Kids And Guns

[longdayjake]

Well, I am wondering what all of you think about this philosophy of mine. Every time I am cleaning my guns my 18 month old son wants to help. He doesn't realize what they are and just wants to be doing what daddy is doing. Do you guys think it would be irresponsible for me to allow him to help me? Because I do let him help me. In fact I let him hold my pistols and I let him play with them as much as he wants before I finally put them away. Why? Because after he has played with them for a while he loses interest in them and won't ever touch them again unless I am working on them. I feel that in letting him handle them he won't be wanting to always play with them. So, do you guys think it is better to always keep them away from him or to let him handle them so much he gets bored with them?

Also, I never keep any ammunition where he can get it in case you are wondering. Not that he could actually pull the trigger on a 1911.

 

[Deleted member 66305]

18 months? I wouldn't let my kids touch my DVDs at 18 months.

When he's old enough to communicate verbally and have SOME understanding of what you're doing, sure.

 

[TAB]

I would not let a 18 month old near gun cleaning chemicals...

 

[Loomis]

It don't upset me any. Don't teach him how to load it yet though.

 

[Dale29]

I follow your thinking, it's ultimately your call, after all it's your kid.

I think all kids should be familiar with firearms and what they are for, and what they are capable of.

At what age you start training, is again....your call.

 

[Picard]

I think it's a good strategy. A gun isn't anything special when it's unloaded. It's only a harmless piece of metal. Make use of the opportunity to allow him to be comfortable around firearms so that he knows how to safely handle them. I agree that a large part about why firearms accidents happen around children is because of that mysterious aura that always surrounds them. They want to figure out why the parents keep on telling little Jimmy not to go into Daddy's closet.

He can't help but grow up around them in America. If you don't teach him the positive aspects of them, then the media will show him all the negative aspects through violent movies and violent news reports.

 

[Mauserguy]

At eighteen months old his body is absorbing minerals, including metals such as lead, as a high rate. I would keep him away from any gun cleaning activities for health reasons.
Mauserguy

 

[kingmonkey]

I would say that being around the cleaning chemicals probably isn't a good idea but other than that I don't think you are doing any harm. The kid is being exposed to them early and as long as you keep them well tucked away it'll be fine for when he gets older. My sister and her two kids live me and one day I caught the oldest playing with my guns (they were under the bed, unloaded). I didn't think he knew where they were. Well, I stopped him, told him why it was wrong to touch them without me being there and nicely informed him that if I caught him touching them again I'd turn his ass purple. When he gets a little older I'm going to get him a .22 rifle and teach him to shoot.

 

[Treo]

I'm W/ the people that are concerned about the chemicals. other than that go for it

 

[halfbreed808]

Yeah I'd watch the cleaning agents and lubricants around him. Other than that I bought my two boys BB guns when they were 2yo. My wife almost had a fit, saying it wasn't safe. I must have done something right, they know that guns aren't toys and always apply the safety steps whenever they handle even airsoft guns. I had them help me breakdown, clean, relube, and reassemble some of my guns when they were around 10yo. They don't have any desire to touch a gun unless we're going shooting. Guess if you have them clean and lube the guns enough it kinda kills that "curiosity" bug, also drilling 'em on safety over and over again doesn't hurt.
Have fun teaching your son the joys of shooting. It's your call on when you want to start teaching him though, take care and have fun.

 

[kingmonkey]

What kind of BB gun did you get your sons? I'm thinking about getting my nephew one. He's three so I figure if your two boys can shoot at two he can shoot at three.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I do my own gun cleaning...but I have an 18 month old son too, and I do not intend for him to grow up curious about guns...I intend for him to grow up just like my 15 year old son has... Very familiar with guns...

Curiosity kills...

 

[Neo-Luddite]

The rule we used (and use with the littlest one still); you may handle any firearm that Mom/Dad/Grandpa is ALSO holding at the same time. If they want to handle any weapon in this manner, they just need to ask. One rule, simple to understand.

My father-in-law gets credit for this one--it has worked VERY well for us.
Curiosity is satisfied and encouraged, practice checking the chamber and learning names of things begins, and safety is the priority.

 

[Bubbles]

My daughter is three years old and she was the same way with the guns. We didn't clean them around her, but she was allowed to handle them unloaded until she was bored with them. Now she doesn't give them a second glance.

Now, if there were only some way to get her over her fascination with knives...

 

[XDKingslayer]

It's up to you. Personally, I didn't let my children touch them until they were old enough to comprehend the four rules. I taught them about them. I explained to them what they were, but they weren't allowed to touch.

You have to do enough to have them get over the curiousity. If they're curious, they'll get themselves into trouble.

