Hoplophobes and kids

[PisnNapalm]

I started my 9 year old son out with a bb gun. I made him wear eye protection when shooting it. He has since shot both my .22 rifle and .22 pistol.

As a kid I took my bb rifle and cans, targets, etc.. into the woods and set them up on an old fallen log. I never once had a "Christmas Story" moment with a ricochet. Those were some fan days...

I've only ever shot one living thing with my bb guns. I was plinking cans off that log and a chipmunk scampered onto the log and sat right next to a can. Well damn... What 11 year old wouldn't take that shot? I hit it of course and the thing went flying off the back of the log. I never did find it so I don't know if I killed it or not. But afterwards the thought that I might have killed it bothered me. I've never shot at another animal again.

As a teenager though... a few of us had bb gun fights. We wore goggles and you couldn't pump the guns more than twice. Even at 2 pumps they sting like crazy...

Oh well... those days are long gone. Now they arrest kids for Airsoft battles.

[PisnNapalm]

Originally Posted by ricbri69

Not trying to thread jack, but I am curious if anyone has any insight into curing holophobes... my wife grew up in a gun-free environment, then spent the rest of her teen years in a big city suburb where guns were a big no... needless to say, I wasn't as big into guns in the early years of our relationship because of other responsibilities and a shift in my priorities. Anyways, I am getting back into shooting and trying to convince her that guns are not bad...She's getting there, and has *once* shot my p22, but still seems to have that mentality that guns are taboo and acts nervous around them... I am doing everything I can to foster her seeing guns as OK, including spending my new pistol money on a shotgun to shoot trap with, because she seems more comfortable with a long gun and trap is a good "fun" shooting activity.

Once again, not that I want to threadjack, but any insight into helping out with holophobes is greatly appreciated.

I'd say just keep exposing her to them gradually. Don't force them on her, but just encourage her to go shooting with you.

[XD40coyote]

Originally Posted by ricbri69

Not trying to thread jack, but I am curious if anyone has any insight into curing holophobes... my wife grew up in a gun-free environment, then spent the rest of her teen years in a big city suburb where guns were a big no... needless to say, I wasn't as big into guns in the early years of our relationship because of other responsibilities and a shift in my priorities. Anyways, I am getting back into shooting and trying to convince her that guns are not bad...She's getting there, and has *once* shot my p22, but still seems to have that mentality that guns are taboo and acts nervous around them... I am doing everything I can to foster her seeing guns as OK, including spending my new pistol money on a shotgun to shoot trap with, because she seems more comfortable with a long gun and trap is a good "fun" shooting activity.

Once again, not that I want to threadjack, but any insight into helping out with holophobes is greatly appreciated.

I wish I could better help, since I am a woman myself. But I have always been more in the male tendencies and interests. One day I just got interested in guns, and looking through old stuff of mine, I realize it was the news media that sparked the interest. Imagine that, the anti gun news media, railing on against guns, made me for them! Ha ha!

Anyway, maybe if your wife could attend a woman's only shoot, she would loosen up. If you have any of the BOW programs near you, you could try that. This is "Becoming an Outdoors Woman", and is for women to learn about hunting, fishing,shooting, and other outdoor activities in a comfy women's only environment ( though some instructors may be male, but they try to get as many female instructors as possible). She may be able to choose what classes to take and just take say skeet or trap shooting, black powder shooting, camp cooking, wild edibles and herbs, that sort of stuff. Sounds like she might not be comfy with hunting related stuff, but she might enjoy archery. I was once contacted about doing a trapping class at one of these not too far away( Nixon Park in York county), but I haven't heard back from the guy since. Well I am in one trapping video showing beginners and kids how to trap raccoons, and will be in a fox trappers of PA book that is up and coming...


BTW if you were close to me, I would offer to meet your wife and try to get her to shoot with me, just me and her. Not having other people around and esp men, she might feel more secure, and actually find she likes it. Plus I can tell her all about living in Baltimore city LOL- that should scare her enough to WANT to have a gun to defend herself if the need arose!

[Alaskan Shooter]

It's funny how where you grew up has a lot to do with your perception of guns. My wife and I both carry guns, we have eight children (15, 13, 10, 8, 6, 4,3, and 1) and all of them who are over 6 have fired the 22 rifles and by age eight they have fired the 22 pistols or revolvers.

When I was 13 my father and I purchased my first revolver which I proudly wore when we hunting or camping. My 15 year old son claimed that revolver until this past year when I took him out and let him pick his own new 357 revolver. My 13 year old daughter is interested in my PF-9 (I don't even get to shoot it at the range anymore) and she has pretty much claimed it as hers.

I guess what I am trying to say is that up here guns are a part of life and visible to everyone. It will get better if you keep up the OC effort and help people get used to seeing guns in the open.

On a side note thanks to all of you for keeping me informed on PA gun laws. I have extended family in Punxy and will be heading your way with the family for a 3 week visit in September. My wife and I will be watching for OC dinners and plan to attend one (not in Philly) with the family while in the area.

[clarion44]

No toy guns or bb guns?!

As stupid as it was, my friends and I in our early teen years had slingshot wars. Looking back on it I don't know how we all kept our eyes.

My grandparents got me a bb gun when I was probably about 12. I was in charge of getting rid of sparrows and black birds from their property. The first real gun I shot was when I was about 15. A Remington 16ga shotty. It was one of my friends families guns and that what I used when we went dove hunting. First time out they wanted to make sure I could hit something so they threw a crab apple in the air and on the first shot I nailed it. Then the first dove I shot at, hit it. Those were good times.

[BlownNitroPontiac]

Originally Posted by Bruce

Would someone please explain this to me; like, slowly?

Yeah, sure.

Your parents were Liberals.

