The Commonwealth of Virginia is seeking to establish a gun safety program in their public schools. It would be based around the NRA’s highly successful Eddie Eagle program.
Naturally, some people are freaking out about it:
“It’s not the wisest thing because, for instance, [my daughter]. She doesn’t know what a gun is. But, if she sees gun safety, then now she’s curious about it,” says Nery Washington, who lives in Harrisonburg.
So what you’re saying is, your daughter is ignorant, which is understandable for a child, but what’s not understandable is why you as a parent think ignorance is acceptable and the best way to keep your child safe.
Do we keep our children ignorant of the chemicals and cleaners we keep under the sink? Do we keep our children ignorant of “stranger danger”? Do we keep our children ignorant of electrical outlets? Do we keep our children ignorant about running on wet floors? These are all things that are potentially dangerous to children, and we go out of our way to teach children about them all in the name of keeping the children safe.
When you tell your kids about the chemicals under the sink, does Junior go and decide he now needs a Windex cocktail?
“Nothing about this program should make children curious about firearms, and we don’t encourage children to own a gun. So, as to any of those kind of fears, I would say they’re totally unwarranted,” says Alexa Fritts, a spokeswoman for the NRA.
I do take odds with such a flat dismissal. Yes in fact a child could become more curious about firearms as a result of this program. If so, why is that horrible? Any topic we introduce to our children could be met with massive indifference or whole-hearted curiosity. Is that reason to not discuss the dangers of drugs and alcohol? Is that reason to not discuss sex? Yes, discussion of these things could lead to increased curiosity and experimentation. My take as a parent? Don’t ignore the subject with your children. Raise them in an environment where they can learn, explore, and freely ask questions of their parent. Don’t make them scared to come to you, else they will sneak things when you don’t want them to. That’s when the danger can truly start. We are to teach and guide our children, so foster an environment where that can be done.
So yes, if your daughter becomes more curious about firearms, teach her honestly and guide her well. Ignorance doesn’t cure curiosity.
Stuff From Hsoi 
We chose not to have play guns in our home to avoid teaching bad habits. Even at 3 the little one was able to learn about guns from peers and had made ‘play gun’ from a stick.
I think this is the best idea for teaching kids about firearms:
http://corneredcat.com
Kathy’s website is fantastic and she as a lot of good ideas about how to teach kids about firearms. I used her approach for “disarming curiosity” with my own children. However, she’s actually teaching it from a different angle, generally one where you’re OK with firearms and want to introduce your children to it (eventually). I think the Eddie Eagle program is a good program in that is strives purely for safety in a manner that can apply to everyone, even the more ardent anti-gun person. There’s never any guns, never handling of guns, and no actual teaching about guns in Eddie Eagle. It’s just a simple message that if you find a gun you should “Stop. Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.”
Sorry to reply to such an old thread, but it came up when I searched for a phrase I’m trying to coin … “Curiosity cured the ignorance”.
Hmmm … do you really think choosing not to have play guns in the home will actually avoid teaching bad habits? Is there any evidence for this?
It seems to me that your theory is refuted by the evidence of your 3 year old. If you “ban” something from kids that their friends get to have, then they just want it more. More importantly, they want to HIDE IT FROM YOU.
I would perhaps propose an alternate method “to avoid teaching bad habits” with respect to guns. If / when your kids get interested, want, or get toy guns from friends, use it as an opportunity to start teaching about gun safety.
This is just logic speaking … I have very little first hand experience with guns or kids. I did some research on both some years ago, but it was not that extensive, and there is probably better data available now.
HSOI, got one comment on this when I posted a week ago. for some reason people don’t seem all that enthused by it. Not sure where the outrage is.
the mere mention of an NRA program seems to send people off. Never mind it is all about safety and not about guns r good m’kay.
Some people just don’t get it.
The NRA is a secret code word for “evil gun lobby”, “bloodthirsty rednecks”, “Ted Nugent”… take your pick.
It’s all ignorance perpetuating ignorance. I don’t claim to know it all, but at least I’m willing to listen and learn. One thing I learned while I attended the liberal arts college there in that very city where the article was from is that people who claim to be “open minded” aren’t. Being “open minded” means “agreeing with me”.
Ignorance IS the best policy, because ignorance is bliss.
At least, thats what they keep telling me. 😛
Growing up, I was taught a firearm is always loaded, if I see one tell an adult, and don’t touch it.
When I became a teenager, it changed to a firearm is always loaded, and don’t point it at a man unless you intend to kill them.