Question:
> How do you know if people have guns? Do you ask every parent whose house > your child visits? This gets very hard as they get older and go to lots of > children’s houses. I only ask this, because I also don’t want my kids > around guns. But I think it would be strange of me to ask everyone in my > neighborhood if they have guns.
Yes, I have and continue to ask if there are any guns in the homes where my children may be visiting. My brother is a hunter, he knows that if he wants my children to come over he needs to bring his guns to his in law’s house for the day. Period. Non-negotiable. ~Mary-Anne
Response:
I hate the thought of guns and do not allow my 3yr old girl to play with them. Unfortunately I have noticed that not all parents are as diligent. I have also realized that they will play guns with sticks, legos, balls. anything they can. The only thing I can do is provide constant supervision, and not let her go to anyones house who might have a gun. i – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Please take a moment and share your thoughts about guns and kids. > I would like permission to post your reply anon if you wish to my web > site. > Thankyou in advance! > Mike > — > Stop by and say "HI" to BBQKING a.k.a. Deputy Dog: > http://www.glasscity.net/users/mharmon
Response:
>. The only thing I can do is provide constant >supervision, and not let her go to anyones house who might have a gun. i
How do you know if people have guns? Do you ask every parent whose house your child visits? This gets very hard as they get older and go to lots of children’s houses. I only ask this, because I also don’t want my kids around guns. But I think it would be strange of me to ask everyone in my neighborhood if they have guns.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My thoughts on kids and guns is/are very simple–guns are not toys and kids > should not have them or be around them in ANY form. We do not even allow our > kids to play with squirt guns, or toy guns. Guns can kill, and are not toys, > period. > I would agree with you that guns are not toys. However, I don’t believe > restricting toy guns is an effective answer. I dated a guy one time that was > adamantly against his son playing with toy guns. He wouldn’t let the boy have > any. Sounded reasonable to me… but then I saw the 4yo boy picking up any old > piece of stick or grass and running around "shooting" it and yelling pow pow. So > I saw first hand how restrictions against toy guns work.
> Captain Denise Duggan (HyperMommy to Jimmy (10/93) & Joey (9/95)) > USS Khai Tam, Tallahassee, Florida > Chief Medical Officer and Extraneous Brass
My kids must be very unusual then–or your boyfriends son was–becuase we don’t have this problem. The kids know that guns are not toys, and shooting is not play, and they don’t. Lesa
Response:
> My thoughts on kids and guns is/are very simple–guns are not toys and kids > should not have them or be around them in ANY form. We do not even allow our > kids to play with squirt guns, or toy guns. Guns can kill, and are not toys, > period.
I would agree with you that guns are not toys. However, I don’t believe restricting toy guns is an effective answer. I dated a guy one time that was adamantly against his son playing with toy guns. He wouldn’t let the boy have any. Sounded reasonable to me… but then I saw the 4yo boy picking up any old piece of stick or grass and running around "shooting" it and yelling pow pow. So I saw first hand how restrictions against toy guns work. Now, I don’t claim to have all the answers… I just know that that did not work. When I grew older and had kids of my own I let them have toy guns but we had a rule that you don’t point guns at people. You can shoot at trees and the sky and stuff like that but no pointing at people. We’ve told them if you point a gun at someone and shoot then they’ll be dead like Mufasa and will never get to play again and their mommy and daddy will cry and cry forever. (we’re keeping it simple still since the boys are 4 and 2). We’ve used the guns as a teaching tool too. I’ll practice with the kids and put the gun down on the table and tell them, let’s pretend this is a gun that you haven’t seen before and one that mommy and daddy have not said you can play with. What do you do? I’ve never seen them move so fast (our rule is if that situation comes about you get out of there as fast as you can and tell an adult). And we’ve used the teasing and name-calling with it (come back, you’re just chicken, and so forth) and taught them that you don’t even let that stop you. Of course, at this point, it’s all role-playing and we don’t really know how they’re going to react if/when they’re ever in such a situation. All we can do is what we presume most other parents in the world are doing and do our best. — Captain Denise Duggan (HyperMommy to Jimmy (10/93) & Joey (9/95)) USS Khai Tam, Tallahassee, Florida Chief Medical Officer and Extraneous Brass
Response:
>I’m a bit confused by Roonzie’s statement. Time out doesn’t work because<BR> >the child brought a gun to school? The time out was given by the >teacher. God knows what the child was being taught at home. A gun sits on the<BR> >grandfathers dresser, fully loaded. The grandfather doesn’t notice the<BR> >gun missing. Obviously nobody is watching this kid. No one looked in >his<>back pack when he left for school? These people don’t seem fit to have
a>child. The time out did not cause this. The family did.> Hi, I am sorry foor the confusion, I was trying to say that time out does work, and that incidents like these do not happen becuase of time out, but more because of the way the children are being raised. You are absolutly right the Time Out did not cause this the family did!!! Again, sorry if I confused you. Beth Hakuna Matata (no worries)
Response:
>y thoughts on kids and guns is/are very simple–guns are not toys
and>kids>should not have them or be around them in ANY form. We do not even allow our<>>kids to play with squirt guns, or toy guns. Guns can kill, and are not>toys,<>period.< Hakuna Matata (no worries)
Response:
> >if punishments like>timeout came about to teach children that violence is not > the answer,then<>apparently it’s not working.< > I, disagree, I believe it works! This IMO is one of those isolated cases! > also IMO this probally more a reflection of this childs homelife, who knows > what the parents are teaching him! > Hakuna Matata (no worries)
I’m a bit confused by Roonzie’s statement. Time out doesn’t work because the child brought a gun to school? The time out was given by the teacher. God knows what the child was being taught at home. A gun sits on the grandfathers dresser, fully loaded. The grandfather doesn’t notice the gun missing. Obviously nobody is watching this kid. No one looked in his back pack when he left for school? These people don’t seem fit to have a child. The time out did not cause this. The family did.
