Advice needed - gun crazed boys

[Motherofsons]

I am the mother of three sons, and am in need of your advice. Our two youngest sons are highly interested in guns. The youngest, a freshman in high school, is pretty fanatic about it. His knowledge is quite amazing. At this point he wants to become a gun designer. So what are parents to do? How can we support that in a safe way? I mean, 'loving' guns, and everything with it is looked at pretty negatively everywhere. Let's not even talk about public schools!

I would love to hear from all of you how to deal with that, give us suggestions what is a good path for all of us to take, how we parents are supposed to deal with it (the love and interest of guns) and then how can we help him develop this passion. My husband and I are really like fish out of the water with all of this.

All of our boys have been taking gun safety courses, and we are pretty strict about when they are allowed to shoot, with or without supervision etc. They are obeying these rules pretty well, considering the guns will only come out of the gun safe by asking one of us parents.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Bill2e]

Well I would say you are on the right track. I would for a local shooting club for them to get involved in. Maybe trap & sheet. Also I believe 4H has a lot of youth gun programs.

I am sure many more will chrime in with better advice.

Bill

 

[texas bulldog]

i guess i don't see the problem.

are you concerned that their interest is not popular with others? that it reflects poorly on you when people find out what their hobby/passion is? if this is the case, i think you simply need to get over that. and if others complain that their interest isn't "normal"...well, you know what they say about opinions...

is your concern safety? it sounds like they are taking that side of things pretty seriously. lots of folks grow up around firearms and/or shoot frequently. the percentage that get hurt is very, very small despite the publicity to the contrary. if they are adhering to basic firearms safety rules, i don't see the issue here either.

sorry if that seems callous...

 

[mcdonl]

Motherofsons... As a father... I think you are doing the best thing in trying to foster something they are pasionate about... so many kids today are not interested in anything other then the internet and TV... I am new to handguns, but have hunted my whole life. I enjoy shooting with my daughters as well.

Maybe your boys will play a small role in turning the heads and opinions of a few people who are close minded about the shooting sports.

Do as someone already suggested. Look into a local gun club, find a safe place to shoot and start small and cheap. As you know, kids tend to lose interest in things so you do not want to end up with a large investment.

I think most people, my kids included start with a .22 as they are cheap to purchase, and cheap to shoot.

I look forward to seasoned vets sounding in on this one.

Good job mom.

Leroy

 

[John828]

I'd call your state Dept of Natural Resources or Game and Fish Commission and sign up for a Hunter's Safety course. I know that hunting and guns are not synonymous, but you will all learn a lot of safety rules and some good firearms information.

Otherwise look into the NRA and some of their basic markmanship courses. Do not rush out and buy them a gun. If anything, buy yourself a gun and you learn and then teach them.

Nothing negative about guns, just ignorance in using them.

ETA:

All of our boys have been taking gun safety courses, and we are pretty strict about when they are allowed to shoot, with or without supervision etc. They are obeying these rules pretty well, considering the guns will only come out of the gun safe by asking one of us parents.

You have a gun safe? Are you and/or your husband shooters? I am hardly seeing a problem. If they are taking safety courses and you are supervising, what else is there to do? Boy, I wish I had not jumped the gun to post. I thought there was a fire needing put out.

Whatever you are doing, keep doing it. I wish I had some kids interested in shooting. If you are wanting to get rid of them, nevermind...

 

[Lagomorph]

Also, mechanical engineering (or any type of engineering) would be a very useful track for someone interested in becoming a gun designer.

 

[Motherofsons]

Thanks for your input. I am German and even though I have been living in the US for over 20 years, I still have trouble communicating my thoughts in writing.

At this point of time, the boys already own a couple of .22, a couple of shotguns, and AR-15, and a pistol. They are part of a 4-h group, where they only shoot skeet though. Both of the youngest boys have participated in hunters safety, and an NRA and state safety programs.

I guess, I am just overwhelmed with their interest. Our youngest wants to design guns, and is learning CAD for that reason. Especially as both my husband and I did not grow up with guns, it's rather daunting and intimidating how our boys are interested in guns. I believe we are handling things pretty well, but was wondering if you have any further input how to support this interest, what other avenues are there for them to express this interest. May be there is no answer, may be what we are doing is all there is.

