Being taught to handle firearms the right way

[Old billy]

You know, teaching begin's at home. My dad was raised up during the great depression. He really was old school. Cut from a different cloth. He raised me up sorta the same way. I got my first shotgun when I was 9 years old and I never had a thought of taking it to school. See we need to teach our children to handle their affairs with their fist. Don't be scared. That is why we have bullies. The bullies are the ones I used to fight .I was taught to defend the kids less fortunate than me and I promise I grew up poor .no matter how many laws they pass nothing will change until we start at home

 

[bikerdoc]

Two lessons I teach all the grandkids

How to handle ( 4 rules) and shoot firearms properly.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I never had a thought of taking it to school.

When I was in high school it wasn’t uncommon to see pickup trucks in the school parking lot with shotguns hanging in the rear window rack. Many even had the windows left open.

Taking the gun to school wasn’t the issue. Having respect for others and being civil was.

Like you, I was taught not to mess with others. Sure there were bullies, but some of us stood up to them. So there weren’t many.

I’ve seen my hometown go from that to a place that police are so afraid of MS13 and other criminals all officers now wear military style body armor. It’s sad going there and seeing the change.

My view is that the far left “leadership”that took over were a bunch of cowards who were taught not to fight back so they try to appease the criminals. Instead of going after them, these cowards are now bullies who pick on the innocent law abiding citizens while cowering to the truly bad.

Frankly I’m fed up. I’m not sure how we get them out of office, but I’m trying to figure out how we fight them as they are more interested in “more gun laws” than public safety.

 

[AZAndy]

I did take a shotgun to school, when I was six. It was the only thing I could think of for show-and-tell. No one was perturbed by it. I guess that makes me kind of old.

 

[Iroquois]

I guess I’m in the “ Old School Class” as well. We used to shoot rabbits and pheasants after school. I kept 16ga shells in my high school locker and a SxS 16 in the trunk of my car. No one thought anything of it. If other buddies needed shells they knew where to find me. I don’t know what would happen today if that was done! I agree there has been some serious changes that have led to the social problems we are all experiencing today.
As far as bullies go, my son had a little problem with one. I told him to stand up to him, even if you got in a fight and lose he willl probably leave you alone. Sure enough it happened. My son got the better of him and that is the last time the bully or anyone else messed with him. Old school still works in certain situations.

 

[FL-NC]

I'm 50. No guns allowed on school grounds when I was a kid, but a knife in the pocket was no big deal. It would be took away if you were being an idiot with it. We did archery on the football field for a few weeks for PE.

 

[entropy]

That's why I teach 4-H Shooting Sports.

 

[buck460XVR]

See we need to teach our children to handle their affairs with their fist.

I too grew up poor. I too had my first gun before I was ten. Took a shotgun many a time to school and always had a jackknife in my pocket. While my dad taught me to stand up to bullies(as I did my own kids), he also taught me violence was always a last choice, when everything else failed. Kids thinking they can solve all of their problems(affairs) with their fist, grow up to be bullies themselves.

 

[Alte Schule]

My brothers and I were enrolled in the local police departments youth firearm program at an early age. Shooting .22's at their indoor range when your 8-9 years old was about as much fun is you could have at that age. Rifle and shotguns in pickup truck racks was a common practice. Had my first .22 & 20 ga. shotgun before I was 12 and we walked to places we could shoot. Never had a problem.
My department had an outdoor pistol and rifle qualification range that we shared with other law enforcement agencies. On weekends we could take family members to shoot. My son and I spent many a Saturday & Sunday afternoons with other families shooting .22's and as he got older some of my large caliber revolvers and hunting rifles. He was always a big kid, played offensive line in high school, so bullying was never a problem with him. He's been a LEO now for close to twenty years.
My grandson was enrolled in 4 H Shooting Sports when he was 9. Can't say enough good things about that organization and the fine folks that run it. Safety and learning the basics was their first priority and they preached it constantly. He won a Savage .300 Win Mag. at a clay shoot when he was 11. At one time he was my constant range partner at the local indoor range. He's in high school now and between sports and girls he doesn't have the time for Papa like he used too. Over Christmas break he did find time to go with me to shoot his new Ruger .45 SR 1911 Commander that Santa Claus brought him.

