Kids at Gun Shows?

[buck460XVR]

This is very predictible. I have friends in their early to mid 60's, and been single all their life, they don't like kids any place doing anything.

exactly...... but they're the ones that have the yippin', ankle bitin' dogs that they dress up and treat like children. Ever notice how they insist on takin' 'em everywhere, ridin' in their lap, with their heads out the window, as they drive? Their the same one's that bring them to high school sporting events even tho there are signs that say they're not allowed and wonder why folks get upset when they step in dogcrap.


........sorry, had to vent.

 

[bearmgc]

I know old folks with grandchildren who don't like kids, and prolly didn't like their own when they were kids. Heck, they prolly were mean kids themselves. Seems more like a character defect than lifestyle.

 

[kyhuntsman94]

I took my 16 month old son to a gun show in Dayton and he loved it. I had to use a stroller for I had a gun to sell and carrying him and or using a backpack was just too much with the gun. He lasted 2.5 hours and received numerous compliments on his behavior, and his looks (He's adopted so I can brag about his looks without coming off as conceited for I had nothing to do with them)! For those of you that do not like strollers perhaps you should think a little about the adult in charge of the child. Perhaps they are not physically capable of carrying or even using a backpack. Perhaps this is the only way the adult gets to go to a gunshow. Life is too short to get ticked off or annoyed over something as petty as a child in a stroller. If anything we should all be encouraged that the child is at a gun show!!

I will admit that I used to get a little annoyed when I was younger with those parents who brought their children to gun shows in a stroller, that is until I got a little older, matured a bit, and my brothers started having children. Once I had nephews and nieces things really changed. My perspective changed and then I thought what a great way for children to be exposed to the gun culture. You never know when gun shows will be banned and I want my son to be exposed to guns at the earliest age possible. I hope and pray that he develops an interest in guns and hunting and will do whatever I can to help with that.

 

[oldbear]

bearmgc

Its been awhile since I met so many people-hating people in one thread, such as this.
Nobody said anything about abiding the misbehaved kids, and of course someone just had to imply that. So many "me only" types that I'm ashamed for you. Maybe that's another reason why the internet has caught on so well....they don't actually HAVE to physically interact with REAL humans.

I have only scanned the 100 + posts in this thread and IMHO the only truly semi mean or rude posts have been by folks who seem to believe that their children do not have to behave. In most cases when a child continues to misbehave it’s not generally the child’s fault but the fault of the parent who allows the child to continue to act up.
I’m going to be pro-active here, No my son was not the perfect well behaved little gentleman every time I took him somewhere, but when he acted up, as all kids will, I attempted to correct his behavior.

 

[bearmgc]

Oldbear, yer just too dang saintly....

 

[Nushif]

Naw, there is a pretty good bit of kid hating going on. It's subtle, for sure. But ti's there.
I find though that's pretty common within any culture that's mostly relegated to the 50+ crowd.
There is such a thing as generational conflict. And whent he majority of any given subculture is
a) scared and
b) doesn't like them dang youngn's
it's pretty normal to see a very slight cant towards any kids that don't act like "little grown-ups" as popularized in the 20s and 30s.
I imagine the same happens at bingo halls and conversely at clubs and discos. There are certain venues that simply don't cater to well ... the people that are the majority users.

Nothing wrong with that. But personally I can't wait until the entire culture catches up with the times a little bit and starts appreciating the 21+ crowd a little bit more, instead of treating them all like nuisances. After all! Who are we gonna bring our guns to when all the great smiths have massive arthritis?

 

[coppermouse]

I take them, but they are well behaved and know not to touch anything without permission.
I think it is good to expose them to guns

 

[Sudden Impact]

Those kids are the future of our firearms heritage.

When they are well mannered I think it's great!

When they are not well mannered...well...just look at the parents for full explanation.

 

[gym]

I don't think my mother liked kids, lol

 

[rogertc1]

Kids grow up to be gun buyers. I always took my kids when they were growing up. I taught them not to grab anthing without my permission. Kids should go with their parents, Should be a requiremnent.

 

[AhHeck]

Usually the whole family goes to gunshows, all six of us. Sometimes it is just me on the older two.

They like to go, my oldest likes to haggle over knick knacks and buys something at every show.

We look at everything together and talk about what we like and aren't interested in, and what would be fun to take to the range or hunting.

For us it is a family thing. I remember going with my Dad and Uncles to gunshows as a kid.

I've never worried about what other people thought about my kids being there; but then I tend to not get worked up about other peoples opinions.

