How do you guys keep your kids from busting you in public while CCW?

[klutchless]

I was at a local store today when a man and his young son walked in behind me .The man looked very uncomfortable in a long dress shirt untucked. The temperature was in the 90 degree range and his face was flushed red.I was standing in the check out line when his son just busted out look dad he has a gun like you pointing at my sidearm.I turned and the mans face was a complete blank like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.Obviously this man had made sacrifices in clothing and comfort to keep his gun a secret.So my question is how do you teach your child not to do this the boy may have been four or five
at most. I don't have children yet just wondering how to avoid this position when I do.

 

[esheato]

I do my best to put it on while he's not watching...out of sight out of mind. I also remind him frequently that we don't talk about guns outside of the house.

Seems to work pretty good so far.

 

[TMA-1]

While this would be very, very awkward to deal with, this situation is really almost the same as a kid airing the family's dirty laundry in public, such as saying, "My mommy said she can't believe you wore a white wedding dress."

Kids should always be taught at an early age that you don't reveal family information to those outside the family. That way, "Daddy's gun" is just another topic on the list of things not to talk about. And if the kid doesn't listen, then it's time to parent-up and reinforce with appropriate punishment.

 

[230therapy]

How do you guys keep your kids from busting you in public while CCW?

Teach them manners.

 

[Sam1911]

1) Don't make guns a big mystery that draws their attention. Kids raised around guns, seeing them every day, seeing them carried often, and growing up with the understanding that guns are a normal, everyday part of life are less likely to make any kind of fuss about it.

2) When they are old enough to have some sense of propriety, let them know that talking about guns outside of the home, range, gunshop, and certain associates' homes is not polite.

3) Don't worry too much about it. Kids will always be kids. If they were perfect ... well, they'd be better than us! You're legal to carry, right? So your own embarrassment or sense of being caught off-guard is about the worst likely problem you face. Maybe you'll have a conversation about it with someone you hadn't intended to ... maybe with a police officer even while you're showing your credentials ... but that's not the end of the world and you should be prepared to have to do that anyway. Your kids aren't the only thing that might "out" you. Be ready for wind gusts, "printing," unanticipated interactions with law-enforcement, those "huggy" people at church, OTHER PEOPLE's kids who are short, curious, indiscreet, and look at folks' waists all day, and on and on. Don't treat your kid like the devil himself for making a relatively natural faux pas.

 

[klutchless]

I feel a little at fault for this I was OC the other man aparently was CC.I guess it comes to the kid and parenting to avoid this.

 

[Rail Driver]

To be honest it's really not a big deal. Sure it could cause a little hassle, but unless you're carrying somewhere you shouldn't be then it likely won't be anything more than a learning experience and maybe a little extra time out of the day or a discussion with an officer. Look at it like an opportunity to teach your child something.

 

[0311]

+1 On 230Therapy's response. Just explain it is not good to point.

On other's response's, I don't agree keeping secrets is a good idea. It is tough with the young ones, they love to talk, especially with what dad is doing. Situational awareness.

 

[bigfatdave]

Why would you be concerned about being "outed" anyway?

 

[Snowbandit]

Don't make your carrying a gun an unusual occurrence in the life of your child. My kids never seen me outside the house without a gun and never thought anything more about it. They wouldn't anymore mention my gun than they would my underwear.

 

[Sav .250]

With (young) kids..........expect the un-expected!

 

[M-Cameron]

ide be willing to bet that guy(and probably anyone else paying attention), assumed you were probably a police officer.....

if you dont over-react......chances are pretty good no one else is going to think anything of it.

 

[jfdavis58]

Duct tape-several layers. Wrap it over the mouth and around the whole head.

Do the hands too, that way that don't touch anything and possible break something.

 

[AirForceShooter]

Billy Nobody cares if Daddy is carrying.
It's no big deal.
So you don't have to announce it

AFS

 

[SleazyRider]

With (young) kids..........expect the un-expected!

There's a lot of wisdom in that statement. When my grandson was too young to know he shouldn't put his hands into grandpa's pockets for change for the candy machine, he one day, when I was distracted, put his hand in my pocket and found my Ruger LCP! I intervened immediately, but learned a very important lesson that day about carrying around little kids.

 

[ForumSurfer]

I agree with post 5. My kids are involved with shooting so it isn't a big deal. We've also discussed that it isn't an issue or a big secret, but it is best not to be discussed in public, around strangers or pointed out. Of course, the ever comedic 8 year old pointed out: "Like passing gas!!??"