 

[#shooter]

There are two reasons why I think your child should not touch or watch you clean the guns. First are the health concerns of cleaning chemicals and lead. They can be inhaled, absorbed, and swallowed. He is developing at a great rate and any minor exposures become magnified. This may slow development. It is just not worth the risk.
Second, I would not let him “play” with any firearm. They are not toys. He cannot communicate and has no way of knowing why you do what you do. He is just imitating you and does not understand what you say. If he sees you clear, check, and pull the trigger to disassemble he will do it as well, but not in that order. He also does not have the index finger strength to pull the trigger, so what he will do is point the gun towards himself and push with both thumbs to make the “trigger sound,” not a good idea. At best he will learn bad habits that are hard to break (like sweeping the barrel) when you later teach him how to shoot. At worse he may get a loaded gun and try to work the trigger. Why risk it? Wait until he can repeat the 4 rules and understand why they are important. You will have plenty of opportunity to teach him in a few years when he thinks you know everything. Enjoy that time together before he thinks you know nothing.

 

[Linda]

I am the BIGGEST advocate of satisfying the curiousity of the children. I instruct this in the classes I instruct.

But I must say, I totally cringed when I read that you let him "play" with them.:banghead: He must be taught to respect the gun. So that means you start instructing to him NOW, that he does not touch them unless Daddy is holding/showing it to him. He does not point it at anything. That includes any toy guns in his future. He does not put his finger near the trigger. It is imparative that you use ALL the safety rules around him, because you are the greatest influence in his life right now. (Don't worry, when he's a teenager, you'll be the studipest person in his life)

When he's about 3 or so, take him to an outdoor range, and let him see what a bullet will do and the destruction that happens.

Please stop letting him "play" with them. You don't let him "play" around a hot stove, right?

 

[The Bushmaster]

Sure...Tell your 18 month old son that he's too young to play with daddy's toys...Go ahead...And when he grows up he'll have little or no interest in firearms. I started my kids (4 boys and 1 girl) at that age or a few months older and I have 5 pro-gun grown kids now of which three are hunters. But don't let them just play with them. Start teaching them the proper way to handle them and make sure that they know that they can not see them without you or their mother in attendance. Never turn down a request to see them.

 

[3KillerBs]

Keep the chemicals and the lead away from him.

But you might let him "clean" his toy guns nearby while you're cleaning your real ones -- perhaps while confined in his high chair so you know he can't get into a danger zone.

Don't bet on him not being able to pull a trigger. Kids can do more than most adults thing and they grow FAST.

The cap pistols the 2yo plays with have a trigger pull that's heavier than my Mark III and he can pull that easily AND he knows that you have to cock a revolver too.

 

[22-rimfire]

Definitely keep the chemicals and lead away from your child. Young kids are very susceptable to exposure and they have a habit of putting things in their mouths.

I wouldn't let an 18 month old child anywhere near my guns if I could avoid it. If something happens and I certainly am not suggesting that it will, you will be viewed very poorly by law enforcement and child services. All that said, my wife would have an absolute fit if I did this.

I hestitate to leave a 6 year old have much access, but I'm pretty strict and don't believe in any kind of real training other than "DON'T TOUCH EVER" until they are older with real guns. I would start with BB guns and not pellet guns and that happens around 1st or 2nd grade.

 

[longdayjake]

Just let me clarify what I mean by "play." For an 18 month old every thing he does is either playing, eating, or pooping. On occasion I can get him to sleep but any other time he is playing, eating, or pooping. (sometimes all at once) If he is enjoying himself we call it playing. Now, maybe a picture would be better to show what I meant by playing. This picture was taken about 6 months ago.




Also, when I clean my guns in the house the only chemicals involved are hot water and dish soap and I do it in the sink. I only use chemicals outside by edict from the boss. He doesn't get to go outside with me. However, I must admit that I didn't realize that the chemicals might be harmful to him just by touching them and am greatful that my wife made that rule. Thanks for the info fellas!

 

[Gairwyn]

What a cutie!!
Never underestimate children. My Daughter at 12 mos was popping the batteries out of the tv remotes and putting them back together. She presses every button and pulls every knob so pulling triggers is just a matter of time for them. She's three now. She also wants to help me clean up the guns but I don't want her around any of the chemicals and such.

 

[JohnL2]

That pic is hilarious.

At 18 months old I am surprised that he doesn't "mouth" the gun parts. It seems all babies do that. He is probably just curious as to just what you are engaged in.
I agree that keeping junior away from the funky chemicals is good policy.

 

[JackBurtonJr]

Not that he could actually pull the trigger on a 1911.

1) Never underestimate the strength of a young child.

2) Always think that if something can be done, no matter how unlikely, a child will probably do it at some time.

 

[3KillerBs]

Quote:
Not that he could actually pull the trigger on a 1911.
1) Never underestimate the strength of a young child.

2) Always think that if something can be done, no matter how unlikely, a child will probably do it at some time.

DS#1, before he was 2yo, not only disassembled the covers off the baseboard hot water heaters, but pulled the swing-down leg off the freearm piece of my sewing machine completely off.

No one, not even the expert repairmen, have ever been able to get that arm back in correctly. The spring is so stiff and strong that no one has ever believed that a toddler pulled the assembly apart. But he did.