Be sure to stop by Shannon’s, over at Rocks In My Dryer , for Works-For-Me Wednesday. If you have a quandary, the folks who meet there have a solution!
Are you pro-gun? Anti-gun? Have a house full of guns? Won’t allow guns in your house? For this discussion, it really doesn’t matter. The fact is – there are guns in this world, and there are children in this world. So we need to teach our children about gun safety.
You might think that you are “safe” and that you don’t need to teach your children about gun safety because you don’t allow guns in your home. Well, let me share this with you… Hubby shared a story he read with me the other day. A 5-year-old girl found a gun lying on the ground at an outdoor family Fourth of July event. She picked up the gun and carried it to her parents to let them know what she found. The parents of course were horrified. Upon examination, it was found that the weapon was fully loaded and ready to be fired. If the girl had been curious or careless and somehow squeezed the trigger, she could have easily fired the weapon. Which may or may not have harmed anyone, but the sound of gunfire surely would have startled everyone. One false move, and the holiday easily could have ended in tragedy.
Honestly, I don’t know if the girls parents allowed guns in their home or not. But I do know, that particular gun could have been found by any curious child because it was in the grass on the ground. And I also know, that child needs to learn the ultimate rule of gun safety.
We have taught our children from the very start the ultimate rule of gun safety. The ultimate rule is: if you find a gun run away and tell an adult. We go over who exactly is an “adult.” Because our children are younger, we want to make sure they know that just because 12-year-old Melissa and 9-year-old Geoffrey are older than they are, Melissa and Geoffrey are not adults. It so happens that we do have guns in our home, and we let our children practice what to do should they ever find a firearm. We purposely set out an unloaded handgun – we don’t let it out of our sight – but we give our kids the opportunity to find a gun and practice what steps to take next. Just like we do fire drills, and practice getting out the house and meeting at the mailbox when the fire alarm is beeping – we practice what to do when we find a gun.
Because I don’t have a crystal ball, I can’t know for certain what my children will do if they ever find a firearm when I am not present. But I do know that I have given them the most valuable tool – knowledge. Knowledge about what they should do if they find a gun. We have taught them that guns are not toys, and that if they ever find one to run away and tell an adult.
Teaching kids how to be safe if they find a gun – works for me!
If you are interested in reading previous Works For Me Wednesday ideas, like Wallies, Getting Generous, Doing It Every Day, Reading Suggestions, Toddler Travel Tips, and taming a Stinky Sink ~ click here.
PS: I received a note that it might be worthwhile to share this link about the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program. Eddie Eagle says: “If you see a gun: STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult.”
This is a good post. We, too, have guns in the house and we’ve been trying to figure out how to handle it with DD (she’s two). They are out of her reach and sight now, but I know it won’t be long until she will be able to find them. I’m dreading that day.
Excellent post. OUr girls are 13 & 11 and have been raised around firearms, but know how to respect them. They have both been through the NRA program (Eddie the Eagle) when they were younger.
Excellent post, Tanya. Gun safety is something which parents might easily overlook, especially if they do not own guns. I like your saying better. Eddie the Eagle says the same thing, but he is wordier. The fewer words for the child to remember, the better.
i found you on wwfm and i just wanted to thank you for a powerful post. sooo important and simply a thought that we often overlook w/ our kids.
i have 2 boys and *weapons* are a part of their play so this was a very good reminder for me! even if we don’t have real guns in our home.
[...] you are interested in reading previous Works For Me Wednesday ideas, like my Sanity Saver, Gun Safety for Kids, Wallies, Getting Generous, Doing It Every Day, Reading Suggestions, Toddler Travel Tips, and [...]
Having a gun is a serious matter,its strictly for those who are well trained.Their the only one i believe who are more responsible handling them.Nice article.