ehb102 Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 My little girl is nearly six months old. I'm now wondering how to manage the issue of being a shooting household. Neither set of grandparents shot in our lifetimes so we have no example to follow. I've got a few years grace but what to do when a child is old enough to open doors and rummage through draws looking for keys? What do you do about storing cartridges? Is being firm about "don't touch" enough? From those of you who are making it work I'd like to hear what you are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marki Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 Guns are in a cabinet and cartridges are in a locked cupboard. All keys are out of sight and out of reach. How do you stop them playing with a knife or chemicals? Use the same logic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 I've only got airguns, but with a 4-year old inquisitive grandson, they are locked away out of sight in a cabinet and the keys securely in my pocket. All the kitchen cupboards have child-proof catches, incidentally. Still, when it goes quiet, we know to go looking for him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepasty Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 issue being a shooting household? Its no different to having knives in the kitchen, keep everyting out of reach. I've included my two young sons (2 and 5) in the whole shooting lifestyle, for them it isnt something special or something to be inquisitive about, its the norm and thus they ignore it, I now take my son of 5 out when its suitable and this has only reinforced my/his stance on guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 Get her involved from the start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sha Bu Le Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 (edited) My kids were adults when I got back into shooting so it was never a problem for me. I would like to reinforce the views given by other posters, if its dangerous (bleach, knives matches etc etc) keep it out o harms way. There is a myriad of nasty stuff in the average household do with your guns what you do with that stuff. As thepasty and Tightchoke so rightly says if kids are brought up with guns correctly they will not see anything special or probably more to the point curious about them. They will when they get older hopefully go on to a lifetime of enjoying one of the best pastimes in the world. Who knows you may have a future champion, clays, Olympics. That is if the loony left and bunny huggers have not got our guns off us by the time your little girl is old enough If you go angling get your small person into that as well. Edit = typo Edited May 11, 2015 by Sha Bu Le Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMcC Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 My gun cabinet locked inside of a walnut wardrobe and, not now they are all grown up, but when we had visitors with small children I used to set a small, infra red, battery operated alarm inside the wardrobe. If anybody did open it I would be know by a very loud, shrill, squeel, it was never actioned because my children were well brought up as are their children now. The FEO on his visit was well impressed when I showed him how it worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 Locked cabinet and keys in pocket or a keysafe bolted elsewhere that only you know the code to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolkngood Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 (edited) Yep, I've got two girls.....my eldest is 16 with special needs and doesn't like loud noises. She's been to game fairs with me and associates guns with bangs as doesn't like them. My youngest is 13 and has been sitting by my side on the peg whilst game shooting since she was about 6. Has her own shooting chair and pink ear defenders etc. loves beating has her own ferret. Get them involved.......it's great to spend quality time with them away from the house. Neither have ever shown any desire to 'fiddle' with things that Dad says they shouldn't. Guns are in locked cabinet and cartridges out of site (not locked away). Only I know where keys are so no issues. Edited May 11, 2015 by Suffolkngood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 My nearly 4 year old girl has always been inquisitive but I manage it by ensuring I get her involved. At this stage she's not ready to be taken out shooting with me - however I let her help me clean my guns when I return, a good time to talk to her about the dangers and what they are for in a really supervised way - teaching some safety along the way and consequences of not being safe. She knows she isn't allowed to hold a gun on her own, and that she only cleans bits that I tell her she can, which we do together and they stay firmly on the table in front of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shalfordninja33 Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 issue being a shooting household? Its no different to having knives in the kitchen, keep everyting out of reach. I've included my two young sons (2 and 5) in the whole shooting lifestyle, for them it isnt something special or something to be inquisitive about, its the norm and thus they ignore it, I now take my son of 5 out when its suitable and this has only reinforced my/his stance on guns. Get her involved from the start! I have a two daughters (2 and 5). Cabinet Keys and Carts are both locked away in separate places, with the keys kept where they'll never get hold of them. I can barely get to them!! I've done the same as the pasty and had them both involved from the start. I've tried to normalise it completely, answer their questions, show them what I'm doing if I'm cleaning a gun preparing food etc. I grew up in a shooting household and my parents did exactly the same. Both girls come to the farm with me regularly and the oldest comes beating for the morning on warmer days. She understands where the food on her plate comes from and is happy to hold the bag. Both girls love being outside and taking them to the farm on non shoot days to feed and potter out is a wonderful experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STOTTO Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 A little early learning, remove the mystery of guns from the child, be forever vigilant and when the guns are out of the cabinet never, never leave unsupervised, “Monkey see, Monkey do”! