The 'protection' thread got me thinking...

[Becca]

And I'm just curious how you all feel about having guns in homes with small children.

I've always said "no biggie, just keep then in a lock box" or whatever. My mom even had a gun that she kept at the head of her bead when I was little (she was a single mom). I always knew never to touch it and I knew it was dangerous. But I guess I'm just one of those overly cautious people...now that I've had DD I'm just so afraid of something happening to her specifically that I could avoid. It changed my mind on the gun thing - I feel personally that my house will not have a gun in it...locked up or otherwise

[Sophie*]

Personally, I wouldn't have guns in my house regardless of if there were children around.

[Elizabeth]

My father has a large gun collection. He taught us from a very young age about the dangers of playing with them, we weren't allowed to have toy guns cause it wasn't a joke in our family. He also removed the curiosity (which I think is the biggest problem with kids, you can warm em till you are blue in the face) by taking us shooting and hunting. I was always a goody goody lil girl, but I have 2 brothers and we never had any problem with them trying to get to them. When we were old enough we also took safety courses and the class to get our weapons permit.

[BLBnJVB3]

Personally, I don't think it is safe. My dad had several shot guns in the house when I was growing up and I never touched them. But I know how Breanna is (she is into everything and can always find things she isn't supposed to without even looking for them) so I wouldn't feel safe with one in the house. Plus, I know my luck; we would get it in case someone broke into the house and then if someone did, it would be where I couldn't get to it at that particualr time so it would do me no good anyways.

[Becca]

My daughter is only 16 months old and she's already soooo curious about EVERYTHING.

[Kaymara]

Well. I was always against guns. Until I had a situation in CA. I don't mind them now...

I think it is iffy tho. I DO think it is the parents responsibility to teach their children. I also think it is the parents responsibility to keep it hidden, locked upo, away from tiny curious hands and minds.

However...You also need to gauge your child. Like E. He is into everything and saying no...well that just means you have to try to do it faster. When he is older he will be taught about guns (my husband is from Texas and my FIL hunts...I mean BIGTIME hunts. And he cannot WAIT to have his only grandson go hunting with him...(tho he uses a bow. but that is usually harder and they do use guns at times) So I kinda HAVE to teach him young) If YOU feel that your child is at risk, simply don't do it. only YOU know your child. KWIM?

I don't think it is bad having a gun in the home. If YOU as the parent take the responsibility and the time to educate your child, make sure everything is 100% safe, and limit the chances of any accident occuring. We dont have one here now. And probably wouldnt get one til E was old enough to understand what it was and that it was OFF LIMITS. And then it'd be well hidden, locked away from prying hands

[Kellie]

My dad is a hunter. We were always in the everglades, or big cypress hunting with him, from a young age.My dad taught us about Guns, how to Hold them(never point them in directions of houses, or at people), and how to use the safety. We have gone out with my dad and shot a few of his Shotguns.

We always got a lesson on gun safety,and what they can do, if you misuse them. Everytiem my parents would go out for the evening, he would show us ,where his pistol was(or he said for us to use the double barrel shotgun). Where his bullets were.He would tell us. "[B]If you touch this gun and play around with it I will know. And when I find out your ass is grass". We were to scared to touch it or 2 reason's 1 cause we knew what a gun can do if we misused it. & 2 because we new that our dad would find out somehow, and we would have the wrath of god on us.

We will have a gun in our house, we had one when Ashtin was little(gave it to my dad when we moved to Sicily). And we taught her just like my dad taught, my sister's and I.

My dad is in the process of teaching Gavin,and I know that he'll get a good lesson,and learn about Guns.

[Sunshyne]

I personally don't want a gun in my home because I am afraid that one of my kids may some day mess with it/ play with it. No matter how much you teach a kid or tell them not to mess with it, doesn't mean they won't. Dh does have some hunting rifles, but they are kept in a gun safe in the garage. Someday I may change my mind and I don't think it is wrong for others to have them though. I just wouldn't feel comfortable at this time having any in my house.

[ash]

Originally Posted by zelda780 Personally, I wouldn't have guns in my house regardless of if there were children around.

i agree.
we dont have guns in my parents house. we used to, but my father sold them to his brother, and they werent for protection guns, they were old police guns of my grandfather's. but my mom just wont let guns in the house . too many people die from some dumbass waving a gun around and misfiring and such. 2 people i knew in HIGH SCHOOL died because at a party someone got the homeowner's gun and was messing around not knowing they were loaded

[Kat]

My dad, just like quite a few of ya'lls is a major hunter. He has a hunting dog who he paid $1400 just for him to go to school for christs sakes I shot my first gun at 5. It was a small rifle, with the help of dad. But I was always taught and SHOWN that guns kill.
When ds was little I was soooooooo against them, but now as he has matured I feel that soon he will be ready to learn more about them and be properly trained with them.