My other question is - what would you do if your sons were as interested as ours are? How would you further, support, their interest? We do want them to be safe.

By the way, they earned the money for the guns themselves.

Thanks.

 

[woodfiend]

Welcome to THR! I think that all of these are great comments and suggestions and I would definately recommend them. Do they actually have firearms, because if they don't here is what I might do.

Have you thought about giving them airguns? A good pellet gun can teach a kid a lot about safety. I know that an air gun isn't nearly as cool as a real firearm, but they are valuable to teach young boys with. I learned with a pellet gun and then moved on to a .22 rifle.

You could jump right in and get them some .22 rifles, but take them to the range and use all safety procedures (of course). Other shooters at the local range are more than likely very happy to give advice or teach your boys how to shoot.

 

[Motherofsons]

Also, mechanical engineering (or any type of engineering) would be a very useful track for someone interested in becoming a gun designer.

The youngest is intrested in this allready, my husband is a ME too.

 

[woodfiend]

Sorry, that one was a bit late! I am a high school senior, and I own several rifles. Just so you know, your boys sound a lot like me. My dream job is to work for a gun company, Heckler and Koch mainly. But I got my first rifle when I was 10 and I shoot quite regularly since.

My answer to your question would be that you should support their interest. I would show that you trust them. Only let them shoot their firearms and don't let any of their friends shoot them, unless one of you is with them at the range at all times.

 

[Smithiac]

I grew up around firearms spent countless hours in the field hunting unsupervised. I was much younger than your sons. It sounds like your son/s are old enough to understand consequences and right from wrong. If you would trust them to drive a car then you should be able to trust them with a firearm after proper training and it sounds like you are on the right track.

My post fell alittle late as well it sounds like you are on the righ track. Somthing you can do is any kind of competition shooting. Benchrest rifles of any caliber, IPSC, IDPA, there are countless ways to grow this interest.

Hey what about you and your husband shooting with them Ill bet that would help there interest. Have a family day at the gun club or range and compete against each other.

I commend them for earning the money for their firearms on there own.

Remember a weapon by definition cannot be considered a weapon until it is used as a weapon. So with that said a firearm is not a weapon.

 

[Asherdan]

I think you're doing great so far. As far as furthering their interest in a safe and constructive manner I'd do as was suggested up thread and look for local ranges - clubs that sponsor NRA Junior programs. My son started off at my club with .22's shooting smallbore bullseye (in which he progressed at his own rate) and has added smallbore silhouette (which is competitive).

It can give them a regular event to look forward to and is well worth the Junior membership cost.

 

[HoosierQ]

I am going to say that, designing notwithstanding, the best channel would be either competion shooting at a club or something, or hunting with experienced hunters (if hunting is of interest).

In the larger world, "loving" guns is seen as kind of kooky...none of us think so of course...but let's call them "city people" for lack of a better term...a lot of them do. I think Motherofsons is wanting to get the boys down a path that is constructive rather than just being gun fanboys.

Competion shooting and/or hunting would put the lads in contact with shooting peers, most much more experienced, and bring them up with firearms properly as most of us...let's call us "country people"...all were.

I grew up hunting, not really caring about handguns or anything...it was the hunt. In those days my dream rifle was a Winchester 94. Wouldn't have given a nickle for a 1911 or an AR because you don't hunt squirrels or groundhogs with them (not back then anyway).

So my interest in guns followed the hobby...hunting. Now I don't hunt but I still love to shoot.

 

[MGshaggy]

Motherofsons - I think you've gotten some good advice so far, but let me add something from a different angle. Why not use their interest in guns to foster an interest in other related areas that can benefit them in other ways? For example, use their interest in guns to focus on related academic subjects. If one son is interested in designing guns, remind him that those jobs go to people who do well in math, science, physics, and engineering. If they're interested in guns of a specific era (say WWII), use that to foster an interest in the history and politics of that era. Guns may just be simple machines, but guns also involve all sorts of interesting subjects (law, politics, math, engineering, science, etc.) that your sons would do well to take an interest in also. It will not only further their interest in guns, but it will make them more well rounded and educated young men.

