Moms Talk: Guns in Homes — Good Idea or Accident Waiting to Happen?
There's a fine line between keeping your family safe and opening the door for disaster. Today we're asking for your thoughts on keeping guns in your home while you have children
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Our Moms Topic this week is pretty simple: It's a discussion about keeping guns in a home in which kids reside.
There are two sides to every story, as they say. So if you look at the issue of having guns in homes, we expect to hear that guns can be used for ill intent, while guns also can be used to protect.
Now throw kids into the mix. Does having a gun in a home where children are growing up put them in danger, or keep them from danger?
Join in the discussion and let us know your thoughts. Have you heard of any horror stories involving guns in homes, or have you heard of any stories that turned out well?
Ken Pagano
7:07 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
There were guns in my home before I was born, I was raised around guns and I have had them ever since I started my own home, 30yrs ago. Never a problem.
Heather West
8:40 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
I wouldn't have it any other way. We need to have a way of protecting our family in the instance a situation arises. Educating your child about gun safety is obviously the number 1 priority. If a parent is neglectful regarding their own gun safety, then a gun should not be in their home.
Missy
8:47 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Just keep them locked up in those "quick access" safes, and educate your children on guns and gun safety. The NRA actually has a good program on the subject, and before you say, "oh sure the NRA" the first rule they teach kids is if you find a gun laying around, don't touch it and tell an adult. There is a lot of scray things going on in this world today. My good friend was a victim of a home invasion, beaten, tied up and the wife was felt up. Thankfully their 15 year old daughter was at a friends sleepover party. She now owns a gun, and I'm glad we have one in my home too.
Ian
9:31 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
I have two children, a third on the way. I also have quite an arsenal in my home too. But as a good and responsible parent AND gun owner, my firearms are locked up when not under mine or my wife's direct control.
One other thing, our children are raised to understand what guns are and how they can be fun when used for recreation, but they are not toys either. My 14 year old daughter shoots competition pistol and rifle, my 6 year old son shoots with me on the weekends.
Problems occur when things are made taboo or attempts to hide them from children are made. Accidents happen when children are not educated at a young age about the dangers of guns. It's no different than teaching them the dangers of sticking things into electrical outlets, or playing in the street or approaching a strange dog. If you teach them well and are honest with them you will most likely not have an issue and life goes on.
Kathy Yaros
9:48 am on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Grew up around guns- not a fan... I have no objection if the kids are taught how to be around them safely, but personally don't see a point. Never in my life have I had to use a gun for "protection" nor had a situation where I wished I had a gun.
PL
4:55 pm on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Never in your life have you had to use a gun for protection, but millions a year have. Yes, millions. I have never needed my car insurance, but I still am forced to have it. But unlike car insurance, no one is forcing anyone to have a gun (except that one town in GA that requires gun ownership, and incidentally the crime rate dropped even though the population increased, in contrary to the IL town that banned guns, and saw an increase in crime rate while the population decreased)
Emily Chesnic
4:32 pm on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
While I believe it is a persons right to own guns for protection, I am extremely uncomfortable with how easily they get in the hands of mentally sick individuals, such as the man responsible for the shootings Sunday in Copley. There has to be a way to make it harder for ill individuals to get firearms, in my opinion.
My husband and I often debate whether or not we should have a gun for protection, as I am uneasy about it. I think accidents happen too easily, even in homes with extremely responsible parents. Guns just plain scare me. My husband and I also discuss whether or not we truly would be able to get a gun out of safe and ready in time to defend ourselves if we wake up to an intruder breaking in.
I do appreciate reading all of the comments. It is an interesting discussion to have, especially in light of the last weekend's tragedies.
Ian
6:50 pm on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
It is very hard for law abiding citizens to get firearms where I live. Doesn't stop the criminals though. Think of Pandora's box... once opened it can never be closed again. Well in the 1500's guns made it onto the scene, Pandora's box was opened. And it will never be closed, well so long as humans are around that is.
While I agree with your premise that it should be difficult for the criminals and insane to get firearms, the stark reality is you can never stop someone that is intent on doing harm or obtaining a firearm. The black market, gangs and other criminal elements make it too easy and they are to wide spread to stop. And this is demonstrated by the riots on England. The population has been disarmed yet the criminal element isn't and while you won't hear much on the main stream media, the UK is having a seriously bad time now. So even with the strictest gun control in the world the UK still cannot stop guns being used in crimes. And they are an island nation.
No, in the end all the laws and regulations passed don't affect the criminals or the mentally unstable, they only affect the law abiding citizen. The people like myself that keep firearms for their intended use of self defense, hunting and recreation.
As with anything in life, fear is easily overcome by education and experience. People that express fear over an inanimate object such as a gun, only display their lack of education and experience with them. Make your choice and educate yourself.
PL
4:48 pm on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The amount of times someone has defended their family because their was a gun in the home, far outweighs any accidents that have occurred because people chose not to educate their kids about guns. It is sad when a child dies in circumstances such as gun accidents, but the pros far outweigh the cost. More children die in car accidents a month, than do in gun accidents a year, but yet you don't have people preaching to get cars out of the home..
DONALD R HALL
6:22 pm on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
if you keep gun locks on each gun , only you have the key.only you can pull the trigger. the key is education, education! got my first gun at age eleven and was taught right from wrong. you must have a healty respect for your weapon. if not?
Lisa Lynch-Frank
10:33 am on Friday, August 12, 2011
A really enjoyed reading all the comments. I'm still torn about this topic. I didn't gro up around gun, I've never used one and I don't like the stories I hear when kids g a hold o a gun or sad, preventable accidents happen. But, any education i beneficial. Thanks for all the thoughtful comments!