Would you take a 2 year old to a Gun show?

As written it does depend on the child and the parent...by 2 mine KNEW look with your eyes...I didnt do stroller...just plunked them on my shoulders and away we went...I wore a frame pack with an extended top to which i added side panels that strapped to the shoulder straps to make sideboards for my shoulders. Usually went with a buddy who could put stuff (both mine and his) in the pack for me so no taking it down...

My boys are now 19 and 23 and both still LOVE gun shows. And shooting.

My oldest son is now 23 and went to his first gun show at the ripe old age of 6 months. He was in a stroller and very easy to handle.

Now to be serious. If your 2 year old will behave and keep his hands off of the many guns he will see when told to he should be ok.

You know your son better than we do.

Take the child. I took my soon at 18months, they gave him a balloon and a water gun. I carried him throughout the show as he said, "bang,bang,bang" to everybody, he loved it.

You will probably want to carry the child around. I see no problem. A baby carriage might get in the way, but you can put one in the car just in case it feels right. So have fun.

Not saying don't do it, but at the gun shows around here the strollers are really annoying because of the ridiculously narrow aisles between the tables. There is usually barely enough room for 2 adults to pass in opposite directions turned sideways. If somebody stops to look at something the entire aisle is held up until they are done.

Disabled folks in scooters are just as bad or worse. Not blaming anybody here but the show organizers for this issue.

I waited until my daughters were about 4 & 5 yrs old before taking them to the shows. Two year olds might be a bit of a handful. I think I wouldn't enjoy being at the show as much as I ordinarilly might, with a 2 yr old. But, to each, his own. As the dad, you have sole discretion.

I was one of those kids many years ago. My Dad used to take me every place with him including gun shows. I have taken my kids with me every where as well. One thing I found when they are that young is that they aren't interested in the same things we are and that their attention span is pretty short. I would take a few snacks and drinks for the little one. I'd also take a couple of toys for him to play with when he gets bored. Plan on a stroller or back pack so he can nap when he's tired. As long as you plan ahead you can both a great time. It never hurts to expose children to their second amendment rights, and teach them how it's actually normal to like guns contrary to what the liberal media would have people think. I've been taking my son to local shows for years, although I can't say how young he was when I took him for the first time. I know I had a back pack carrier for him.

I'm nearly forty now and my Dad is in his mid sixties. Every year we make a point to go to OK and meet up for the Tulsa gun show. My son is thirteen now and he goes with us. Passing along a family tradition. Hopefully someday he'll do the same with me, and his kids. Perhaps if my Dad hadn't taken me along all those years we wouldn't have that weekend to look forward to every year where it's just us hanging out enjoying each others company surrounded by guns.

My two cents is to take the little one with you.

I took mine in an umbrella stroller a few times. Was never a problem. Misanthropes and childless crusty old farts aside, I think most people enjoy seeing well-behaved children at a gunshow.

I took my daughter first when she was 18 months. She sat in her stroller, which was a pain to maneuver, but that was the only bad part. In fact, I had an Israeli k98 slung over my shoulder during that trip, and traded it for a very nice CZ-52.

These days, she's 2 1/2, and she rides on my shoulders most of the time. That's a breeze at gun shows - she's got waaay too many things to look at to be fussy, and I can get around just as easy as I can without her.

My only concern, really---
possible poor ventilation leading to lead exposure and/or other common chemical fumes and odors that might pose a slight health risk. Your kid, your call. For me, I'd say no as shows might be rather boring for a little one.

On the other hand, I've seen plenty of dealers set up a 'corral' for their little ones behind their tables and hey--happy little kids are often a great 'draw' to those dealers' tables!

So maybe, put the kids to work if they come along!

Kids who grow up around guns and are taught the right ways to handle them in age appropriate stages are NOT the ones you need to worry about later on IMO. And they are the future of the shooting sports.

