Conceal from... your kids?

[texas bulldog]

Kids are smarter and more observant than most of us give them credit for. If you are as open about guns with your family as you say and carry daily, I have my doubts that you oldest does not know already.

i was starting to think this about halfway down the first page. at 12 years old, it's certainly possible that your son has already figured it out. kids do that; their brains are like sponges. if not, he will probably discover it soon. the incident in the car was a close call, and you can safely assume that there will be more in the future. if i were you, i would let them in on this fact now.

my kids are quite young...14 months and 1 month. they've already seen me arm-up before going out, not that they'll remember it or would have any idea what it is at this point (though the oldest is quite sharp and notices everything). however, i have no intention of hiding it from them ever. so they'll know as soon as they understand what it is, i suppose. as other posters have said, my plan is to make it as normal as carrying a phone or wallet but to make it clear that it is something not to be discussed outside the family. if they ever want to see a gun, they'll need only ask. heck, there's already a single-shot .22 in the safe waiting for the right christmas to be given. we bought it before the first one was even born.

 

[mcdonl]

My kids grew up with me carrying a gun daily. No mysteries to them. Taught them gun safety and never had a problem with either of them announcing "Daddy has a gun".

+100

 

[rcmodel]

Same here.

Started answering their gun questions when they were in diapers.
They wanted to see & hold one? I let them.
Took them shooting before they could hold one up.
They were helping me reload by the time they are big enough to see over the bench top.
Shooting up all my ammo by the time they were teenagers.

It was their little friends from anti-gun homes I worried about all the time.
They had a morbid curiosity about guns, and I never could trust them even as teen-agers.

All they knew about guns was what they learned on TV!
Even if you shot somebody in the chest, they were back in action & unruffled by the next scene or two.

rc

 

[cleardiddion]

This is probably one of the more informative threads I've read as of late.
Thanks for posting guys (well, mostly)!
I think you guys helped me solve a potential problem in the future!

 

[Guillermo]

rcmodel,

Your situation is sadly unique these days. With the emasculation of the modern American male a father actually fathering is not the norm. More and more “men” are asking “permission” to buy guns, to carry and/or to teach their children.

My daughter is now 16 and like your kids, she is and has been 100% trustworthy concerning firearms. I gave her a Smith 19 for her 15th birthday. That is sadly not the norm.

I have the privilege to be around a lot of young people. My business allows me to do some volunteering so on any given day I might be coaching high school basketball or teaching women self defense (RADS). I would bet that perhaps 10 or 15% of the kids have ANY experience with firearms despite the fact than 30% of the fathers hunt.

It is my theory, admittedly not scientific, that most of them do not vet the wife process well enough and once married lack the huevos to stand by their convictions.

Because of these and other reasons we have people wondering whether to allow their children to know that they carry a sidearm.

 

[harmon rabb]

Guillermo,

A-freakin-men.

 

[ozarkgunner]

I've had my CCW permit for 3 1/2 years, and have been CCing since. I have 3 kids, 5,7, and 10. All three know I carry. They know why, "there are bad guys out there" and daddy will shot them if he needs to. They have no issue with it. It's normal to them. They never bring it up. They never ask why I carry, or make an issue of it with me. They are learning gun safety, and are doing well. They know not to touch guns laying around our house, or someone elses.
I feel like many others. Mystery makes things more interesting. More exciting to discove and play with. I made my guns known to the kids when they were old enough to understand what they were and what they can do.

 

[rdrancher]

It is my theory, admittedly not scientific, that most of them do not vet the wife process well enough and once married lack the huevos to stand by their convictions.
Because of these and other reasons we have people wondering whether to allow their children to know that they carry a sidearm.

rd

 

[Evil One]

I have 2 boys of my own and a step son... 15, 13, and 12.
My boys have grown up around my weapons, the oldest was stripping and cleaning my star super @ 10-11.
They shoot with me, clean them with me.
My step son was introduced to firearms when my wife moved in with me.
They know they can handle them at any time as long as they ask.
They hold no more mystery than an egg beater or spoon for them.
My 1st wife, my childrens mother is fairly anti gun... and wouldnt let her current husband have a pistol in the house till someone took a shot at them in their car.
She still isnt thrilled... but he told her that he WAS going to have a pistol and he WAS going to carry it.
My step sons father is an avid hunter but not a pistol guy.
His father told my wife he was getting him a BB gun, she told him that it was a good idea... since he was shooting our .22 rifle, .44 and .45 handguns.
My current wife has her own firearms and carries them.
I am ALL about teaching children about firearms, their usage, and safety from the time they are small.
If firearms are demystified, then... as a rule... children are MUCH safer around them.
For me this was a personal and obvious choice.


Jim

 

[Guillermo]

Evil One

My current wife has her own firearms and carries them.

It sounds like you go better at the wife-vetting process. Practice makes perfect!

All three of your sons obviously benefit from your tutelage.