Response:
My thoughts on kids and guns is/are very simple–guns are not toys and kids should not have them or be around them in ANY form. We do not even allow our kids to play with squirt guns, or toy guns. Guns can kill, and are not toys, period. If there are guns in the home for hunting puposes, they should be kept in a locked cabinet, and the ammunition in a separate area and also locked. When a child is a very responsible 14 or older, they can be taught by a parent (in the child is interested) gun care and use, and can accompany a prent on a huting trip. Guns for "self-defense" do not defend–they kill and should only be used by liscenced law enforcement officers and NEVER be around children. Lesa > Please take a moment and share your thoughts about guns and kids. > I would like permission to post your reply anon if you wish to my web > site. > Thankyou in advance! > Mike > — > Stop by and say "HI" to BBQKING a.k.a. Deputy Dog: > http://www.glasscity.net/users/mharmon
Response:
(Reprint…) I find this post so interesting after watching a news show on TV a few days ago. In some place (I think it was up North) they took about 20 kids and put them in a room which had a one-way glass where all the parents could see in. 10 of the kids came from homes where the parents had guns in the home. The other 10 kids came from homes where there were no guns. These kids were small children. The news show placed a real gun (with the firing pin removed and no bullets – no way it was going to go off) in a box with a bunch of other toys. The kids were given the box of toys to play with. To make a long story short – the kids who lived with no guns began to play with the gun – pointing it at the other children and pretending to "shoot them" while the other children who lived with guns ran out of the room to get help. I say all that to say this. Whether you allow your children to "play cops & robbers" or not, you should sit down with them at an early age and tell them about guns and the damage they can cause. You never know who they may be around that has no knowledge of guns and what they can do, and the other kid who doesn’t know about guns just may have one that could go off. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >We do not permit guns in our home because we have children. I agree >with M&D that they are useless for self-protection if they are properly >stored in a home which contains children. I’m also concerned though, >that my children not go to any child’s home in which guns are present, >no matter how they are stored. My kids are quite young, so it’s not an >issue, but when they are older, I will specifically ask about guns in >the house before my children will be allowed to visit anyone. I am not >against guns, per se, when they are used for legal activities such as >hunting and target shooting, or even in true self-defense, but I don’t >want to take any risks that one of my kids will be hurt or killed by >someone with a gun. My husband, who is an expert on guns, agrees with >me on this issue, for the sake of the children. >Aileen
Response:
I remember the statistics comparing shooting deaths in America and Canada and the UK, and although I can’t recite the actual numbers (anyone?), I do know that the US has an incredible exorbitantly high number of gun-related deaths as opposed to these countries..Just something to think about..Cheers, C —– This is true. In England the murder rate is WAY lower than in the us. In fact I saw a program on it recently. It said that there is plenty of violence in Britain (witness the soccer rows) but luckily since angry people are not toting guns they’re more likely to inflict a bloody nose rather than mow down 30 people in their fit of anger. Let’s face it the world is filled with people (even if not criminals or insane) that can lose their temper and if they’re holding a gun they can do a lot of damage before they have a chance to cool down. When they’re in a fist fight they can get their anger out and it will never be as deadly. As I’ve posted before, I don’t think a gun would help me thwart off a home intruder because I have children and it would have to be safely stored away unloaded in which case it would be useless for self-defense. I personally am not a hunter either and so I have no use for the things. I’m very concerned that a lot of people who have guns don’t store them properly and don’t teach their kids about gun safety. Police need to have weapons in their home and they ostensibly should have all the knowledge and even they screw up. Recently a woman police office in NY left her gun laying around and her child found it and shot himself to death. Among non-police officers this happens way too often. From my vantage point unless you’re a hunting aficionado I don’t see why anyone even would want thess deadly things in the home. I grew up in Florida where my best friend had a slew of hunting rifles mounted on her living room wall and still to this day seeing guns gives me the chills. No bad accident ever happened in her house but I never got used to the sight of those weapons of mass destruction. When I slept over her house in sleeping bags in the livingroom, those guns gave me nightmares. And why shouldn’t they? I knew one shot from them could kill a person. I understood only too well that they could wipe out a life in a heartbeat. Scary. M&D M&D
Response:
>if punishments like>timeout came about to teach children that violence is not
the answer,then<>apparently it’s not working.< I, disagree, I believe it works! This IMO is one of those isolated cases! also IMO this probally more a reflection of this childs homelife, who knows what the parents are teaching him! Hakuna Matata (no worries)
