We had an open door policy about guns too. If we wanted to look at the guns, all we had to do was ask and my dad would bring them out. When I had a friend over, i didn't need to go snooping for guns behind my dad's back because I could always just ask.
Same here! I didn't feel like snooping because I could always have my Dad show me his shotgun. If a friend asked, and my Dad wasn't home, I didn't go snooping, I just said, "When my Dad gets home he'll show it to us!" I found that my curiosity was satisfied, and my Dad taught me the valuable lesson of always treating a firearm like it's loaded. It made me feel "grown up" to have my Dad showing me his gun, and I got to show how "grown up" i was by being responsible with it. The safety rules were the main focus of bringing out the shotgun to show me, always.
As best I recall, I was around 9 or so when he first showed me it. I had some difficulty operating it, namely pulling the trigger and opening the chamber - more a strength thing than anything.
I don't remember any fear of it, as the purpose of showing me wasn't about "harsh realities" of the world or anything. It was just that Dad had a gun, and he was showing me how it worked, how to be safe with it, and that if you're not safe with guns they can be dangerous and hurt you or others around you.
I don't remember if i asked to look at his shotgun, or if he took the initiative, but it was a very special moment for me when he first showed me it, and how to operate it.
Unfortunately, he sold his shotgun some years back while I was in college
It was a semi-auto Remington of some sort. He has made reference to a long-slide .45 many times, so I think he may get himself one sometime
Or, it would be one heckuva gift from son to Father...