My hat is tipping

Good job

 

[Evil One]

Thank you Sir...
She is my 3rdwife... "#3 in your programs, #1 in my heart"
I try to do the "traditional guy things" with them... and they are lucky enough to have male role models 24/7.
My boys step father and I get along great... I wrench on cars with him when I can... go to cook outs, etc. And he is all about camping, 4 wheeling, dirtbike riding... and includes the kids.
My step sons father is an avid hunter and fisher... and takes his son outdoors quite a bit.
I think these 3 are a lot more fortunate than most kids out there today.
Divorces can be hard on children... but in these 2 cases, they actually ended up with 2 families that love them like nothing else.

Oh yea, I work on the road a bit doing telecom... while I am out next time my wife will be picking up 2 .44 magnum snubbies for me
Yes she has a sister... but the sister is NOTHING like her


Jim

 

[Guillermo]

Once again, my hat is off to you.

Three young people are learning how to take responsibility for themselves. If you accomplish nothing else in life, you did good.

I have tried to do the same thing with my offspring, a female. From an early age she had chores and things she had to get done. From the beginning I told her that I wanted her to be as autonomous as possible. By age 12 she could rebuild a toilet from the wax ring up. Build a cedar fence. Sharpen a knife. Change the oil. Cut up a chicken. Make a roux. Break down every gun I own and clean and lube it.

She is now a 16 year old with a 4.29GPA at a very good private school.

And no, I never had to conceal from her. She always took comfort from the fact that I carry.

 

[Evil One]

This comes from my personal belief that as a parent... you are not there to take care of the child.
You are there to raise them into functional adults.
Our kids sit down with us to make meal plans, pay the bills, make a household budget...
They cook, shop, work around the house.
I honestly think they will be OK when they get out on their own.
I dont know how many people I have seen that move out... and are totally lost.
They cant handle banking, paying their bills, cooking their food, or anything other than playing video games and driving thru McDonalds.
I honestly feel that if more parents raised their children like you and I are... this country wouldnt be quite as bad off as it is at the moment.
Congrats on your wonderful daughter.


Jim

 

[Guillermo]

Glad you mentioned video games. I never let my daughter have a game box but was generous with book buying. Her reading comprehension was college level in 7th grade.

Also the "shooting people is fun" that they learn from video games never happened with her. Heck, we never turned on the TV until she went to bed until she was in 7th grade.

Because of this you can see why I never had to hide my carrying a firearm from her.

Once again, congratulations. Sounds like you are seeding our country with some responsible young men.

Thank you

 

[FranklyTodd]

Bravo

Sorry I've been away, I've had laundry and vacuuming to do.

I believe there's many ways to raise good kids - and many on here seem to be trying their best to do just that. I say bravo. I've enjoyed reading the thoughtful posts of folks' opinions.

However, anyone else get ****** (rhymes with sploosh) chills listening to some posters bragging about their big "huevos" or how they "vetted their women" so they know their place I guess?

No wonder some of you spend all day on these boards blabbing away on every thread - you are so coooool here... Pathetic.

 

[Evil One]

I dont know about a "vetting process"... but I think that having a mate that meshes well with you... and you with them is important.
It only took me 2 marriages to figure that out.
As for the "big huevos..." Why do you think I wear a kilt?
I keed!!!


Jim

 

[Guillermo]

Jim, do yourself a favor and ignore Frankly Todd. He is either delusional or has no reading comprehension as nobody bragged about the size of their heuvos or suggested that they should only choose a woman who "knows her place".

Some people just want to pick a fight and are not afraid to "misunderstand" or lie to do it. Not very HighRoad so I suggest that you just use the ignore button.

As to the OP, were I you I would not hide the fact that I carry a firearm but I WOULD hide the fact that you wear a skirt!

 

[Evil One]

Its not a skirt... you wear underwear under a skirt...


Jim

 

[FranklyTodd]

G the misogynist says:

It is my theory, admittedly not scientific, that most of them do not vet the wife process well enough and once married lack the huevos to stand by their convictions.

G - let me detour from the high road and call you out for the tool you are. You were the first to post offensively and off topic. A wife is not something you "vet" and a marriage and the raising of children is supposed to be an equal partnership. My wife and I are raising three terrific sons together and I haven't compromised my "convictions" in any way. That may not be the cooooool thing to say when you are an internet warrior like you, but that's the way I run my life.

I'll give you the last word on this because, frankly, you bore me.

Safe shooting and carrying to all, and again thanks to all the non-tools who posted - I liked hearing the different stories and perspectives.

FT

 

[Guillermo]

vetting is another term for select.
I agree about the partnership of marriage.
I never mentioned your convictions, the size of my heuvos or that a woman should "know her place".

That you think I am a "tool" is a good thing. One is identified by their friends as much as their enemies and as you are not a slave to the truth I am happy that you are not the former.

This is a DISCUSSION board. If you don't like people talking about your wife and her beliefs perhaps you should not post them on a DISCUSSION board.

As to the post that I made that torqued your panties the quote I offered is my belief. As Thomas Jefferson said it is everyone's RIGHT and RESPONSIBILITY to go about armed. And swerving back to the OP, I believe that we should teach our children that as well.

As you freely admit that your personal attack is not HR perhaps you will do the honorable thing and no longer post on this fine DISCUSSION forum.

 

[Art Eatman]

Too far gone...