Gun Safety

[OnCrime]

An 8 year old boy shot his 5 year old brother in the forehead this morning in Gastonia. The 5 year old was rushed to CMC= where he later died.

According to reports, this family is well thought of. The boy's father is the Minister of Music at First Free Will Baptist Church. Both children attend Christian school. It is a tragedy.

When will parents learn to make their guns inaccessible to children? We hear of so many gun accidents involving children- ALL parents should know better! It does not matter how "good" or "well behaved" your kids are... lock 'em up! Kids are curious and guns are 'toys' to them. Kids do not understand how dangerous a gun is or how to check for bullets or how to properly handle the weapon... gun accidents happen all the time and parents needs to be more responsible with deadly weapons.

[SKNL2]

Lock them up for sure! This is indeed a needless tragedy. I am sure that family is torn apart.

As for kids thinking guns are toys, granted children this age have no idea about the dangers of firearms. However, I think it is wise, if you have chosen to own weapons, to teach your child about them once they reach a reasonable age. Leaving children ignorant about the dangers of something just makes them more vulnerable. It's like never teaching them how to cross the road because it's dangerous. Someday, they are going to cross the road. It is inevitable.

My son is well aware of the dangers of guns. I sat him down one night when he was 10 and let him hold my pistols and my long guns. I taught him about muzzle awareness, presuming the weapon is loaded even when he knows it isn't, and most importantly, anytime he sees a gun and there isn't an adult supervising, run and tell someone an adult he trusts. He can clear all of my weapons safely. He has fired the smaller calibers. The mystery of guns has been removed, replaced with a healthy respect - the same respect for firearms I was taught.

I am not saying every child is ready to know about guns at 10 or 9 or even 15. I am saying ignorance to the weapon is dangerous. Resonsible parenting doesn't just entail locking your weapons up. It also includes taking the time with your children to teach them.

[Jenny]

Good Point skn.