MACS wrote:My son grew up with firearms in the house. Unsecured, too... a couple in the closet, and one or two elsewhere.
He never touched them unless we went shooting. Never brought them to school. Never threatened anyone. Weird, ain't it? By all accounts (at least from gun control advocates) he should have shot and killed half the town.
Don't disagree with you MAC. My father was an accomplished competition shooter at Camp Perry in the late 60's/early 70's, was an acclaimed custom gunsmith and machinist. I have pictures from when I was 2yrs old helping my father at the reloading bench, and shooting his competition rifles at the range. The numerous step-fathers my mother married where all gun advocates and hunters. I started hunting at 11yrs old after taking the Hunter Safety course. But in my house then and today I still follow the 2 simple rules: firearms and their ammo are locked up separately, and not together. IIRC that is also taught in the Hunter Safety course. Firearms have always been handled with adult supervision in our home until they are of legal age.
I like to think of it this way. You can't legally buy a firearm until you are 18. You can't legally buy alcohol until you are 21 (in most States). I was caught numerous times stealing my parents booze even though I knew it was wrong and would get my azz beat. I also caught my kids stealing booze even though they knew it was wrong. Once caught, parents have a second chance to secure the booze. Unfortunately when kids are found stealing their parent's guns, often there isn't a second chance to lock the firearms up. I won't allow my kids to have access to booze simply based on the fact they know it's wrong and they can't have it, anymore than I would leave an unsecured firearm simply based on the fact they know it's wrong and they can't have it. My kids have also taken the Hunter Safety course, and received training at our Town-owned gun range. I still find it hypocritical that you can send an 18yr old to war armed and trained with a M16, but he/she can't have any booze until they are 21.
Our community experienced something similar to the OP last week. Three teenage kids made a suicide pact to be carried out at home at the same time. Fortunately 2 kids backed out partly due to the firearms in their home being locked. Unfortunately one 13yr old girl had access to her parent's unsecured firearm.
To quote a comment offered in the Nintendo gun thread: Proper gun storage and education are key and if you don't want to teach your children the difference or store then properly then [the parents] are at fault.
I was lucky to be able to work from home while my kids where growing up so we didn't have to worry about our kids defending themselves against a home intruder. So I do understand and respect Z's point. No one knows your kids as well as you do. If there is any thought a kid may be at risk, the firearms should be secured. A $10 lock is worth the protection. Heck, the last 3 guns I purchased all came with locks included, so they are used.
I am a gun advocate and owner. But IMHO if anyone wants to have a serious discussion about gun control, it should begin in the home.