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A Gun Owning Parents Pledge

Children and guns…

For the educated and responsible gun owning parent, these are positive words. We think about the next generation we are raising who will fight to protect our Second Amendment rights. A generation that respects guns as the powerful tools they are. They know how to care for and handle them properly. We smile as we think of our family time on the range. For others, hearing the words ‘children and guns’ elicits horrific images and fears. Along with this comes cries for stricter laws to protect them.

As mothers and fathers, we have to understand this and these emotionally charged responses from those that lack the understanding that we have as responsible gun owners.

I participated in a number of interviews following the tragic accident involving a 9 year old girl who accidentally shot an instructor while shooting a subcompact automatic Uzi. We all have opinions and criticisms of this incident and are rightfully disturbed by choices made by the adults involved. I would rather not add to the dialogue which we are seeing everywhere in the press and social media. I would, however, like to focus on what an incident like this means to us as parents and gun owners.

As simple as it may sound, we MUST take the responsibility for the proper storage of firearms in our homes. We must also take teaching our children about guns VERY seriously. As parents, we must look at our personal strategies on how to accomplish this responsibly and thoroughly. The lives of your children and others depend on it. Your plan must be a long-term, lifelong plan. It doesn’t end once you have delivered the Eddie Eagle program to your children. It doesn’t end when you purchase the appropriate safe(s) you will utilize in your home. This must become part of your lifestyle. It must become part of who you are as a parent and a family. Every family member must regularly review, practice and train for safe handling. We must model it as parents with our words and our actions every day.

The decision of when and how you will teach your child to shoot and the ramifications of this decision are yours. You MUST use the utmost discretion and with clarity of mind, assess your child’s readiness. It will take an unbiased and undistorted view of your child, both emotionally and physically to make this decision, keeping in mind the purpose of your training is their very safety.

For your children to grow into responsible and safe gun owners, YOU must act as their model and guide. So perhaps the first step in making this choice is an assessment of your own handling skills, knowledge of firearms and range safety. This perhaps requires you to hire a trained professional to assist you.

What else does an incident like this mean to us as gun owners? Although secondary to the safety of our children, the reality is, accidents like these create a surge of calls for more legislation and restrictions. In every interview I participated in, this was the cry. Can you imagine laws that tell you if your child can learn to shoot and if so, legislate when they are ready? Can you imagine politicians deciding which gun you may use, what type of ammo is permitted, what the proper trigger pull weight should be and how you MUST store your firearm in your home. Although we all agree with the necessity of proper and responsible training and proper storage of guns in the home with children, it is my belief that no one is better equipped to make these decisions than you.

So join me in a pledge to educate and inform ourselves as gun owning parents who remain dedicated to the safety of our children. Commit to the tenants of appropriate, reasonable and safe firearms education, training and storage.

Together we will protect our children and our rights.

My best,

Carrie

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3 thoughts on “A Gun Owning Parents Pledge

  1. Amanda says:

    My 10 year old daughter and I both took Handgun 101 last March. She understands that guns are not toys and need to be respected. She knows how to handle them and that mis-handling them can lead to death. We go to the range as a family and she has her “own” .22 S&W that is stored in the house safe. Teach them young and proper safety, care and handling.

    1. Carrie Lightfoot says:

      Great job Amanda!!

  2. AMEN GOOD DEAL USCCA EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE OR NRA ANY TEACHING IS GREAT THANK YOU

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