An interesting interaction (kids)

[franconialocal]

First I'll set the scene....

I work as a police officer in a VERY small town in northern NH. It's the kind of town that has gossip/chit-chat make it to the little village store around a cup of coffee BEFORE you've even done what it was to start the gossip in the first place!! Any LEO here will tell you about "life in the fishbowl".

Yesterday I was standing enjoying a cup of my own and a young mother and approx. 5-6 y/o (??) boy came in the store. He immediately walked up to me and I said "Hi!"...."Did Santa treat you alright this Christmas?" Literally, he said "Yeah", and without taking a breath (and now pointing at my SIG) said "Is that to shoot people with?"

Oh man....let me tell you the feeling that I had. First of all I'm single, no kids so anything to do with kids is like "new terrritory" for me. Which brings me to my point/question........

For you dads out there with firearms in the house, or anyone with lots of exposure to kids.....how do you feel is the best way to explain to kids what guns are "for" IN REAL, HONEST, AND CERTAIN TERMS. I mean LITTLE kids (not the ages where they should "know better") Or are you more likely to "tip-toe" around the issue and try not to make is sound as bad as the reality really is (e.g. severe injury, death, etc.)?

I left it like this with him......I said

"Yes.....but it's a tool, and like any tool it needs to be used correctly and safely to work", "It isn't a toy". He seemed to struggle with this alot, and his mom told me he has several "toy" guns....thus the confusion. He said..."Did you ever have to shoot someone?" I replied "No...and I hope I never have to, but just like my pepper spray, baton, Taser, etc. these are tools to protect myself with in case I need them"......and pretty much left it at that.

Sorry if I'm posting "old news" but hey, it's all new to me!!! Even having been a police officer for several years now, I was somewhat un-prepared by this interaction because of his AGE more than anything.......thoughts????? Thanks in advance to the THR crew.

 

[Rottn]

This is exactly why there should be some kind of gun education at a young age.

 

[jcwit]

Not to find fault, but you should have said to also protect you and your mom and family. But overall I think you did good. Can't think of everything on the spur of the moment.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

My daughter years ago was in preschool did a poster that was titled ,"My dad shoots people"
Her teacher asked me if I was a police officer b/4 she would post it up. I was happy to hear her teacher was married to a Police officer too. I still have that poster put away. Teaching young children is hard because they dont forget. Saying It is a tool for protecting people is the right way to go.

 

[FatGeek]

I agree with Rottn and JC, and think your response considering you weren't prepared was excellent.

 

[rbernie]

Ya done fine.

When my kids asked me that question, I told them that I had a pistol to help protect us from Bad Guys, and that I would use it to shoot and maybe even kill Bad Guys if they tried to hurt us. That was evidently an acceptable answer, at least judging by their reaction.

Kids are introduced to the notion of 'bad guys' via cartoons at a very early age. So I used that to help explain the rationale for defensive weapons.

 

[Hardtarget]

I think you did real good. Maybe now would be a good time to do a little brainstorming with your fellow LEO re: the best way to respond to this situation. I'll bet more than one or two have tried to answer those questions! You did a good job. Kids can ask very tough questions at times. They catch us flat footed, don't they.

Mark

 

[trlcavscout]

Its harder with other peoples children. My son is 7 and has been shooting and hunting with me a couple years so he has seen it and understands it very well. But he still says I am gonna get in trouble for carrying my Glock when he see's it

 

[General Geoff]

Well the truly short and blunt reality is that it is there for you to shoot people with. It's just kinda hard for really young children to wrap their minds around why you'd want to shoot someone, or (conversely) why shooting someone is usually a bad thing.

Kids are introduced to the notion of 'bad guys' via cartoons at a very early age. So I used that to help explain the rationale for defensive weapons.

Agreed, the 'bad guy' response is an excellent way for young kids to understand.

 

[MaterDei]

Is that to shoot people with?

You should be honest without being overly 'scary'. Your answer was fine but equating a gun with a tool at that age is a little bit of a stretch. I think a simpler answer would have been, 'Yes, it is to shoot people with but only bad people. I hope to never have to shoot anybody with it but I carry it just in case I have to protect somebody. That's my job, to protect people'.

MaterDei (father of six)

 

[General Geoff]

reminds me of the movie, True Lies. When Arnie's wife asks him, "..Have you ever killed anyone??"

"...Yeah but they were all bad!"

 

[franconialocal]

Thank you

Thanks everybody. Great responses!!! Father of SIX!?!? You're a better man than me sir!!