Grandpa Shooter
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Story reported by ABC 15 News----Phoenix AZ
What would your kids really do if they found a gun?
Reported by: Anne Yeager
Email: [email protected]
Last Update: 3/09 11:26 pm
From behind a two-way mirror, parents, a police officer and ABC15 crew members were surprised when watching what a group of children would do if they encountered a gun.
We try to teach our kids to do the right thing, but we don't always know how well our lessons stick in their minds.
We wanted to test a group of children to see what would happen if we planted a real gun in their mix of toys.
Would the children alert parents if they found a gun or would they play with it?
With extreme precaution to ensure no child was ever in danger parents, a police officer, and ABC15 crew members watched a group of children from behind a two-way mirror.
To make sure the gun was safe, police removed the magazine, checked the chamber and removed the firing pin.
Two groups of children ranging in age from 2 to 12 were tested.
As the first group entered the playroom, their parents, who agreed to the test, watched from behind a double-sided mirror not knowing how their children would respond.
The first group of children quickly immersed themselves, exploring Legos, train sets, and Barbie's Playland.
We talked with parents before our test.
"It's comforting to see it like this first," said Jeannie Wilhoit.
Bruce Hartig added, "I would hope Nicholas would recognize it's a real gun."
When we brought in our test bin and it quickly caught the children's attention.
The children dumped the bin to get more toys, but an 8-year-old found the gun in less than 50 seconds.
He pointed it at a smaller boy and pulled the trigger.
Another boy joined in, wrestled it from him, and swung it around the room triumphantly.
"What I saw [was] several kids seriously injured or killed," Lockhart commented.
The parents were left understandably shaken.
"As soon as he pointed it at his head, my heart stopped," said Hartig with tears in his eyes.
Mike Wilhoit added, "There's my son pointing a gun at somebody else. You're like, 'Wow...scary.'"
None of the nine children went for help.
In our second round of tests, there were seven children ranging in age from 4 to 12, including a 12-year-old Boy Scout.
His parents hoped he'd do the right thing.
When we took our test bin into the second group, we instructed the children what to do in case of an emergency.
It took a 10-year-old boy just 20 seconds to find the test gun.
He pointed the gun and attempted to shoot it.
The Boy Scout wasn't watching at first, but when he saw what was going on, he asked to see the gun.
The 10-year-old tossed the gun to him.
When the Boy Scout got it, he didn't do what his parents thought he'd do.
He looked into the barrel instead.
In all, 16 children were included in two tests and none of them alerted a parent.
We informed the children about the test they were placed in taught them about gun safety.
It's a serious conversation that can mean all the difference when you're not there.
As for how to protect your children, experts say the best way is if you have to have a gun, make sure it's properly stored with a gun lock installed.
What would your kids really do if they found a gun?
Reported by: Anne Yeager
Email: [email protected]
Last Update: 3/09 11:26 pm
From behind a two-way mirror, parents, a police officer and ABC15 crew members were surprised when watching what a group of children would do if they encountered a gun.
We try to teach our kids to do the right thing, but we don't always know how well our lessons stick in their minds.
We wanted to test a group of children to see what would happen if we planted a real gun in their mix of toys.
Would the children alert parents if they found a gun or would they play with it?
With extreme precaution to ensure no child was ever in danger parents, a police officer, and ABC15 crew members watched a group of children from behind a two-way mirror.
To make sure the gun was safe, police removed the magazine, checked the chamber and removed the firing pin.
Two groups of children ranging in age from 2 to 12 were tested.
As the first group entered the playroom, their parents, who agreed to the test, watched from behind a double-sided mirror not knowing how their children would respond.
The first group of children quickly immersed themselves, exploring Legos, train sets, and Barbie's Playland.
We talked with parents before our test.
"It's comforting to see it like this first," said Jeannie Wilhoit.
Bruce Hartig added, "I would hope Nicholas would recognize it's a real gun."
When we brought in our test bin and it quickly caught the children's attention.
The children dumped the bin to get more toys, but an 8-year-old found the gun in less than 50 seconds.
He pointed it at a smaller boy and pulled the trigger.
Another boy joined in, wrestled it from him, and swung it around the room triumphantly.
"What I saw [was] several kids seriously injured or killed," Lockhart commented.
The parents were left understandably shaken.
"As soon as he pointed it at his head, my heart stopped," said Hartig with tears in his eyes.
Mike Wilhoit added, "There's my son pointing a gun at somebody else. You're like, 'Wow...scary.'"
None of the nine children went for help.
In our second round of tests, there were seven children ranging in age from 4 to 12, including a 12-year-old Boy Scout.
His parents hoped he'd do the right thing.
When we took our test bin into the second group, we instructed the children what to do in case of an emergency.
It took a 10-year-old boy just 20 seconds to find the test gun.
He pointed the gun and attempted to shoot it.
The Boy Scout wasn't watching at first, but when he saw what was going on, he asked to see the gun.
The 10-year-old tossed the gun to him.
When the Boy Scout got it, he didn't do what his parents thought he'd do.
He looked into the barrel instead.
In all, 16 children were included in two tests and none of them alerted a parent.
We informed the children about the test they were placed in taught them about gun safety.
It's a serious conversation that can mean all the difference when you're not there.
As for how to protect your children, experts say the best way is if you have to have a gun, make sure it's properly stored with a gun lock installed.