Yes, like passing gas...no one needs to know.

I have also explained (multiple times because kids have particularly thick heads) that carrying does not make me a superhero, and if that we ever get into a bad situation they should do exactly what I say (even if it makes no sense to them) and never point out that I am carrying. The last thing I want to do is be caught up in some situation where it may be best just to be good witness only to have my 12 year old yelling "Stop or my Dad is gonna shoot you!"

Of course, kids are imperfect little creatures. Stuff happens. My clumsy twelve year old nearly knocked himself out cold in a grocery store after tripping and face-planting into my IWB-carried sidearm. At which point he proclaimed "I think your glock busted my head open," and he quickly stopped talking and looked around like he dropped the f-bomb accidently. I just smiled, made sure the mag was seated, made sure he didn't need stitches and moved on.

 

[doc.lonestar]

it is all in how you handle it - if you make it a huge production then it is going to be a huge production in your childs mind. If you explain it simply and move on that is they will view it - simple

Mine grew up seeing me with a pistol on my hip for more years than not - as they got a little older it was a common thing to have parents carrying so there was never an issue.


Side note - born and raised in Cleveland Oh - I used to think 90 was hot until I moved to Texas lol

 

[klutchless]

SleazyRider that's why I have been concidering CC when I have kids just so its not something shiny in their thick little heads.At least until they get old enough and responsable enough to handle firearms.

 

[RyanAnchors]

Why would you be concerned about being "outed" anyway?

+1
Even if you are in a CCW only state, your kid verbally outing you is not going to get you an open carry/brandishing charge.

Don't make your carrying a gun an unusual occurrence in the life of your child. My kids never seen me outside the house without a gun and never thought anything more about it. They wouldn't anymore mention my gun than they would my underwear.

+1000

 

[ny32182]

I don't have kids, but, I don't think I would see the point of even discussing CCW with a kid as young as 4 or 5; he really isn't old enough to understand, so, I would likely be using esheato's approach... out of sight/out of mind.

Even if I was the dad in that situation... I don't really see the big deal. First, the statement "look, he has a gun like yours" does not really say anything about CCW in the first place. I have guns I'm not carrying at any given time. Second, if someone were to assume I was carrying based on that comment, it doesn't really affect my life, so... pretty much a non-issue all the way around I think.

 

[ForumSurfer]

I don't have kids, but, I don't think I would see the point of even discussing CCW with a kid as young as 4 or 5; he really isn't old enough to understand, so, I would likely be using esheato's approach... out of sight/out of mind.

You kind of need to discuss it because it is there. They are always at your side, hugging you, playing, bumping into you or looking up your shirt because they are short little buggers.

Four or five year olds understand way more than you think and you find that out quick after living with them.

basic dicipline and being open and honest fixes most issues with kids.

 

[ny32182]

FS, I am happy to say I will just have to take your word on that for now.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

It is very easy, I simply told my daughter not too. Kids that learn proper behavior have no problems following the rules.

 

[Nushif]

You're legal to carry, right? So your own embarrassment or sense of being caught off-guard is about the worst likely problem you face. Maybe you'll have a conversation about it with someone you hadn't intended to ... maybe with a police officer even while you're showing your credentials ... but that's not the end of the world and you should be prepared to have to do that anyway. Your kids aren't the only thing that might "out" you. Be ready for wind gusts, "printing," unanticipated interactions with law-enforcement, those "huggy" people at church, OTHER PEOPLE's kids who are short, curious, indiscreet, and look at folks' waists all day, and on and on.

This. I understand the need to be discreet, but it's not illegal ... it's not shameful ... its not some sort of big faux pas ... why so worried? 8)

 

[GRIZ22]

1) Don't make guns a big mystery that draws their attention. Kids raised around guns, seeing them every day, seeing them carried often, and growing up with the understanding that guns are a normal, everyday part of life are less likely to make any kind of fuss about it.


Do this and the rest will come naturally. I was a LEO and when my oldest daughter was about 18 months old she wanted to touch my gun. Even at that age I made her understand that she could do it anytime she wanted if she asked. After that she would come up to me and ask if she could touch my gun, I'd say yes, she would take her index finger, and gently tap the butt of the gun. Other education followed and I never had any problems of any kind with my kids. She was 7 or 8 when she realized all daddies don't carry guns.