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 Treat them as you would pills, knives, cleaning solutions, plus adhere to the terms and conditions of your license. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 Some very sensible replies well done lads! As said, just keep them locked safe as you should be and you will be fine. Keys kept hidden and always out of reach or in a keysafe etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 My boys are 11 and 9. They shoot shot gun and air rifle with me regularly and come out with me and the dogs. From a very young age they have helped me clean the guns and prep the game. The children need to understand the dangers involved but if you take away the mystery they will be less likely to go investigating when they shouldn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 My boys are 11 and 9. They shoot shot gun and air rifle with me regularly and come out with me and the dogs. From a very young age they have helped me clean the guns and prep the game. The children need to understand the dangers involved but if you take away the mystery they will be less likely to go investigating when they shouldn't. Echoes of the above. My two are now 18 and 15. They would come ferreting and shooting with me from an early age, as would my two nephews of similar ages. My daughter could out shoot any of her male cousins with an air rifle and none of it was a mystery to any of them. Guns therefore hold no mystery nor fascination to any of them and only one of my nephews from those four still has any interest. Remove the mystery and guns simply become nothing more than another item in the household, unlike several of their friends who were always asking of them 'ask your Dad if I can have a look at his guns'. My kids knew better than to ask, and always told their friends 'he wont show you'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del T Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 The main thing I worry about is our lad seeing where they keys are kept to the gun cabinet. I make sure he's not around whilst I get the keys as young children have such good memories! He's only 17month but has been out with us both on the clays nearly every week since he was 4 weeks old. Just need to get him to press the buttons for the traps and jobs a good un. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 I have 3 children oldest is 17 and youngest 10. As everyone has said guns locked away everthing else locked or out of reach. I have never had an instance of finding my children touching my guns or stuff in my very small gun room / large cupboard. They know that the room is out of bounds unless i am with them. I do have an old sxs hammer gun above a fire place and they have all had hands on with that from an early age. My lad now 15 has his own 12 bore again locked in my cabinet that only I have keys too. I think the idea is don't treat it as something out of the ordinary, just something else from day to day life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckandswing Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 I have a four and a six year old. They know not to touch anything they shouldn't and they have both been taught to respect firearms. Regardless of this, all my guns are stored in the cabinet and the keys are locked away in a little key safe which they could never open and which is hidden out of reach. My cartridges are locked away in a cupboard. Both sets of grandparents don't like guns, through lack of understanding more than anything else but they understand what measures I take. I think education from a young age is the best way of protecting children. Basically, make them gun safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepasty Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 As you say most peoples issues are through lack of understanding, my old man was totally anti guns when I was growing up yet now I've had firearms for a good few years and got my brother into it he's totally softened and now doesnt look twice if I walk in the house with one and now I think he's even intrigued to having a go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victorismyhero Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 I have a workshop full of sharp, dangerous meat eaters.... the logic is ...things with sharp teeth eat meat...humans are meat so.......... But these things are "grandads TOYS" ...now ...I dont play and mess with their toys, unless asked to....and they dont mess with mine... That they can understand... same goes for guns...they are secure and safe obviously....but they are grandads toys...so off limits..... its down to education security and vigillance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehb102 Posted May 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 The main thing I worry about is our lad seeing where they keys are kept to the gun cabinet. I make sure he's not around whilst I get the keys as young children have such good memories! That's a very helpful point. I think a keysafe is a must. The infra red alarm I am filing away for future reference. I am reading the other responses with interest. What about cartridges? Ours are simply in a cupboard in the spare room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolkngood Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 As you say most peoples issues are through lack of understanding, my old man was totally anti guns when I was growing up yet now I've had firearms for a good few years and got my brother into it he's totally softened and now doesnt look twice if I walk in the house with one and now I think he's even intrigued to having a go! My dad allowed me to shoot and handle shotguns from about the age of 9 or 10 and I had my own when I was 12. However, he would never allow me to have an airgun!! His logic was that he knew I'd never ever point a shotgun at anything that I shouldn't but I might with an airgun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehb102 Posted May 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 issue being a shooting household? Its no different to having knives in the kitchen, keep everyting out of reach. To be fair, it's a bit different to having knives. The legal status is different for a start. Also the process of hurting yourself or someone else is rather different. I'm agreeing with those who say it's about key safety combined with education and teaching the child respect from the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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