You Can’t Keep Kids Away From Guns. When it comes to kids and guns, most parents think that as long as they keep the two separate, they’ve done their job. There could not be a more dangerous approach.
Guns are everywhere. You could lock your guns up, but the kids could find the keys. Or you might carelessly leave one sitting out. It would be a stupid mistake, but since when are we immune to stupid mistakes? Your kids may find guns at a friends house. Their friend might bring one to school. The avenues are endless.
So the best strategy is to lock your guns up, but assume that at some point your kids are going to find a loaded gun somewhere, someday. Accept that, and you will begin the transition from “reactive” gun safety to “proactive” gun safety.
Just as the best way to keep your kids from drowning, isn’t to keep them from water, but to teach them to swim, the best way to keep kids from gun harm is to teach them how to handle a real gun. So, here are 8 things every parent needs to know about guns to keep their kids safe.
Gun Safety for Kids
1. A Healthy Fear: You cannot teach your children gun-safety until you have given them a healthy dose of gun-fear. We don’t want kids terrified of guns, but we do want them to respect guns.
Kids are so used to being “over-protected” that they might not take your “guns are dangerous” warnings too seriously.
Kids need to know the truth about guns. Yes, we use guns for target practice, but that is not what guns are really for; guns are really very efficient killing machines. They were designed for hunting (killing animals for food) and protection (killing animals and people who want to kill us).
You can tell your kids that, but I highly recommend showing them. When I was very young I used to hunt ground squirrels. One minute I’d be watching a cute little furry animal scurrying about, then I’d pull a trigger and he would have a huge, bloody hole in him. He was dead; it was final. There was no way to undo killing.
From that experience, you can be sure no one had to warn me to take gun safety seriously. So, the first gun safety lesson should be a demonstration. Take them hunting. This may seem like a traumatic initiation, but let them see what a gun can do to an animal, and they will be twice as careful when it comes to guns and people.
2. Are Toy Guns the Real Killers? The other day a five-year-old picked up a loaded pistol, pointed it at his grandmother and pulled the trigger. It all happened in seconds because he acted on habit and instinct. This ties into the last point, kids who don’t have a healthy fear/respect for guns are a danger to themselves and others.
And few things give kids a false sense of security than toy guns. The sole purpose of a toy gun is to have fun shooting your friends and family with it. If kids don’t understand the difference between a toy and a real gun, then it makes perfect sense for them to pick up a real gun, point it at grandma, and pull the trigger.
Helping kids recognise the difference is equally important. More and more toy guns are nearly perfect replicas of real runs. Instead of trying to teach young kids to distiguish between the two, they should just assume that it is a real gun, capable of killing, until they know for certain that it isn’t.
3. “One Rule” Gun Safety: There are many gun safety rules to teach your children, but most can be summed up in this one: A gun is always loaded, so treat it properly. This is my version of “Always treat a gun as though it were loaded.”
Kids need to know that every gun is loaded. Even if they check and find the gun empty, it is still loaded. Even if their buddy says it is empty, the gun is loaded. Even if an adult tells them that a gun is unloaded, it is still loaded. The gun is always loaded – period.
After nearly every accidental death, the shooters says, “I didn’t think the gun was loaded.” So as far as our kids are concerned, there is no such thing as an unloaded gun.
4. The Invisible Killer: Have you ever seen an action movie where the hero jumped behind a mattress just in time to stop a hail of bullets? That doesn’t really work, and kids need to know that just because that can’t see something doesn’t mean they can’t shoot it.
Couches, coffee tables, sheetrock walls, bushes, etc. aren’t likely to stop bullets. That is why it is so important to know what you are shooting, and also to know what is behind what you are shooting.
While you are explaining that to your kids, you might as well add that bullets can travel very far, like a mile or two far depending on what they are shooting. So, it is also possible to shoot things that are out of site.
5. The Good News is that Guns are Predictably Dangerous. There are a lot of things that are unpredictably dangerous, like dogs, weather, rivers, people, etc. But guns are predictable dangers.
They will never turn on you, unless you carelessly do the turning yourself. So, if you teach your kids gun safety and they follow the rules, they can just about eliminate the danger completely.
6. The Sky Isn’t Falling. Everyday the news blasts reports of gun related deaths, but don’t worry, the sky isn’t falling.
The reason that we hear so much about gun deaths is because most news outlets have decided to join the gun-control campaign. And so, we never hear stories about gun owners successfully defending their property or person. They are only allowed to tell reports on guns when things go bad, accidents happen, or gun crimes are committed.
They could do the same thing to, let’s say, kids dying from bee stings, drowning, choking, or falling down, whatever they choose. And by reporting over and over the same terrifying stories society becomes paranoid about those things.
The percentage of children that die every year from gun accidents is very close to zero. In fact, it is much less than the number of children who drown in bathtubs, or in cars, or, well, you name it. But you won’t hear politicians calling to ban bathtubs will you?