 

[LKB3rd]

I'd use it as an opportunity to get involved yourself. It sounds as if your lack of experience is what is making you uncomfortable, and there is one way to remedy that. It is a fun hobby that I enjoy sharing with my father, who is 63 and has gotten into shooting by going with me to the range over the last year or two.
Take a class yourself, see if Mom can out shoot the boys at the range (my Dad embarasses me routinely, turns out he's a natural lol).

 

[ants]

You're doing great so far!!!

Find a gun manufacturer in a neighboring state and arrange for a tour of the factory on your next vacation. Ask if a real gun designer will take the boys on the tour. The designer will love it, the boys will love it, you will love it.

The members on this forum will help. To the best of my knowledge:
Beretta has a plant in Georgia.
ParaOrdnance has a facility in Tennessee.
High Point is located in North Carolina.
Ed Brown just recently relocated to Iowa.

I sure there are dozens of others.
Sit down with the boys and do a search for US manufacturers and their plant locations.

 

[John828]

ants, it is/was tougher than you think. I toured the Remington ammunition plant in Lonoke, AR back in 1989. I was the first and told would be the last under-eighteen year old to get the tour I got.

I was doing a science fair project on the ballistics of steel shot vs. lead shot since that was the big thing back then.

Whether or not I was truly the first and last, I am not sure, but I do know that I am glad I had a dad who took the effort.

So motherofsons, make the effort. Maybe they will be the "first and last" kids to get a tour of a plant.

 

[HeavenlySword]

Take your son's friends that are polite and well mannered shooting- with permission of course.

Explain to your sons the political climate and popular belief is against guns, and most people in 'mainstream' society have never handled guns. Make sure they don't talk about guns too much in school, although once they get older they may try to convert people, you should allow them freedom later.

 

[sturmgewehr667]

buy them an ak, NOW while the commies dont have full power

 

[machinisttx]

I suggest that your son who has an interest in firearms design take some machining courses. Designing stuff isn't that hard, but designing something that works and is economical to produce in quantity is not. If he has at least a small amount of machining experience, he will better understand how things go from a drawing to working part, and be able to design accordingly.

 

[sturmgewehr667]

i forgot to mention, keep them away from fudds, thats why i dont like 4h, it is a haven for fudds that will ruin there thought of gun rights and teach them that guns are only for hunting

 

[woodfiend]

Originally Posted by sturmgewehr667
i forgot to mention, keep them away from fudds, thats why i dont like 4h, it is a haven for fudds that will ruin there thought of gun rights and teach them that guns are only for hunting

That is pretty true!

 

[Vicious-Peanut]

Well, I commend you for coming here to ask for help fostering their interest.

I would say you and your husband are doing well so far, they have taken safety courses, and respect the firearms. As for what to do next, I would go shooting with them and let them teach you what they know about guns. Since they are so interested in the design of firearms maybe pick up some books such as Cartridges of the World.

 

[Prince Yamato]

If guns will be their career, then also let them have another hobby that will balance that out... something "artsy". The reason I say this is because if they're ever asked, "what do you want to do when you're older?" and they answer, "design firearms," a teacher won't think they're a space case if the teacher also knows that your sons have a vested interest in cultural activities as well, such as art or music. "Oh, Billy wants to design firearms... well, not my taste, but you know he had an interest in the arts as well, so maybe he'll develop really avant garde styled guns..." As opposed to, "Oh, all Billy ever talks about is guns, he really should find another hobby."

In fact, courses in art would help your sons as well. With an increase in the number of polymer based weapons, form and function can finally co-exist and guns in surreal styles are totally feasible. You also have to consider that your sons will be building tools whose primary purpose is the taking of human life, so they're going to have to, at some point, probably justify their choice of careers to someone. The NRA will help with the function perspective (and civil rights by extension) but when asked, "how can you call something that kills 'beautiful'" or "why would you try to make pretty something whose only purpose is to kill?" an art history lesson and discussion of portrayals of death in art may in fact help them as well. Dismiss this as you well, but understand that not everyone thinks with the right brain either.

 

[BBQLS1]

IMO, it sounds to me like you've got the right ideas. I'm very happy that you and your husband are supportive of their hobby since you came from a country where things are very different.


The best thing you can to is to raise them to be good, honest, and hard working people. Stress safety with their hobby but don't go overboard. Maybe even learn about some of the aspects yourself if you are not already.

I guess it's also very important they understand the value of human life.

Good Luck!