Kids at Gun Shows?

[CraigC]

How bout instead of bitching you just get up early and get there when the doors open, or go at around 2 (nap time for the little ones)

I find that folks who do take their young children, particularly those who cannot behave themselves, are usually the most defensive about this subject and are unable to have an objective discussion about it. Somehow they think that society as a whole is obligated to put up with their rotten youngins.

 

[HKUSP45C]

I find it interesting how many people are upset over children in strollers. Your gripe is with the show organizers and their choice of a) venue or b) number of tables at said venue or c) placement of tables at said venue.

Crying about children being toted in strollers is, in my opinion, a bit absurd. Particularly, considering it has been the preferred method of child motility in the outdoors for quite some time. Carrying a kid, backpack harness or not, is a tiring endeavor. Expecting a toddler to walk for the length of time it takes to attend your average show is unreasonable. Expecting people with children to not attend public gatherings because they have children is, likewise, onerous.

How about we all just have a little patience with the parents who are trying to raise the next generation of gun nuts.

That said, I abhor an ill-behaved child, regardless of where in public I happen to be.

ETA: I have no children.

 

[Russ Jackson]

If children over the age of 5 can't act correct at a Gun Show it is the Parents fault. The problem today is Parents don't teach Children how to behave in public. The same rules apply for Church. This attention span excuse is just an excuse for bad Parenting. Strollers in my opinion and toddlers should be left at home. My Children never would have gotten out of line. Teach the necessity of Guns and Gun handling at early ages. Children have little disipline today and they crave it. Bad Behaved Children = Bad Parents...JMO...Russ

 

[MADDOG]

I take my 10 year old grandson every chance I get. We have a great time and we both learn things about each other everytime we go. He is well behaved and no problem at all. As said before, it is the parents who are to blame. Can you imagine what it is like at and around their homes. Teach the kids and take them to the gun show.

 

[loud-mouth shnook]

I've taken my son to 3 gun shows.
His first was when he was 9. He's now 13.

No thanks to his mother (my ex-wife), he does have gentlemanly manners, as is (I think) it's dad's job to see to.

He's been trained to handle firearms safely. In the shows where he's been, He was fascinated and wanted to know the details and histories of any of the guns that captured his interest. Yup, proud papa.

I 've seen other folks' young'uns who were allowed to run amuck about the place. Saw one instance where a 7-or-so year old li'l fella just walked up to a knife table and picked up a 9"-bladed Becker Knife and Tool Combat Bowie. The man behind the table asked where his parents were. Li'l guy says he didn't know. Right then, the yuppie dad yells, "HEY!!!" from 2 aisles over and yelled to the guy behind the table about what was he doing talking to his son. He's not allowed to talk to strangers and that he was HIS kid, followed by a couple of aisles full of men simultaneously shaking their heads.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Actually, I don't go to gun shows any more, and avoided the biggest one, I'd rather wait for the collectors associations one if I did go, The most interesting thing was the associations historic display...I have 3 kids, I have taken the oldest, and quite frankly the reception I got from having a baby at the gun show, well, I'll save my money, wasn't anything worth my money really, and the guys at my local gun shop are much nicer, they almost talked into laying away a nice .22, but they probably were right that buying him a 1911 wouldn't pass the smell test with mommy.

 

[doc2rn]

What's a kid?

CoRoMo it's a baby goat less than a year old. And who wants to take a baby goat to a gun show!

 

[jeepguy]

i think its a family afair also. however like anywhere else in public they need to behave. i also think that all we do to fight aginst unlawful gun laws & promoting the shooting sports, will be for these youngsters some day.(hopefully) not only are these potential future firearm enthusiast, they are also future purchasers as well.

 

[Joe Demko]

I've never once been annoyed by a kid at a gunshow. OTOH, I'm stunned at the number of adults who go to shows without a basic grasp of either etiquette or hygiene.

 

[Grey Morel]

I don't have any problem with children coming to gun shows. Safe and positive exposure is a GOOD lesson that will last their entire lives.

Conversely, I don't want to be near poorly trained or unruly kids any more than I want to be around stupid or unruly adults.

 

[EddieNFL]

I think people should leave their kids at home when attending gunshows, movie theaters, restaurants shopping malls or anywhere someone could be offended. After all, the offended were never children and should not be subjected to such torment.

 

[19&41]

Kids need to learn manners and be exposed to situations that require them. Many times an encouraging word about a kids' good behavior can be a big shot of self esteem. Kids need practical experience to understand the value of being responsible when necessary.

 

[rbernie]

I've never once been annoyed by a kid at a gunshow. OTOH, I'm stunned at the number of adults who go to shows without a basic grasp of either etiquette or hygiene.

^^^^
This.

