What age should I start locking my gun in the safe so the little one can't get to it?

[stevelkinevil]

The most important thing is educate her at the age of understanding, both of my boys have been thoroughly educated since 5 years of age and know the drill when it comes to firearms, they shoot regularly and I believe I successfully removed all the mystery that motivates kids to get into dads stuff. That being said until you have done so its best to keep them locked up.

[Adawg38]

I definitely plan on educating her at a proper age on firearms, like many of you say I agree with that one. Learning to respect. I don't know if we will become shooting buddies or not or if even mommy will like that but I know as long as I am safe and teach my daughter to respect firearms that should at least make her happy. I just want to be able to keep the family safe as well as the little one that doesn't know any better. A couple quick access handgun safes sound good to me. Like said earlier a couple hundred bucks is better that a horrible incident.

[MrPrena]

My baby girl is 3 , and she really wants to play with firearm.
This is why we lock em up.
She makes that supressor sound whenever she sees firearm/toy gun/taser, etc.
I haven't yet to introduce her to any of these yet.

When I was cleaning one, she constantly wants to play with it, and she also messed my zero on a scope.

I think she picked it up from one of the TV show or something.....

My question is, is it good idea to buy her a toy/squirt gun?

[cstone]

I think she picked it up from one of the TV show or something.....

My question is, is it good idea to buy her a toy/squirt gun?

Super Soakers, nerf guns, heck if they don't have toys, they will use their thumb and finger. Curiosity just comes natural to kids. You can teach proper handling, including muzzle and trigger discipline just as well with toys as you can a real gun. Start them young and stay on top of their training.

[MrPrena]

Good idea.
I will get a super soaker and a toy pistol for my kid.

I lived in CA, and I really had no firearm experience till I turned 18.
My wife's family are somewhat anti-gun too.

I would like her to have an experience with firearm. Maybe she may not enjoy it near future, but at least bring her the opportunity to have some kinda firearm safety.

Super Soakers, nerf guns, heck if they don't have toys, they will use their thumb and finger. Curiosity just comes natural to kids. You can teach proper handling, including muzzle and trigger discipline just as well with toys as you can a real gun. Start them young and stay on top of their training.

[cstone]

Good idea.
I will get a super soaker and a toy pistol for my kid.

I lived in CA, and I really had no firearm experience till I turned 18.
My wife's family are somewhat anti-gun too.

I would like her to have an experience with firearm. Maybe she may not enjoy it near future, but at least bring her the opportunity to have some kinda firearm safety.

When the time comes, look into the Eddie Eagle program from the NRA and think about going to an Appleseed. Great for the whole family. Shooting can be a great family activity even if you never carry a gun. Spending time together, building confidence, and developing a mental discipline. Just some of the benefits of the sport.

[DD977GM2]

My baby girl is 3 , and she really wants to play with firearm.
This is why we lock em up.
She makes that supressor sound whenever she sees firearm/toy gun/taser, etc.
I haven't yet to introduce her to any of these yet.

When I was cleaning one, she constantly wants to play with it, and she also messed my zero on a scope.

I think she picked it up from one of the TV show or something.....

My question is, is it good idea to buy her a toy/squirt gun?

IMHO your making a mistake creating such a curiosuity for her.

You need to figure out a way to incorporate your daughters interest into cleaning.
I have done that with all the kids and they have a great respect for firearms to this day.
You keeping it from her is a mistake. Even if youhave to go all the way to get your spare
parts and tell her to "clean" them with a clean brush and no LCP etc. Then your making her
a part of the routine and the curiosity will be taken away from her.

As far as he toy guns or squirt gun, ALL 3 of my boys have them out the ass and the only rule I have for them,
while they are not playing a shooting game with them outside or where ever, they are to adhere to the 4 rules and
treat the toy gun as a real gun, such as when they are pickingup their toys or whatever that isnt part of their game time.

[Byte Stryke]

My baby girl is 3 , and she really wants to play with firearm.
This is why we lock em up.
She makes that supressor sound whenever she sees firearm/toy gun/taser, etc.
I haven't yet to introduce her to any of these yet.

When I was cleaning one, she constantly wants to play with it, and she also messed my zero on a scope.

I think she picked it up from one of the TV show or something.....

My question is, is it good idea to buy her a toy/squirt gun?

Education FIRST!
Control a VERY close second.
Followed by more education.

Don't make it a mystery. Explain, teach, Demostrate.
Little Byte started at 2
It isn't a toy. we do not play with this. It only points at the paper target. we do not walk on the range with a loaded gun(Yet). we never point a gun at people. If we see a gun we DO NOT TOUCH, Go tell an adult. etc etc etc...

as for control, mine stays ON ME unless I am asleep and then it sits on top of my safe at almost 6" with no climbable around it

you are already behind the curve.
teaching safety at 2 and 3 is simple
it's even easier when THEY are Mimicking YOU!

They want to be a part of what you are doing. Teach them now while they idolize you or try to beat it into them later when you are "the old man that don't know nothin'..."

[MrPrena]

My next range session, I will try to ask my baby to help clean some parts.
Teach her basic safety, but I don't think she is ready to even hold a kid/junior firearm yet. Hope she grows fast enough to go.

Within my family and my wife's family, it is just my wife and I who shoots.

When the time comes, look into the Eddie Eagle program from the NRA and think about going to an Appleseed. Great for the whole family. Shooting can be a great family activity even if you never carry a gun. Spending time together, building confidence, and developing a mental discipline. Just some of the benefits of the sport.

IMHO your making a mistake creating such a curiosuity for her.

You need to figure out a way to incorporate your daughters interest into cleaning.
I have done that with all the kids and they have a great respect for firearms to this day.
You keeping it from her is a mistake. Even if youhave to go all the way to get your spare
parts and tell her to "clean" them with a clean brush and no LCP etc. Then your making her
a part of the routine and the curiosity will be taken away from her.

As far as he toy guns or squirt gun, ALL 3 of my boys have them out the ass and the only rule I have for them,
while they are not playing a shooting game with them outside or where ever, they are to adhere to the 4 rules and
treat the toy gun as a real gun, such as when they are pickingup their toys or whatever that isnt part of their game time.

you are already behind the curve.
teaching safety at 2 and 3 is simple
it's even easier when THEY are Mimicking YOU!

They want to be a part of what you are doing. Teach them now while they idolize you or try to beat it into them later when you are "the old man that don't know nothin'..."