Parents - do your kids own guns?

[Chris-bob]

Well, last summer I bought at a garage sale a Stevens Model 87B by Savage for my recently turned 6 year-old as a present for this fall when he joined Cub Scouts as a Tiger Cub. We are refinishing it together as a father-son project. When he turns 8 he will be getting a .410, at 12 he will get his choice of a deer rifle, and when he gets his Eagle Scout, he will get a pistol.

My daughter that is 4 will go along the same route as she grows up, and so will my 1 year-old son.

If they have the money for an additional firearm, I will be more than happy to purchase it for them.

 

[ChileRelleno]

Last year for Christmas I picked up a Daisy Buck BB gun for my youngest boy of 5yrs, to prove himself on. Prove he could practice the 'Golden Rules' of safe handling/shooting, he did extremely well.
This year for Christmas he received 'His' very own Crickett .22lr rifle, it is his property as far as I'm concerned... He is 6yrs'ol.
His rifle/ammo stays locked up with Mommy & Daddy's firearms and he shoots under direct supervision.
He wants a shotgun, I foresee one for his 7th Birthday.

 

[HankB]

. . . It IS a straw purchase if you're taking someone else's money and buying a firearm on behalf of them. Even if it's your child. . .

Absent some other aggravating circumstance (e.g., Junior is already a convicted felon), has anyone ever even HEARD of a straw purchase prosecution for this sort of transaction between a parent and a minor child?

Seriously, unless something is done to deliberately bring the transaction to the attention of law enforcement (for example, a sports writer detailing the action in his column in the local newspaper) how in the world will there be actionable evidence if both parent and child keep their mouths shut?

 

[Sam1911]

Absent some other aggravating circumstance (e.g., Junior is already a convicted felon), has anyone ever even HEARD of a straw purchase prosecution for this sort of transaction between a parent and a minor child?

Like a great many other federal firearms violations (interstate transfers between private parties for example, or 922(r) compliance failures, and so on) enforcement at the moment of transfer or absent any other mis-steps is difficult.

But, if you walk into a gun shop with your son, step up to the counter and say, "We'd like to buy a pistol," and your son points out his choice and hands you a stack of $100 bills for you to pay for it, the dealer absolutely should refuse the sale, immediately, firmly, and permanently. The ATF has been known to set up all kinds of stings, and they WILL yank his license for that kind of violation. If he's got his head on very straight, he'll be aware, and probably at least a little hot, that you just tired to get him to do something that may destroy his livelihood.

 

[Fanky]

I don't have any children yet, at least that I'm aware of.... But my dad got me my first shotgun when I was 12, and my grandpa gifted me about a dozen rifles shortly after that. Growing up, strangely enough, I was always in charge of storage and maintenance of all of our firearms once I showed interest in them. I learned how to clean a rifle at around age 5 after I spent a few days walking through the woods with my dad deer hunting. He taught me at a young age the safe use of firearms and how to appreciate and properly maintain them. I just wish more people from my generation had that same upbringing.

 

[HankB]

But, if you walk into a gun shop with your son, step up to the counter and say, "We'd like to buy a pistol," and your son points out his choice and hands you a stack of $100 bills for you to pay for it, the dealer absolutely should refuse the sale, immediately, firmly, and permanently.

So I guess it would REALLY be frowned on if - hypothetically speaking, of course - a much, much younger version of myself had actually counted out the money to the dealer while Dad was filling out the paperwork . . .

Good to know . . .

 

[Sam1911]

So I guess it would REALLY be frowned on if - hypothetically speaking, of course - a much, much younger version of myself had actually counted out the money to the dealer while Dad was filling out the paperwork

Yes. Of course, these things happen. Especially in places/situations where the dealer knows you/your dad.

They may certainly be willing to commit a felony for you. Heck, if they REALLY know you well, they may invite you to come into the back room to smoke a doobie with them. Might show you how to make your Mini14 run full-auto. Might offer to sell you feathers off that bald eagle they shot.

Who knows what some folks will do for you, if they're willing to break the law.

My point was that most dealers WON'T.

 

[mongo4567]

My son got his crickett .22 rifle at 5 and a Remington 870 youth 20g at 7. He wasn't strong enough to hold the shotgun till he was about 10. He only uses them when I'm present.

He took his first deer at 9. He is 12 now and is comfortable with most any of my deer rifles.

 

[Bovice]

Only the most anal of ATF agents would think so.

It never ceases to amaze me how far the letter of the law is carried if they want to. Don't give them a reason to dig. Spending money that your kid earned mowing lawns to buy a gun is a straw purchase. You probably won't get caught for it unless the cash is changing hands in front of an ATF agent, but don't plan on using the "everybody does it" excuse as your defense.

Just buy it as a gift. Not everything has to be a lesson. Shooting is not an inexpensive hobby, so chances are you aren't hard-up for the money to buy the gun anyway.