7. If We Can Save One Child, it ISN’T Worth it. A while back, the Obama administration suggested that if gun-control laws could save just one child, they would be worth it. This is a silly argument, one that could be used to ban just about anything; legos, bikes, cars, medicine, etc.
And you might flip the argument around. If guns can protect just one child (or person) they are worth it.
8. Your Kids Need Guns, Especially Your Girls. Guns are the single greatest force equalizer in the history of the world. Take a third degree karate black belt and put him up against a 70-year-old lady with a gun, and guess who wins?
Yes, the criminals may use them too, but they will no matter what the laws are. But by arming yourself, you just leveled the playing field.
Guns are especially important for young women to have. In the past, being more vulnerable than men, women traveled (especially after dark) with a male escort for protection. Today, they can carry a gun and feel confident that they can match any criminals force with equal or more force.
This list is not exhaustive, just a good start. What are some of your thoughts about gun safety and children? What would you add to the list?
Meg Lund says
My husband loves guns, and he has a lot of them in our home. As our kids are getting older, however, it makes me nervous that they might find a gun and think that it’s a toy. That being said, my husband and I have taken huge responsibility to make sure we follow your advice and teach our kids about gun safety. You talk about how making sure that kids know that every gun is loaded it will help them to understand the dangers that guns bring with them, and it will help them to leave them alone. Not only does this make me feel better about having guns in the home, but ensures that my kids are educated about guns and are not a hazard to themselves or anybody in the home. Thank you for sharing!
Evan says
My mom had that talk with me when I was a kid and I never had the urge to play with any of our guns. Once you’re taught to respect them, you don’t look at them as toys.
Evan recently posted…CZ 75 Handgun Review
Drew says
Great post on gun safety. You definitely captured a lot of thoughts on many peoples minds. I think teaching gun safety first, and then how to use the gun should be next. Thanks for posting.
Sarah Anderson says
Children should definitely be taught the dangers of guns, and how they should never play with them. A gun safe is a good idea, keep them out of your childs reach, but as you said there are other avenues. Even with these other avenues locking them up in your own home is important, because what if they bring a friend over who isn’t trained on gun safety?
Hazel Owens says
I think the best thing that will help protect our children from being hurt by guns is proper education. It’s much more likely for a child to hurt themselves using a gun if they’ve never seen it and don’t know how to handle it properly. Teaching children rules like to treat a gun like it is loaded and to never point it at anyone can go a long way in preventing accidental injuries. Thanks for the article.
Kenneth Gladman says
Great post, I think it is important for kids to understand the dangers of guns. They need to know what they do and how they work, but shouldn’t be given guns to handle. There are horror stories of when kids get their hands on guns when they shouldn’t. I would recommend a gun safe for those who have kids around the house.
John Smith says
Hey Kenneth Gladman,
I like your idea. I have 2 kids but I use a biometric gun safe. Now I’m so safe with it. I really recommend a gun safe for all gun users.
Morgan says
I agree with you! It is so important to teach our little ones to exercise caution when you interact, in any fashion, with a gun. Nicely said! Thanks for your input!
larissa says
Awesome post! I totally agree with all of this. I think it is important to talk seriously with your kids and teach them something that can save their life in the long run and thats called Gun Safety. It is so important to make sure that your kids are aware of the implications that come from guns and the seriousness of them. Thanks for sharing, great post.
Christina says
You make a valid point about having a healthy respect for guns. When kids have this respect, it can make things safer, just as you shared.
Gary Fretwell says
Great post. Thanks. Over and over I tell people that the best remedy to eliminating fear of funs is to become comfortable with them by using them consistently, especially kids. If you get kids to be comfortable with guns and teach them proper gun safety they will learn and respect and power guns have. Most people think the opposite, that they’ll be so comfortable with guns that they’ll be careless and start playing around, which is not the case. Kids who are taught proper gun safety and techniques and are able to be around guns consistently enough to become comfortable around them are actually safer, more respectful around firearms, and more confident.
Gary Fretwell recently posted…20 Christmas Gift Ideas For Hunters [what they REALLY want]
James says
Great points and agree wholeheartedly. The fact of the matter is that education – not fear mongering done by the media – is what will save lives. The more stigmatized guns become, the less we speak about them and the more lives are lost.
James recently posted…The Lowdown on Certification for Gun Safes
Chuck says
How do you teach an 8-year old proper gun safety? Sure, it’s important for your kids to feel comfortable with guns. However, I believe that until they are in their mid-teens, teaching them how to handle guns will not be realistic.
I believe keeping your guns safely locked in a safe is the first step towards gun safety at home. Once they grow older, you can teach them everything they need to know about your guns.
Worried about these kids finding your keys and entering the safe while you are away? Choose a gun safe that only opens with your fingerprints!!!
Heather says
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I definitely agree that teaching kids to respect guns will prevent more accidents than being silent on the issue. If they don’t know the danger they can pose, that’s not going to prevent tragic accidents – it will create them.
Alex says
I really like your comment about how kids shouldn’t fear guns but they should respect them and know their history. That’s awfully important information and not necessarily the easiest thing for a child to learn. Thanks for the post!
www.machineguntours.com says
You can always defend yourself against attackers and criminals when you have a very effective weapon like a gun.