 

[BlkHawk73]

My son goes with me sometimes. He's 9 now but has been going for a couple years now. He's great. He learned years ago about the "do not touch" rule and follows it.
You can't blame the kids at the shows as being the problem, point the fingers at the parents. 1) You keep and eye on your kids first. 2) Teach them correctly and you don't need to be as concerned with #1.

On the other side...ever listen to some of the tales the parents tell their kids at the shows?

 

[vikinggirl]

I agree with most of the folks. Children should be exposed to guns at an early age so that they are not frightened or find them threatening.

If the kids act up, then correcting that behavior or removing them should be the parents priority. I find too often that when parents are in public they spend too much time doing what they want to do, rather than paying attention to their children. Busy selling and or carrying a gun, then don't bring the kids. However if you can keep one hand on junior and make sure he's behaving, then it would be an excellent learning opportunity, and a meaningful time to share together.

 

[JWF III]

What's a kid?

I never buy kids at gun shows. You never know where they have been.

I get my kids from the stock yard or out of the classifieds of our "Farmers Bulletin".

As many, many people have said (just guessing, it became redundent on page 1, so I stopped reading) it comes down to behavior. A well behaved child is a pleasure to be around. A out of control child... well I have used a switch on someone elses kid before. But I was dating his mother, he was extremely disrespectful to my best friends, and their house. It was the last time I dated his mother.:banghead: Good riddance too.

I grew up going to gun shows about once a month. I knew to ask the dealer before I touched anything. And I knew to keep food and drinks away from the tables. It comes down to the parents as much as it does the children.

Wyman

 

[jbh13]

Just took my 23 month old son to the gun show today in Fort Lauderdale. He has no patience, but he was very well behaved for me to carry him throughout the entire show. Much better than most people there who aren't aware of their surroundings and block your way.

 

[trigun87]

I feel if you can afford to go to the gun show with the intent on buying a gun you can afford a babysitter. I personally don't like kids at shows but that's just me. I equate it to babies in the movie's ; Why risk ruining others experience with your crying baby.

 

[kyhuntsman94]

@ trigun87. Being able to afford a babysitter is not an issue. For some people it is the task of finding a babysitter. Personally, I probably have 20+ people willing to watch my son at any given moment. The problem is that we all go to church together and volunteer in the same areas so that greatly reduces the number of potential babysitters to a few at any given moment. Then when you throw add in that a babysitter has a life of their own then that number is reduced even more. An even bigger deal for me is that I want to expose my son to the gun culture. I grew up with guns and enjoy them and want to pass that legacy on to my son. How does a father do that, by taking him and exposing him to those areas of interest - a gun show in this instance. I find it funny that anyone would equate taking a child to the movies. Movies by design are a place for everyone to be quiet and a gun show is not. I find more rude adults in movies than children. Typically those people that talk thru the movies are adults. The same goes with gun shows. I find more rude adults at gun shows than obnoxious children. In my experience, I typically see a 5:1 adult to child ratio - obnoxious, rude, or ignorant about handling guns. My final point is if parents do not take their children out in public then how do you expect a child to learn how to act in public? Children learn by actions.

I typically get more compliments on my son's behavior everywhere we go. I have also had several vendors comment on how well he bahaves and expressed a desire for more adults to behave as well as my son does.

just my 2 cents worth...

For those of you that do not like children and strollers, I will be going to the gun show at the Sharonville Convention Center October 2nd along with three or four other families and we will all be bringing out children. Consider youself forewarned!!!

 

[oldbear]

bearmgc

Oldbear, yer just too dang saintly....

Sir, I know more than a few, including several Ex-wives, who would challenge your kind assertion.

 

[Mauserguy]

I like most kids more than I like most adults. At least they have an excuse for their bad behavior. I say, bring the children.
Mauserguy

 

[wally]

I saw only well behaved children at last weeks large HGCA gun show. Wish I could say the same about any other environment.

 

[FROGO207]

WOW I think that the future of firearm ownership is in those future adults. We all need to help the parents of the unruly children learn themselves by example that that behavior will not be tolerated. There are many ways that a lesson can be taught without making a person (adult or child) feel like an idiot. IMHO respect, patience, and compassion are lacking these days and I really enjoy a child at a gunshow or other function that is well behaved. I will always comment in the affirmative when I can so that others will possibly get the hint. Were we all not children once upon a time? Someone took the time to help us learn what was proper and what was not . All gunshows should be child friendly IMO. Don't want to be around children? You can always choose to stay home if you wish.
BTW I have no children at the present time.