 

[entropy]

While my dad taught me to stand up to bullies(as I did my own kids)

Wow, your kids tried to bully you? Yes, I know what you mean. One of mine was expelled even though he deliberately did not fight back (so as not to be expelled); By the time his cracked rib had healed, we had convinced the principal and the District management it would be in their best interest if his expulsion was rescinded. The attackers wasn't. Lessons learned: My son-fight back anyway. The school district- Mama Bear gets really riled up when you mess with the cubs. The district paid for the medical bills, too. I didn't even have to do anything but sit there and look pissed.

he also taught me violence was always a last choice, when everything else failed.

My mom taught me to avoid it, my dad taught me to be good at it. The Army taught me to be even better at it.

 

[Hokkmike]

THEN...I was a teacher. I had a Smith&Wesson (now How) model 1500 .243 delivered by UPS to my school. My principal demanded to see it! (he liked guns) Stored it in a closet in my room (boxed of course) until day's end then took it home. No big deal.

NOW...Find a pocket-knife in your jeans at school and get a visit from the State Police then suspension or expulsion.

 

[Iroquois]

Getting back to the OP’s topic I was fortunate to grow up in a rural area. My father and uncles taught me important gun and shooting safety. When I did something wrong they let me know about it and i learned a lesson. Their friends and kids were taught the same thing. It was a different time when everybody respected firearms, respected safety, and respected one another when you were hunting as a group or individual. I think today a lot of that has diminished because people don’t seem to go afield as much. I’m not saying that people who still do are disrespectful to firearms, safety or one another, it just seems it’s not part of the culture as much as it was 40 to 50 years ago. For those of you that are teaching our youth may hat is off to you.

 

[coloradokevin]

You know, teaching begin's at home. My dad was raised up during the great depression. He really was old school. Cut from a different cloth. He raised me up sorta the same way. I got my first shotgun when I was 9 years old and I never had a thought of taking it to school. See we need to teach our children to handle their affairs with their fist. Don't be scared. That is why we have bullies. The bullies are the ones I used to fight .I was taught to defend the kids less fortunate than me and I promise I grew up poor .no matter how many laws they pass nothing will change until we start at home

Better yet, we should teach our kids to handle their differences with intellect before fists. Fights will happen, and that's inevitable (I had my share), but teaching children to reason through a problem isn't a bad thing, either. Beyond that, lots of training on guns, gun safety, and gun etiquette at home is probably important, too

 

[double bogey]

We had an ROTC range and rifle team when I went to school. The part of rotc i really enjoyed. I believe they use air rifles now. We drilled with M14's. We never got to sootthese however.

And bullies, gotta stand up to them, or they own you. Didn't win every fight, but never had to fight anyone twice, except my big brother. Also helps with a tough big brother five years older. Family reputation, although I never could fight as good as him.

 

[C5rider]

THEN...I was a teacher. I had a Smith&Wesson (now How) model 1500 .243 delivered by UPS to my school. My principal demanded to see it! (he liked guns) Stored it in a closet in my room (boxed of course) until day's end then took it home. No big deal.

NOW...Find a pocket-knife in your jeans at school and get a visit from the State Police then suspension or expulsion.

Hokkmike,

I went to Hughesville High, remember full gun racks and pocket knives (MANY Barlow and otherwise) and never had issue with either. We needed them for working on the farm, shop class and whatnot and if you EVER thought of pulling one of them for otherwise, you'd best hope to have some Vaseline and a quick minute or two. As my neighbor used to say, "It'll make extractin' 'em MUCH easier on ya!"

It IS amazing how things have changed. I remember another neighbor's boy didn't want to go to school- a LOT! They started getting fined and called me to "help them" get him into the car and to school one day. When we wrestled him outta the bathroom, he thought he wouldn't be made to go to school if he didn't have his clothes on. We didn't care!

Momma told him "You're gettin' out in front of that school with or without them on!" He wasn't too em-bare-essed when he got out. Didn't have to do that twice!