[normanvin]

Originally Posted by ricbri69

Not trying to thread jack, but I am curious if anyone has any insight into curing holophobes... my wife grew up in a gun-free environment, then spent the rest of her teen years in a big city suburb where guns were a big no... needless to say, I wasn't as big into guns in the early years of our relationship because of other responsibilities and a shift in my priorities. Anyways, I am getting back into shooting and trying to convince her that guns are not bad...She's getting there, and has *once* shot my p22, but still seems to have that mentality that guns are taboo and acts nervous around them... I am doing everything I can to foster her seeing guns as OK, including spending my new pistol money on a shotgun to shoot trap with, because she seems more comfortable with a long gun and trap is a good "fun" shooting activity.

Once again, not that I want to threadjack, but any insight into helping out with holophobes is greatly appreciated.

I would take her shooting. Once she finds out it is not evil and that she can have fun shooting she will be hooked. It can also become another interest the two of you can share.

[Bruce]

Originally Posted by XD40coyote

The hoplophobe deal with kids - well I was thinking it is not so much the sight of the gun, but the irrational fear that their untrained brats would try to go grab it out of the holster.

My very first firearm was a 'used' in-the-box S&W M13 - a pristine blued 6 shot .357 revolver w/ a 4" bbl.

I bought it off of my boss (a retired LEO) at that time, and was expected to be 'carrying' it starting the next week (when I would also receive a substantial bump in pay). This was years before guards were required to take a training course (to be armed or otherwise) in New York. My boss kept calling it a *3 inch* and a *thirty eight* even after I showed him the markings on the box and on the gun itself.

He also sold me his old leather NYC gun belt, which had the old fashioned 'open top' leather swivel holster, 12 cartridge drops and a cuff case. I was a little shocked that he'd part with something that must have had some sentimental value.

It took pretty much all day getting the forms from Licensing bringing them to work, filling them out and having my boss sign them. Then bringing the forms back to Licensing and getting the serial put on my license. Then bringing the revolver to prove the serial number matched the one on my license so they could 'register' the gun to my license. Then my boss had to have the number 'unregistered' from his license. It seemed pretty wacky, but I didn't know any better.

After that, I spent every spare moment I could afford at a private range; which was several towns away. My first trip to the range, the range officer showed me the (or, at least, his) proper way to load and unload, off-hand and weaver stance, et cetera. I was assured that I 'was a natural'; though I wasn't sure if he was stroking my ego or not. It all seems so long ago now.

I had fired friend's shotguns and rifles dozens of times before, so I was not entirely new to shooting. But, until then, handguns were only something I'd read about. You see, in New York State, you are not (lawfully) allowed to 'touch' a handgun unless you have a license (which I had just been 'granted' a week before); moreover, you are not allowed to 'touch' any handgun not specifically registered to 'your' license. I was a stickler (pretty much still am) for the law.

Anyway, so the range officer suggests I get a better holster. I shrugged. He shrugged.
*
I had one kid - once - try to touch my gun when I was leaning on the counter in a pizza parlor. I don't know how my *spidy sense* kicked in, I think it might have been a combination of the slight facial reactions of others in my peripheral vision and knowing there was a child loose nearby, but, without possibly being able to see what was happening, I slapped the kids hand away just before it touched either my gun or my holster. Several people who witnessed this gave me a surprised, and very impressed, look.

I turned and sunk down, and with a stern voice and controlled voice, I commanded the child: "Don't ever do that. Don't ever do that again." For a second, I was afraid he would cry, but he just ran away giggling. I guess I should have tried to find his parents and talk to them, but I let it go. I am pretty sure I shocked the kid (and, perhaps, the witnesses too) into believing that guards and cops and such have 'magic powers'.
*
I bought a new leather Bianchi duty holster as soon as I could afford one - about two weeks later.
.

[Bruce]

Originally Posted by Alaskan Shooter

It's funny how where you grew up has a lot to do with your perception of guns.

I guess you could say that I always had a 'rebellious spirit'. I rarely took my parent's (or anyone else's) opinion as fact.

As a small child, my tendency was to obey my parents, but that didn't mean that I wouldn't 'think' for myself. Early on, I had deep and serious doubts that weapons themselves were 'bad' or 'evil'. As per my parent's instructions, I did not touch other kid's BB guns and cap pistols, but I never once witnessed the 'horrific evil' that supposedly embodied the toys.

The older I got, the more reason and logic insisted that my parents (and other adults) must be mistaken. I started to gather empirical evidence that 'bad' people did 'bad' things with weapons while 'good' people only used weapons when they had to (primarily - against 'bad' people doing 'bad' things).

I guess I was around 7 or 8 when I had the epiphany that weapons were not 'inherently evil'; in spite of constant assurances from strong authority figures that they indeed were.

[PisnNapalm]

Originally Posted by Bruce

I guess you could say that I always had a 'rebellious spirit'. I rarely took my parent's (or anyone else's) opinion as fact.

As a small child, my tendency was to obey my parents, but that didn't mean that I wouldn't 'think' for myself. Early on, I had deep and serious doubts that weapons themselves were 'bad' or 'evil'. As per my parent's instructions, I did not touch other kid's BB guns and cap pistols, but I never once witnessed the 'horrific evil' that supposedly embodied the toys.

The older I got, the more reason and logic insisted that my parents (and other adults) must be mistaken. I started to gather empirical evidence that 'bad' people did 'bad' things with weapons while 'good' people only used weapons when they had to (primarily - against 'bad' people doing 'bad' things).

I guess I was around 7 or 8 when I had the epiphany that weapons were not 'inherently evil'; in spite of constant assurances from strong authority figures that they indeed were.

I commend you for thinking for yourself at such a young age. Most kids don't do that anymore. I try to encourage it in my children.