Doug,
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[/align]NOW THAT"S FUNNY ! I'd have crapped my pants laughing at the look on the clerk's face.
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[/align]I don't lock up my guns or shop either. Yes, your kids friends would be the problem area's to consider, I agree. Where we live, that's not an issue so much. As a police firearms instructor I taught this stuff for many years to hundreds of officers. What caused me to change my curriculum to include these classes was the fact that many officer's were leaving their guns loaded (dumb) at home, and there were several news stories where officer's kids had been killed with their guns.
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[/align]Like it was mentioned, curiosity is the biggest reason why incidents happen in the home. The two schools of thought regarding guns in the house, the"keep guns out of the home/away from kids", or "to teach kids about guns & gun safety", are an either/or mentality when dealing with guns around kids. I agree with the latter, and so does the majority of the law enforcement community.
[/align]Yes, keep your guns and ammo locked up, is the mindset, but introduce your children to guns with safety as a prime factor. Take them out to shoot them when they start to inquire, and if you tell them you will take them out this Sat., do it. Let them know that you haven't forgotten them, and that you're fully intent to make a day of shooting with them.
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[/align]If they know that they can shoot those guns only when they're with you, but are not to touch them without you being there, it'll remove the curious "stigma" attached to it and removes that veil of the unknown.
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[/align]It's the parent's who say, "Don't you EVER touch them", or who do promise to take them out, but just never seems to find the time, these are issues that supportor allow that curiosity to build to a point whereit can become dangerous. My kids are now older, and my youngest is 12, but they know that all they have to do is ask, and at the next possible opportunity, if not right then, we'll be out at the bench firing.
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[/align]Their friend's are a very valid point, and I'd guess, that in mostaccidental shootings, they probably are a major component. I think that locking guns in safes is a good idea, and/or the ammo too, but in this house I haven't gotten one (safe)yet. Other than the "friends" issue (which I mentioned isn't a big problem here-we live out in the sticks) it is a real issue in many homes, especially with little kids & even teenagers & their friends.
[/align]The old instructor in me has drummed this into my kids heads regarding their guns, and is a major no-no.
[/align]My reasons for a safe are more for burglar (guns & valuables) and fire protection, but the neighbors know I am well armed, and I think that the fact of such, as well as being a retired Deputy, it makes themfeel safer. They have mentioned this more than once and know I'm only a call and seconds away.
[/align]My kids are aware that if they were home when someone triedto break in, or sensed that there wasn't an adulthome, and who had bad intentions, they have access to my (or their) guns, and have the right to protect themselves if need be. I've taught them well, I hope, and only shoot if they have to.
[/align]The stigma of killing someone, even if it's a "justifiable shooting" can cause nightmares that'll follow you for the rest of your life. But, the alternative can also be a lifelong mental scar, if you survive the ordeal. A gun in hand at such times allows you to control the situation if you are prepared to "go the route", if itcomes to that.
[/align]I've spoken to many with the old bravado in asking "when is it okay to shoot the bad guy ?", I told them "when you have no other choice or alternative".....period.....and be mentally prepared to follow through if your "bluff is called".
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[/align]Do you really want toshoot & kill some stupid kid because he broke inand you caught him stealing your VCR ? Not me....ever......but, on the other hand,I might let him wonder if I would.....get me ? Hopefully a hard learned lesson there...
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[/align]Take care,
[/align]Bob
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