Like this thread's OP stated, it starts at home, whether it's firearm safety, social civility or just plain decency. There are forces at play trying to sway the hearts and minds of many, but in reality, they can't begin to overcome the influence that mom and dad can have in the life of a child, if they'll take the time to do so.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Getting back to the OP’s topic I was fortunate to grow up in a rural area. My father and uncles taught me important gun and shooting safety. When I did something wrong they let me know about it and i learned a lesson. Their friends and kids were taught the same thing. It was a different time when everybody respected firearms, respected safety, and respected one another when you were hunting as a group or individual. I think today a lot of that has diminished because people don’t seem to go afield as much. I’m not saying that people who still do are disrespectful to firearms, safety or one another, it just seems it’s not part of the culture as much as it was 40 to 50 years ago. For those of you that are teaching our youth may hat is off to you.

Small farming town, 140 residents, 30 kids in whole school.
Memorial day, 1987- the PRINCIPAL, a Khe Sahn vet, brought in his 1903 Springfield and passed it around.......and a stripper clip of live rounds!

 

[bullseye308]

I grew up just outside of Cleveland Ohio and was white in the wrong neighborhood. Had enough fights and bullying that once I got tired of getting whopped I learned how to return it and that pretty much ended it. My dad took me out a few times to shoot the only gun I remember him having, a Smith 4” 357 and taught me gun safety thoroughly efore we left the house. That took a few weeks until he thought I was safe enough to go to a public range and not have any issues.

In high school I had an old Chevy truck with a gun rack carrying a Marlin 30-30 and a Rem 870 and had no thoughts of them being stolen at school, the mall, or anywhere. That was in 88/89, what the heck happened after that I still don’t know. Things were so much simpler 30 years ago.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

That was in 88/89, what the heck happened after that I still don’t know.

Meth.
Greater societal acceptance of divorce and absent fathers.
The rise of socialist secularism.
The collapse of US manufacturing and the dawn of Archer Daniels Midland.
Rampant illegal immigration.

 

[Shootr56]

My dad would always ask who won the fight I was in at school. My grandmother was a teacher there so him not finding out wasn't an option. No matter who I said won he asked me if someone went to the hospital. He would tell me no one won unless someone ended up at the hospital. Dad wanted to scare me away from hurting other kids more than anything else. He knew I didn't want to send anyone to the hospital.

It almost happened anyway. I had a bully pick on me half a school year once. He was in the 5th grade. I was in the 4th. At that age being in a higher class automatically put you higher on the pecking order. Or so everyone thought. I finally ended up in a fight with that kid. He tried to grab my head. I tried to throw him through a window with steel frames around the glass. One window was tilted in open. I cracked his head but good on that. The blood gushed everywhere.

I nearly got expelled over that but the teachers all knew he had been picking on me. They figured it would work itself out eventually and that kids needed to learn to fight their own battles. I had not thought of throwing that kid through a window until the second I did it. Too much big time wrestling on TV would be my guess as to why I thought of such a thing.

From that moment on dad wasn't the only one worried about what I might do to another kid. I tended to lose control if someone started something with me and I didn't like that one bit. So I avoided every fight I could which was about 99% of the time. I even let people think I was chicken rather than fight.

Fighting is not a good thing unless you're forced into it. At that point you really should try to win. Not by throwing someone through a window but by learning to fight and doing it. I had fights after that. I even did things I would have never done had I thought about it before hand. But I never tried to hurt someone like that kid in the 5th grade again. For one thing I was a big kid and most people stayed out of my way. I got challenged by idiots wanting to make a name for themselves but I generally managed to talk them out of a fight. I didn't want to end up killing someone. Fighting is not a good thing. A split second and your life can change forever even if you're a kid. I could have cut that kid in the neck just as easy. I never thought of myself as mean but something just came over me and I did something terrible in half a second.

Don't teach your kids that fighting is an answer because it can become a very serious problem quick.

 

[buck460XVR]

Don't teach your kids that fighting is an answer because it can become a very serious problem quick.

It seems violence has become the norm lately Just watch the news. Folks don't like how someone else drives, they force them off the road and beat the crap outta them. Local Police Captain doesn't like the way a teenage female ref calls his kids basketball game, he goes out on the court and assaults her.

