Do Your Kids Know ?

[Venus Pax]

I don't have kids, but I grew up around them.
I don't think I realized until I was in college that not everyone owns guns.
(Prior to college, I thought everyone's dad had numerous guns and a gun safe full of ammo.)

[quidni]

I'd have to say that yes, my son knows....

And I know that he carries, too!

[pfgrone]

I'm 70. My 2 sons are in their 40's. My wife and I both carry concealed. I told my sons that if I ever show serious signs of senility, dementia, or Altzheimers, they are to come and remove all the guns.
My grand kids (teenagers) don't know about the guns.
Paul

[racer32]

My 5-year-old has known that both her mother and I shoot and carry firearms since she was a toddler. For her, firearms aren't really a big deal, and so far as I know, she never talks about Mommy's and Daddy's guns. She's been taught about gun safety since she was old enough to walk, and doesn't play with (or have any) toy guns. In our house, guns are for either hunting, target shooting, or defense-not play. Even though she's almost six, she hasn't ever held, or wanted to hold, one of our guns. She's grown up going to the gun range with us, and it's one of her favorite places to visit because the employees and other club members love to play with her and the owner's daughter is often there. She asks to go there at least once a week to visit her friends, but she doesn't have any interest in shooting other than to watch her mom and I shoot. Her birthday is coming up, and I asked her if she wanted me to get her her own "little" rifle. Her response was, "Not ths year, Daddy, maybe next year when I'm seven." She'll know when the time is right for her to begin shooting, and will hopefully be as safety conscious when she gets older as she is now.

[wrt45]

I'm 70. My 2 sons are in their 40's. My wife and I both carry concealed. I told my sons that if I ever show serious signs of senility, dementia, or Altzheimers, they are to come and remove all the guns.
My grand kids (teenagers) don't know about the guns.
Paul

I'm still in my 50's, but if I told my kids that, they'd be at the house within the hour saying, "The old man's lost it and we're here to pick up all his guns......."

[WaltherP99]

I have had guns in the house even before the kids were born. Since getting my CHL my daughters also are aware of me carrying and not a word is said about it to there friends or other family members. Even my youngest at 11 knows not to touch or even get near my guns. I was just talking with my 17 about getting her into shooting and then possible getting her CHL when she is of age. She is driving now and I will not be there to protect her.

I even had a situation that required her to get my gun. We went to the grocery a few nights ago and there was a man that was watching us in the store. He left before we did and as we went out in the parking lot his car was parked with the lights on and engine on about 15 feet from my car. I opened the back of the car to loaded groceries and then handed the keys to my oldest daughter and had her open my gun lock box and put the gun between the seats. Of course this was the day I had locked my gun in the car instead of carrying it. Nothing happened but for me I have complete trust of my kids and they prove themselves everyday.

[Venus Pax]

I get rather concerned about my baby sister not being armed. She's 15. I understand WHY we don't issue licenses to minors; their records aren't established, and they aren't the wisest group on the planet either.

But young girls are also highly likely to become victims of crime. When we go places, I'm funny about letting her be out of my sight. Since she's older now, she doesn't always like that.

When she was smaller (12 and under), I would always make her walk in front of my a few feet so that I could watch her. If anyone tried to bother her, I'd know right away and could act on it. I also wouldn't let her dawdle in the car or when walking through parking lots.

Daddy often jokes that we're going to take her prom date to the range to let him watch her shoot. (She's good.) He plans to tell the guy, "She's an even better shot when she's angry."

[MrDrummy]

That would have gotten my attention, for sure!!

Since I've no kids, I can't totally relate to much in this topic, but telling my parents that I was carrying was something that took me a bit of time to come out with.

My dad kind of looked at me and said "Oh yeah? Let's see it. I've been thinking about getting one myself, and getting my concealed license." I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. My mother just said, "Good. You need to keep you and that wife of yours safe. I want some grandkids."

[Rich]

I don't have any kids...but my cat knows.

[jbirdswife]

Venus,
What about getting your sister some of the FOX OC spray? It comes in several different sizes and if she was going somewhere (like the mall) where she might be walking around with a group of friends she could easily fit the pen size into one of her pockets.

Are there any kinds of laws preventing minors from carrying OC spray?

Kimberly

[txinvestigator]

Venus,
What about getting your sister some of the FOX OC spray? It comes in several different sizes and if she was going somewhere (like the mall) where she might be walking around with a group of friends she could easily fit the pen size into one of her pockets.

Are there any kinds of laws preventing minors from carrying OC spray?

Kimberly

no

[Venus Pax]

I've thought about OC spray for her, but would be afraid of the wind changing directions and spraying her instead.
Aside from that, she's maybe 95 pounds soaking wet. That OC spray would affect her a lot more than some big dude.
Come to think of it, she probably wouldn't be the best candidate for concealed carry. She's a bit in her own world most of the time (but people like her there).
I'm thinking about repairing my stun gun and giving that to her, but I would definitely need to train her with it to make sure she & friends don't zap eachother with it and so (especially) it doesn't get taken from her & used against her.
Everytime I'm with her, I talk about situational awareness. I need to step it up a bit. It's truly the best self-defense. I would imagine that 95% of trouble can be avoided. (It's the other 5% that worries me.)

[Originalist]

My oldest son (who is six) know that I have a gun, sometimes I wish he didnt. For the most part him knowing limits his over whelming want to run and jump on my back or front or side or where ever he is able to reach without me immediately knowing, other times, Like in the changing room the other day in a rather loud voice "dad what are going to do with your gun" Didnt catch to much flack from anyone in ear shot but we didi have a talk about "inside voices". I want my son to know, I want him to not be curious about what exactly a gun can do (I wanna take him to the range but mom needs some more convincing) He has a good understanding that guns can kill people and has not once had that "I wanna touch" look in his eyes - Eventually my goal is when he turns 21 (sometime from now) to take a class togather and get him his CHL.

[Aric]

My kids know.. My son said something the first time we went out. We where looking at guns and he said pretty loudly "That gun looks like yours" I interupted him before he said anything else. After a talking if he says anything is "Your you know what is showing" or something. Other than that they are fine with it.. even the ex-wife has kinda come around.

[Roger Howard]

My 10 yo daughter knows I carry. I just explained to her why we don't discuss it in public and that no one outside family needs to know. I get hugs on a regular basis (daddy's girl) so I had no choice on letting her know. She would feel it anyway. It is just not an issue. I take her to the range with me on a regular basis and she shoots fairly well. She enjoys it and looks foward to our trips to the range. Gun safety is, and will always be, our number one topic. If she ever shows an interest, I'll take her to the IDPA matches I attend.