I LOVE seeing well behaved children at the shows. I Hate getting stuck behind a stroller in a crowded show. One of those body carry things might be good. My kids have just now shown an interest in going to the shows with me (teenagers) But I would still smack em up along side the head if they got out of line

As many before have stated. All depends on the kid. It is refreshing to see good kids with good parents walk the shows

No, but then I wouldn't take them across the street either.

Idahoskies.... Take her! I bought my son a chipmunk when he was 2! We went to gun shows from then on. He done great and I think learned valuable firearms lessons just from being around them.,

We would have lunch at our show...they always had hot dogs and pizza at concession and what kid doesnt like that. We would eat and rest and continue shopping. I used the stroller a few times.

and you have a daughter! I wanted a daughter, but God gave me 3 sons, and all is great! They are all men now least one is 21 and all know and respect firearms, and we still make occasional gun shows together.

And hey you never know where the Gun Show outing can Lead......

Pic.....(Justine Ayoob, 13, and proud author (Massad Ayoob) after winning national champion parent/child team title.

My son is 2. He's a climber and gets into everything. However, when I took him to a gun show he was very well behaved. Eventhough he didn't understand what I was telling him, I think he liked me explaining what everything was at the show. He was good for about 30min then He needed to go for a nap. Just make sure the kid(s) are well rested.

The fact that I took my well-bahaved daughter to gun and knife shows starting at about age 2ish, probably explains why she can't wait to turn 18 so she can receive my G26. I say take them and keep a close eye. It is a teachable moment. Either you teach them about firearms etc, or the local "kinnygarden" teacher may.

Geno

Take the 2 year-old. I took all three of my boys when they were in diapers and still on a bottle. How else could I and my wife go buy guns? Hire a baby sitter?? That's money to be spent at the show. I enjoy the hotdogs and hot chocolate too.

You know what his/her tedium threshold is better than we do. Just realize, there isn't much for kids to do there.

As long as he/she isn't running amok there should be no problem at all. The kid might get bored, or might think it's the neatest thing they've ever done.

Assuming you child is respectful and well behaved AND you are NOT one of those parents who believes your child is perfect, bring the kid. You concern should focus on how they will impact the other people at the show.

We always treated our kids like adults until they began acting like children. As they got older they perferred being treated as an adult and acted as such more and more.

My son went to his first gun show when he was really young. Today he is 23 and in med school. He was always interested in how things work. he loved all the different guns, decoys, stuffed heads, etc. It was a great learning experience dealing with different people and different stuff. Today I am betting he is the best armed student in med school.

If you use a stroller, please be aware of the other folks at the gun show. The last show I was at last weekend, this guy had one of those two seater-double wide strollers with two kids buckled in.

Twice while I was looking at items on the vendor tables, this azzhat hat ran into me with the stroller because he was looking at the tables while pushing the stroller instead of looking where he was going.

He slightly muttered "sorry" both times, and then continued on down the aisle, running into some other people the same way.

<<<<Took my kids to gun shows when they were in diapers.
My daughter used to hang out at the gun shop with me when her Mom was working the same hours too.
The experience didn't corrupt her in any manner though she is now a Martial Artist and has a preference for swords and spears and other exotic weaponry over guns.

I took my boy when he was 2 1/2 or 3, and like many gun shows, there was the familiar crackling of a taser somewhere at the show that when close by enough, freaked my little boy out to the point that he was screaming bloody murder and flailing his hands around, striking me and himself in the face. Totally unexpected. Everybody, and I mean everybody stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to us, he was screaming with such shrillness. I've never seen him do that before or since. Something about the sound of that taser terrified him to no end. The poor salesman with the taser was apologizing profusely, I told him no problem, it just isn't something you would think would cause such a fuss.

He's 4 now, and I think he might be okay, but I've not tried it again yet. It does make it hard to focus on what you are looking for, and when I'm at a gun show, I'm on a mission!

Is it a one day show? Takiing the 2yo is fine but your day may be cut short if he has a problem of some sort, fussing or whatever and needs to go home or be held all the time. If it's your only option go ahead and hope you have a nice day at the show.

It goes like this.... Can I look at that Garand? sure.... Ah... can you hold this?