ago my brother (in law enforcement) advised me to start keeping a gun after some incidents in the neighborhood where I lived. He told me that most people hold the mistaken belief that the police can protect them, but that if someone really wants to hurt you, they can & will, long before the police can get to you. So I keep a gun, hoping that I will never need to use it for anything other than target practice.

Another voice concurring with your husband.
Truthfully, I am not on one side. I always tend to see both sides of things. But when it comes to kids, especially my kids, I want to make sure I make the best decisions. For me, the best decisions come with research. That is why I came here with this to see different points of view - and that is definitely what I have found.

That's why you have 2 guns, and know how to use them so you're comfortable with them.

I had become very comfortable with the use guns but my fears connected with them never went away. I am not sure, maybe when I have kids and I get that motherly instict I will want to have a gun around so I can protect them from everyone and everything. Or, I may want to protect my children from the guns. If we do have them in the house, we will definitely have them somewhere the kids can not get to. Even if the key to the cabinet is locked away in another box with a seperate key.

My sister and I grew up with guns. We were the five-year-olds out shooting pop cans :D There was an unloaded gun by the door because we had a creepy neighbor; the thought was that he didn't know if it was loaded or not, and though our parents knew we would be safe with it, the thing can still fall over and go off.
Since we were homeschooled and Mom was a SAHM, we were also never left alone with guns. We were not allowed to play with toy guns (I remember lecturing some other kids because they were using water pistols!), and since our family hunted we knew very well what a gun could do if it's used against a living being. I don't remember how old my sister was when she first took hunter's safety, but I was eight, and I took it again when I was twelve and old enough to hunt. I really don't think a parent can spend enough time teaching the dangers of guns.
Personally having a gun makes me feel much safer. As soon as I'm old enough I'm going to get a permit for a concealed weapon so that I can keep a pistol in the car; we're technically not allowed to have any right now (college campus), but I really wish we did! Too many weirdos around. I hate the feeling that the most effective weapons in my house are my dusting scissors and my hair sticks, though I admit that they're better than nothing!
I haven't trusted pepper spray since my father-in-law demonstrated that some people are immune to it; he uses it to clear his sinuses. I've heard pepper spray is similar to CS gas, and if that's so I just don't see how it could stop a determined person.

Hmm... I seem to have an irrational fear of fire crackers. I will leave the area if someone is setting them off. I don't even like sparklers! So I guess it's kinda strange that guns don't bother me. It might be the noise thing as well as not knowing in what direction a bottle rocket would go if set off. Whoooooo knows!
HAHA same here! I have a fear of firecrackers, but not at all of fire. I have a fear of electricity. I can't stand electical "experiments" at child-educational things, or even those "balls" that have the static thing in the middle and it jumps toward you hand if you put it on the ball. It's not something you're supposed to play with.

Personally having a gun makes me feel much safer. As soon as I'm old enough I'm going to get a permit for a concealed weapon so that I can keep a pistol in the car; we're technically not allowed to have any right now (college campus), but I really wish we did! Too many weirdos around. I hate the feeling that the most effective weapons in my house are my dusting scissors and my hair sticks, though I admit that they're better than nothing!
I am too, I'm gonna get a .38 as soon as I turn 21 and a permit to carry it. I am not allowed to have guns or "illegal knives" on campus either. I still carry both of my knives anyway. One in the truck between the seats for quick access, and one in my bed (our door doesn't lock properly and I've had too many people come in unauthorized to trust the stupid university-supplied lock anyway) DON'T wake me up at night :twisted: I'd rather get busted for them than for my gun. I think it's a stupid rule because some people don't have the option of leaving their guns at home - when you move out, you move out. However I know that there are too many drunk kids running around campus to allow them. I've heard of schools that allow you to turn them in to the campus police or something like that, so you can store them. I wish our school did that. I can hunt 15 miles from campus, but I'd have to drive 45 miles home to get my gun first!