Response:
However, since this world will never exist, I truly believe in the saying that "when guns are outlawed, only the outlaws will have guns". HIYA….I have to disagree with this statement above…I remember the statistics comparing shooting deaths in America and Canada and the UK, and although I can’t recite the actual numbers (anyone?), I do know that the US has an incredible exorbitantly high number of gun-related deaths as opposed to these countries..Just something to think about..Cheers, C
Response:
> However, since this world will never exist, I truly believe > in the saying that "when guns are outlawed, only the outlaws will have > guns". > HIYA….I have to disagree with this statement above…I remember the > statistics comparing shooting deaths in America and Canada and the UK, and > although I can’t recite the actual numbers (anyone?), I do know that the > US has an incredible exorbitantly high number of gun-related deaths as > opposed to these countries..Just something to think about..Cheers, C
Sorry for the (unspoken) USA reference…my meaning was that that "perfect world" would probably never exist here in the US. I can’t imagine how we could ever rid ourselves of all the handguns currently in this country. Definitely, yes, something to think about. But in the (long) mean-time, I still believe that *safe* gun storage and educating our children about guns are of utmost importance. Teri
Response:
Hi There :) with all this talk about the "LOADED GUN", I think something should be said about the "UNLOADED" guns that kill THOUSANDS of people every year. I have been in law enforcement and am a firm believer in the 2nd amendment of the constitution. However, I think that if a parent (including law enforcement personnel) has firearms in the home the entire family should be trained on the safe keeping and handling of said firearms. Also, in the event of an "accidental" discharge, especially if the child was playing with it, the parent MUST be held responsible for any reprocussions. I’m not talking civil lawsuits, I mean criminal prosecution. If the parent keeps a firearm in the home, it is up to them to ensure that nothing happens because of the child’s actions, and if something should, then they should face the music. If they can’t control the child in the home…GET THE GUN OUT OF IT! I’ll get off my soapbox now Papa*Bear Responsible parenting starts with COMMON SENSE! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Thank you Jackie for your input. I even printed it for my husband! > For all of you that are anti guns…..not all of us have the option to not have > guns in the house. My husband is in law enforcement as well. He must always have > his gun with him. If he is to live with us, that means we get the gun, too. I > have wondered how we will handle this in the future. My daughter is an infant now, > but is already curious about her environment. I read an ad one day that said, > "Susie’s dad hid the gun so well, it took her 3 years to find it." It took my > breath away. > I am sorry that some of you would not allow your child to come over to a house > like mine. I guess that choice is yours. But I can guarantee you two things: 1) my > daughter will grow up knowing about guns, she will know what they can do and when > she’s old enough she will learn to use it. and 2) she will NEVER touch our guns > when aren’t present. With education and appropriate security (like the 3 lock > safe), I think children are safe…a locked up unloaded gun is a locked up unloaded > gun, not an accident waiting to happen. Accidents occur when parents don’t take > the time to curb the curiosity and take the necessary (& I think mandatory) > precautions. > Just another point of view, C Nix
Response:
This is sad, I agree, but it makes you wonder…I if punishments like timeout came about to teach children that violence is not the answer, then apparently it’s not working. I was spanked as a child, and I turned out pretty well (never brought guns to school, got good grades and didn’t get into fights) IMO, maybe this poor child needs a good spanking….. blaxican – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Interest (sad) article from today’s Washington Post below: > Police: 5-Year-Old Targeted Teacher > Saturday, May 9, 1998; 9:02 p.m. EDT > MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A 5-year-old kindergarten pupil was arrested > after bringing a loaded pistol to school because he wanted to kill his > teacher for punishing him with “timeout,” according to police records. > The .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol, in the child’s backpack, was > confiscated by teacher Margie Foster on Friday after another pupil > brought her a bullet. > “He said he wanted to shoot and kill several pupils,
as well as a teacher,” > the arrest ticket said. “He stated that he was going to shoot Ms. Foster > for putting him in timeout.” > Timeout is a form of discipline for young children. > The boy was charged with carrying a weapon. It was unclear if he would > be prosecuted. > “A 5-year-old is not capable of forming criminal
intent,” Juvenile Court > Judge Kenneth Turner said. > The boy got the gun from atop his grandfather’s bedroom dresser, said > Jerry Manness, Juvenile Court’s director of court
services. The boy and > his mother live with the grandfather. > The state Department of Children’s Services will
investigate the boy’s – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> home situation. >
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.