Josh Roberts says
Hey Britton,
I am a firm believer of safety first. In anything and everything we do, safety should always be a priority. Glad you put this all together.
Cheers!
Tickarise says
When it comes to firearms lessons, it’s good to have an age basis upon when and what to teach kids. My daughter is already 5, so I’ll try to enroll her in a class for gun safety. Thanks for the help! Hope this shall serve my daughter well in times of dire needs.
Yoshiko Flora says
I never thought that one way to keep kids safe around guns is to let them experience hunting with one. Aside from that, my tip for parents is to invest in a safe. With it, they can keep them out of reach while they are not used. Also, putting them inside one can extend their lifespans too.
Peter Clark says
It’s really needed. Most parents are not aware of this. thank you for sharing.
tacticalslab says
This article a most valuable resource about kids Self Defense. I think every father should know this key point That is covered in this article before buying a self-defense weapon. So great to see someone teaching their kids how to handle firearms! My dad didn’t “get into” guns until I was a bit older, and my fiance wasn’t exposed to guns till he was an adult. We definitely plan to teach our future children how to properly handle guns, as we own (and plan to raise our kids on) a somewhat rural property and it is our main form of protection. Keep up the great work!
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Peter Clark says
Thanks for give the information regarding “guns”.Your generosity and thoughtfulness are very much appreciated.
Peter Clark says
Great post on gun safety. Thank you for sharing great content.
Peterclark says
Thanks For sharing the such a piece of valuable information. As a parents we all are worried about how to keep safe our children’s not from guns only but from other things as well.
Penelope Smith says
I liked your suggestion about teaching kids how to use a gun, and use it safely. That is really good for me to know because my family is pretty big on hunting and my sister’s kids are starting to get a little older. It might be smart for them to talk about some gun safety classes as well.
rachel frampton says
My husband and I are planning to try hunting this coming month; therefore, we’ve decided to start searching for rifles. I guess you’re right that it will be best t take our kids hunting, so they won’t have that so much fear regarding guns. But, of course, we’ll keep in mind to teach our kids about the difference between real and fake guns.
Rifat says
What an Great Post. Very interesting topic of the time and I really thrilled to read this. Keep posting such interesting topics.
Brooklyn shooting range says
Behaving responsibly is a core value of gun owners. Gun owners also cultivate a mindset of personal protection and the moral/legal responsibilities that come with it. Gun safety is a lifestyle.
Brooklyn shooting range recently posted…No gun laws could have prevented Las Vegas massacre
Zoe Campos says
Thanks for telling me that teaching our kids how to use and handle a real gun can help us keep them from any gun harm. My sons are showing interest in pistols and although I’m afraid to let them touch one, your article convinced me that it might be better for them. I think I’ll have to buy a silencer if we were to let them practice handling the gun.
Janine says
You’re welcome!
wellen says
You are truly awesome. This article has an amazing guide to teach the kids for safety. I want to teach my kids to get some survival skills that’s why, I have bought some survival knife tools and teach them to play with it. Thank you for sharing this amazing safety guide.
wellen recently posted…Best Folding Survival Knife 2020 – [Small & Pocket Knives Critically Reviewed]
Janine says
You’re welcome!
Lisa says
Guns are everywhere. You could lock your guns up, but the kids could find the keys. Well, It’s up to you mostly. Btw an Amazing post Thanks for sharing.
Lisa recently posted…Best Bolt Action Airsoft Sniper Rifle [2021] – Buyer’s Guide
Julliya says
All parents are worried that how to maintain the safety of their children’s not only from guns but from all other such things… This is very interesting and informative article about kids safety..
Thanks for shearing this article to us..
airsoft gear set says
i think shooting a gun at a young age is important. Because it teaches them safety and protection. And when they buy the kids their gun normally the parents own it and lock the gun in a safety box and only let them use it with adult supervision.
micheal says
This is an extremely important point in owning a gun with kids in house.
jari says
This is really too good about the gun safety for kids thanks sharing this article
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john says
this is really informative article about kids’ safety that loves toys gun. that is very important because kids don’t know what’s the right thing. I really like your concept of the article. thanks for sharing this amazing article on gun safety for kids.
pickhome says
I am reading this lovely information and help us thanks for sharing this amazing article
Robert Collins says
I have read the whole article it is full of safety tips for our children, I have sent my child to karate school to learn some tips to protect yourself, But The idea of guns is not bad at all.
Spencer Robbins says
I have been playing airsoft with my brother and cousins for the past six months. Being involved with the use of guns, even though they aren’t nearly as dangerous as real ones, has helped me receive training and develop habits of respect for any weapon that shoots a projectile.
I’d highly recommend parents get their kids involved in something that provides this kind of training in a safer environment so they can develop those habits.
myoutdoorhustle says
You are truly awesome. This article has an amazing guide to teach kids about safety. I want to teach my kids to get some survival skills that’s why I have bought some survival knife tools and taught them to play with them.