Big difference between standing up for yourself/defending yourself with your fists and violence. Same goes with guns. It's when either is used as an act of aggression when things get ugly.....and illegal. I help teach hunter Safety. Lotta bullies out there know how to properly and safely handle a firearm. IOW's, one can be a responsible gun owner and still be a jerk/bully. One only has to hunt public land for a short time to realize this. Bullying starts at home, as does aggressive behavior. Kids that grow up watching dad beat/verbally abuse mom and the kids, tend to accept it, and follow in Dad's footsteps. Kids that grow up with parents that bend the rules, ignore game, civil and criminal laws, tend to do the same as adults. Lot more to life than teaching kids how to use their fists and how to handle firearms. Folks need to teach responsibility and respect. This is why we could take guns/jackknives to school. This is why we didn't talk back to our parents, teachers and administrators and this is why we didn't use guns to kill multiple innocent victims when our feeling got hurt. There were/would be consequences for our actions and we knew it.

Folks tend to think of a bully as the fat kid standing out front of school stealing their lunch/lunch monies. Lots more to it than that. Hard to fight cyber-bullies with your fist, yet they do just as much damage to another kids ego as the punk eating your lunch. Adults bully kids too small to defend themselves, physically and verbally. Kids need to be taught how to handle those situations too. Most of the time making sure a child has good self respect/esteem and knows they are not the loser the bully claims they are, does more in the long run than just teaching them how to get in the first punch.

 

[jmorris]

A shotgun during dove season was almost always in my truck. Not all guns at school, when I was a kid, were in the parking lot either. ROTC had a small bore rifle range under the gymnasium.

 

[C5rider]

Folks need to teach responsibility and respect.

I think buck460 hit the nail on the head. That would address so many of today's ills. And, it wasn't taught simply by mom and dad. Heaven help me if any one of my neighbors came over to speak to my folks and inform them that I replied anything derogatory to them when they tried to correct me. In stark contrast to that, I loaned out my push mower and leaf blower to a local kid who asked to borrow them to mow his sister's place. When they didn't come back, I paid a visit to the boy and his father. His father's words to me were, "Well, you DID loan them to a 12-year old boy! What did you expect?" I know where his kid gets it from... My boy would have walked them both to the gas station, filled the tanks with his own money, mowed the guy's yard, filled the tanks again and THEN returned them to him. My boy knows that too, and I think that is what makes the difference.

There's a time to take your kid(s) side, and I know that it can be hard to tell the difference SOME times, but too often, little jimmy/suzy AND their parents could use a little education. Likely, they got it from their grandpa/ma and that shows the importance of teaching how to live peacefully with others when possible. That includes firearms, as they, like cars or computers or whatever else, can be used in a manner to unjustly get the upper hand.

P.S.- (and NO disrespect intended, but only an observation). To help illustrate how intertwined this could become, I direct you to the post above. I've heard that quote at the bottom of the post many times, and I've wondered how someone might react if my right to swing a baseball bat or golf club were "up to but not including the tip of your nose"? Or, to put it in more THR terms, the right of my target shooting ended at the border of your lane. Go ahead and change your targets, but don't infringe on my right to shoot at my target. We don't do that. We're more courteous, or at least SHOULD be. If so, do we see it while driving, waiting in line or any other aspects of daily life?
(again, no disrespect. And while I understand what they MEAN, I just don't think we understand how much it may imply to those who take it literally, searching for that atom of air-space between their right and your nose-hair.)

 

[entropy]

Kids that grow up watching dad beat/verbally abuse mom and the kids, tend to accept it, and follow in Dad's footsteps.

Not all. Because mine did, I vowed never to lay a hand on my wife, or kids. I almost lost it with my older son once, ironically because he had touched one of my guns. (it was a BP revolver that I'd deactivated)

 

[hdwhit]

There is no pat, simple explanation for what has happened to change the country from what we remember to what it is today.

There is no pat, simple solution for how to reverse - to the extent reversal is even possible - the effects of those changes.

But what can be said with certainty is that unless someone has been living on a deserted island since the 1960's, we are all responsible for our part in having created the world we have summoned into being before us today and the one person who can change it is looking back at us in the mirror.