My children have all been to gun shows, starting at 5 or 6 years of age. They have been taught manners, and they act accordingly (at least to the extent of their abilities). It's my job to be attentive to their behavior, and when they cannot mind their manners it's my job to remove them from the show floor and either reel them back in or call it a day.

If a kid is acting up and being disruptive, it's up to the adults to manage that. The issue that I have with small children at gunshows (much like grocery stores or restaurants) is usually related to the fact that whoever is dragging them around simply isn't willing to manage the wee little bundles of joy.

 

[Sam1911]

I've taken all of my children to gun shows many times. They don't leave my side and follow my instructions about touching. (Ironically, one of the only times I can say this.)

Quite honestly, I worry more about the other attendees than I do about my kids. (Heck, my 5 year old son was with me at one show where a guy bought a shotgun, walked out into the parking lot, and splattered himself all over the bed of his pickup.)

Childhood is fleeting. The moments we have with our children will be over VERY quickly, and the opportunities we have to share our lives, our interests, and our selves with them will never be sufficient. If I can involve mine in some aspect of my life, I DO!

Yeah, I'm an attentive parent when it comes to keeping their hands and attention where it belongs, and no, I don't believe any of mine have ever been in a stroller, but if we refuse to share "our" world with the young ones in the brief -- EARLY -- moments we have, we have no one but ourselves to blame when those 13, 14, ...18 year old young folks have moved on to their own interests and preoccupations by the time we think they're "ready" to join us in "our" world.

 

[LibShooter]

As far as I'm concerned, children should be welcome at gun shows. And if they get a little excited and forget their manners for a moment, I'll forgive them. After all, gun shows are chocked full of fun and exciting stuff.

It would do us all some good to remember what its like to be a kid.

 

[fireman5069]

Seems to me that common sense would/should prevail. It is something that families should be involved in as firearms would provide for security and also entertainment for said family. The maturity level of the child would have to be taken into consideration. I know of a time when I probably wouldn't have taken my OWN son to a show but he's 19 now and a little less "high spirited".

 

[Mr.Davis]

I don't want to be near poorly trained or unruly kids any more than I want to be around stupid or unruly adults.

This.

There are a lot of jerks at gun shows, and most of them are adults. I'm particularly sensitive to bad kids, but I can't remember a single instance of one causing a problem in my (admittedly limited) experience at gun shows.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I've taken my young boy 3 times.

As said many times above, if they cant behave its the parents fault.
If "anything goes" 99% of the time, they aren't going to know how to behave that 1% of the time.

Each time I have had several older guys come up to me and tell me it's good to see the next generation at the show. Maybe some of them are members here.......So we have felt welcome. A highlight of the show is typically eating a hot dog or two, and a cookie.

 

[rbernie]

My nine year old STILL remembers the time when he recognized an MG42 on display and called it out by name.

That, and the hotdogs.

 

[Charleo0192]

Why not, as long as someone is watching them and they are behaving, I see no harm in it. They might even find a new interest out of it.

 

[Starter52]

Kids under 12 are not permitted at some gun shows. The 1000-table show in Rochester, NY hasn't allowed them for years. But then, that's New York . . .

 

[Dulvarian]

If I didn't take my son (7), I would hear about it for weeks. He is well mannered, well behaved, and asks good questions. Like, Daddy, why is that guys selling that junky looking xxx (model gun) for $900 dollars when that same one over there was $450? Shouldn't you buy the one over there that looks better? (You should see the vendor's face when he asked that one. I thought the guy was gonna have a coronary. I just looked at my son and shrugged and said I didn't know, told him he should think about it. Never made eye contact with the vendor, I was afraid I would start laughing.)

He likes the knife displays, the old crazy books, the collectibles, etc. He gets to look, ask questions about different styles and stuff. He gets to ask the same questions when I take him to the gun store, or to the range.

I would rather see well mannered, behaved children, than loud-mouthed *unpleasant people* talking about things that everyone around them knows are complete *untruths*. I think everyone knows what I am talking about. They seem to show up in large numbers at every gun show I have ever gone to.

Here though, they aren't even really worth going to. Everything is well above market value, except sometimes the GA ammo table. I don't even know why I go, other than I like seeing the stuff.

 

[Fat_46]

My 8 year old daughter has been going with me since she was 5 - about the same time I took her to the range for the first time. The only problem she really has is she's strangely drawn to the Taurus pink pearl grips...and generally announces way too loudly "I think you need this one dad."

I'm actually amazed at the number of vendors who take the time to talk to her, ask her about shooting (one guy even quizzed her on the 4 rules of gun safety), buy her pop/jerky/donuts, or even just give her little things.

 

[gym]

It should be just like any other event, if the kid is well behaved I don't have a problem with them, if they are screaming their heads off, get em outside, if you are dropping your money the least you should expect is a parent to control their kid. I saw the local supermarket ask a woman to leave recentlly, her kids were so bad.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I am fine with them.