I am all for guns. My house has been broken into twice, once on a Sunday afternoon while my family was away at church, we came home while they were still inside! Last Sunday I came home and there was aparently a woman and some kids tromping around in the woods behind my house. If I hadn't recognized them as kids, I'd a lit some fire under their butts! You don't go tromping around my house anymore!

Telling a kid that a gun is dangerous is one thing, going out and shooting something with it and letting them see how deadly it is is an entirely different ballgame. They need to test the rules somehow. On our land, we have raccoons that carry diseases and give them to our pets. They come and steal our cat's food and eat up our garden, all good reasons to practice killing things on them.
My dad quit hunting when I was old-enough to know anything at all about it (about 6). My grandpa taught me how to shoot when I was 12. Other than that I had NO gun training, knew nothing about them and I felt clumsy around them, and was a little afraid because I didn't know how they worked. I wanted to learn to hunt but no one in my family would teach me what I needed to know. Enter boyfriend that hunts with a family willing to take me in as their own and teach me. I bought my own .22 and soon shot my first deer.

I'm all for guns, but if you don't feel you need one for protection (get your house broke into a few times and see if your opinion changes) or if you don't hunt, then you don't need one. Just let the rest of us exercise our rights too.

Hmm... I seem to have an irrational fear of fire crackers. I will leave the area if someone is setting them off. I don't even like sparklers!

Same here! And opening champagne... ugh. Gives me the shivers just thinking about it. I'm always afraid it'll blow up or something. :)

Ok, I'm totally off topic. I really do hate sudden loud noises, though. Wonder if guns don't bother you because you control when the sound happens?

Cheers,
Jonobie

Ok, I'm totally off topic. I really do hate sudden loud noises, though. Wonder if guns don't bother you because you control when the sound happens?

Cheers,
Jonobie

Maybe.. because I get really peeved if someone near me fires off a shot and didn't warn me first. :scared: "What is WRONG with you?!?!?!" LOL. :smack: Once my ex did that with his .44 magnum and I couldn't hear right for the rest of the DAY. That thing hurt my ears even with ear plugs.

And One Knight- you shot a deer with a .22????

And One Knight- you shot a deer with a .22????
No.
sorry if that wasn't clear. I bought my own Savage .22
I shot the deer with a Winchester 30-30

When I was little I know we had lots of guns in the house. Not sure if they were loaded, I NEVER touched them. They were within my reach... behind curtains and what not. Parents said don't touch so I didn't.

Sounds like my house growing up. :lol:

There were guns & rifles kept in the house, within reach. One pistol was loaded (in case of break-in, etc.). My brother & I never, never, never touched them, even though we knew where they were. Why? Because we were taught not to. Simple as that.

I'm not being facetious here. I'm really wondering what the main reason is. Do people feel they need them for defensive purposes? Hunting? To exercise their constitutional rights? I'm curious.

Don't know about others, but I just enjoy shooting. I shoot at paper targets. I think it might be fun to go hunting sometime, too, but I can't see it as something I would do on a regular basis.

I don't currently own a gun, I rent them at the shooting range I go to because I like to try many different guns and if I owned one I'd end up shooting just that one. I'll probably buy a gun someday, though, after I've gone through all the shooting range's collection enough times.

If I lived in the countryside I'd own a gun for protection but there is really no need for that here in downtown Helsinki.

Miuku

(get your house broke into a few times)
Actually, that would be me.

I'd own a gun for protection but there is really no need for that here in downtown Helsinki.

I dunno, I heard that the sea that's on 3 sides can be pretty nasty if it breaks and enters. Starfish can be hostile. :D

I dunno, I heard that the sea that's on 3 sides can be pretty nasty if it breaks and enters. Starfish can be hostile. :D

We don't have any starfish around here, just salmon, but any salmon who attacks my home is gonna become sushi. :D

Miuku

That sounds almost like a reason to try and entice 'em in. Or would that be aquatic entrapment?