Dont you wish that everyone who hated guns would still take their kids to the range?

[Zach S]

Somehow this slipped my mind until now. Yesturday while filling out the yellow form for my mil-spec, a woman and (I guess) her son came in the store. The guy asked if we rented pistols. We do, so I showed him where the rentals were, rattled off what they were and what they were chambered for, etc, then I asked if they had shot there before. Since they hadn't I handed them the clipboard with the range rules, asked them read them and sign it with their names and address. Then I asked if both of them would be shooting, and the woman said "Not me, I hate guns." Everyone got quiet, I broke the awkward silence by chucking and pointing out that we dont hear that very often, and asked the young man what he wanted to start with, which IIRC was the G21.

Anyway, he fired the G19, G17, and the G22 as well, he also rented the S&W .44 and I think the Ruger .357, and she picked up the tab. After they were done in the range, she came to me and quietly asked if it was okay to hate guns, I told her it was fine by me, just that hearing it caught us off gaurd. I started to tell her I was happy to see her bringing someone to the range even though she hated guns, and I wished that more people that hated guns were like her, but Jeff interupted me.

Makes me feel all warm and tingly, knowing that even though she hates guns, she's still willing to take her son to the range.

 

[steveno]

parents are probably afraid that there kids might enjoy it. especially since they haven't had a chance to brain wash them yet

 

[jefnvk]

I don't care what people like or hate, as long as they don't make me follow their beliefs.

But yeah, I wish people wouild do the same. Or parents at least give their kids permision to go shooting with someone else.

 

[nordaim]

This is one of the reasons that my friends and I invite anyone out to our range sessions with us, especially our friends who are anti-gunners.

I feel that every parents shoud to teach their children to be responsible, especially with firearms, so that they are de-mystified about the whole thing. All people should have an understanding of firearms so that they are nothing more than a tool, not a weapon, not some scary device that goes *BANG* if you look at it wrong.

That is one of the reasons why, even if a friend of mine will not touch a gun (and I know several), I ask them if I can show them how to properly handle one. A few have taken me up on it and I went through how to check if a firearms is loaded, how to unload it if it is not attended, as well as covering the 4 basic rules.

I also feel that parents should be aware of and active in their children's lives, whether it is just for fun or a serious endeavor. My father was informed about my interest in Role Playing and read my AD&D rule books before he would let me play the game. When I took an interest in hunting, he laid down some ground rules, 1. You will take a firearms safety course and pass it. 2. We will visit some farmers and get their permission to hunt as well as know their rules for their land before we ever go out.

He made sure I as informed of these things and then we both followed through with it, including him taking the NRA course with me.

That folks, is good parenting.

Disclaimer: Yes, this is rather idealized, I am not a parent at this time, just have clear ideas of what I want to do as a parent.

 

[gobabygo]

That's really interesting. How old was the boy?

I wonder if it was something like is birthday present or something like that.

 

[TechBrute]

Hey, even Sarah Brady bought a gun for her son.

 

[Justin]

If a person wants to sit around and hate guns, that's fine with me. However, when they try to force their irrational beliefs on me, that's where I have a problem.

 

[HighVelocity]

Did she say why she hated guns? When I met my wife she was deeply afraid of guns because she associated them with an extremely traumatic experience. It took a long time but I finally got her to the range and she now goes 2-3 times a month. She now knows that is was the person and not the gun that was responsible for what happened to her.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Sarah Brady doesn't hate all guns, just YOURS.

 

[Rico567]

This is a very good thread. I believe that one of the things that those of us can do who own and use guns, and believe that the RKBA is important, is to pick ONE person who doesn't use guns (and I don't care if it's one person a year, or one in a lifetime), and get them out to the range and give them proper instruction in loading and shooting a gun. I have seen this on a number of occasions, and have never seen an instance where the person didn't enjoy it, and in most cases was amazed and delighted by the experience. Get this done, and all the nonsensical "juju" that is peddled by the anti-gunners will be meaningless to that person.
No one is "naturally" scared of a gun. I have seen a 110-pound girl, who by her own statement has never fired a pistol in her life, take my Colt 1911 and hit every target I set up. These opportunities are perhaps rare, but we all need to be on the lookout for them, and be prepared to give our time and the use of our guns and ammo to advance firearms knowledge and skills.

 

[LHB1]

As a parent and grandparent, I firmly believe that all parents should water safe (teach them to swim) and gun safe (teach them to handle guns safely) their children for everyone's protection and wellbeing. This rule should apply regardless whether the parent likes water sports or guns sports. It is for the children's safety if nothing else and equally important with teaching them to drive a car safely. (Hmmm. Hope the young people do better with guns than some of them do with cars.)

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[Zach S]

That's really interesting. How old was the boy?

I'm not sure. 15 maybe? I'm terrible at guessing ages. Then again a lot of people dont look their age, he may have been a big 12 year old.

Did she say why she hated guns? When I met my wife she was deeply afraid of guns because she associated them with an extremely traumatic experience.

Maybe its just a personal preference. I dont think it was a tramatic experiance, considering she brought someone to a range. She didnt jump when she heard the gunfire, she just pulled up a chair and went off to her own little world while she waited.