Posted on Jan 3, 2015
CPT Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
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I have seen this while I was a cop a bit. Not, so much in the security sector. But when I would go shooting with my friends that were not in the military I found that they had no respect for the firearm. They would just handle it any way they willed, loaded or not. I would always make a correction and try to reinforce safety whenever I could.

In addition this you have the concealed carry folks. I don't have an issue with it as long as you do so safely. A gun is a deadly weapon. It can kill on accident. I read this article about a mother who was a NUCLEAR SCIENTIST was killed by her two year old child. That is something that will emotional scar that child for life. It just reiterates that anyone can make a mistake. You can't out smart safety.

I don't know why you would even expose a child to a firearm. Even if it was unloaded. Next, you should never keep it where a child could reach it. You wouldn't let a child reach into a bag with an exposed knife it in. Why is a gun any different. Further more if you are going to accept the responsibility of carrying concealed you should not take it for granted. When I did carry it was always on my hip. I never took it off and just set it down anywhere. The only other place for it was secured in it's case.

The moment you don't respect a firearm you will pay the price. There are so many sad and tragic accidents out there.
Posted in these groups: 7d85f271 Firearms and GunsConcealed carry image Concealed Carry
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MSG Usarec Liason At Nrpc/Nara
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I believe in teaching kids firearm safety early on but they are kids, in other words you still need to be overly cautious. You can hand a kid a Nerf gun and tell them not to point it at someone's face....chances are it will still happen more than once. It takes constant reinforcement before the message will really sink in but even then accidents happen and my nephew ends up firing a nerf dart that hits me dead in the eye....no massive harm or foul but it happened even though he knows better than to point the Nerf gun at someone's head.

Teach kids safety...reinforce safety..but do your due diligence to negate as many of the risks as possible...things happen but we have the responsibility to ensure we've done our part to limit what really can happen.
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SFC Jim Ruether
SFC Jim Ruether
3 y
The Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program is a good start even for a two year old.

They must know what a gun looks like and if they see one they are supposed

to STOP, DON'T TOUCH. LEAVE THE AREA. and TELL AN ADULT!
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CPT All Source Intelligence
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Edited >1 y ago
It is NOT about teaching your kids about firearms. It is about securing firearms properly. In study after study, in a lab setting, when kids between the ages of 6-14 discover a firearm, more often than not, they will pull the trigger within 5 minutes. The rate goes up if the kids are in a group instead of alone (hint: which then increases the likelihood that someone will get shot). Having prior familiarity with firearms did not prove to be a significant factor to either increase or decrease the likelihood (the biggest factor seemed to be being a boy; in a group, some times the boy took the firearm from the girl if a girl found it and refused to pull the trigger).

If you think you are increasing safety by keeping a loaded firearm unsecured in your purse, nightstand, or glove compartment, publicly available data will prove you wrong. As 1LT Rosa said, the only way to properly carry a loaded weapon is holstered on your person (or holstered in your vehicle, but I haven't seen many non-law enforcement types with center console holsters). If you do not have positive control over it, someone else can.

Just telling your kid over and over not to play with guns absolutely will not work. Taking him/her to the range will not work. Secure your firearms at all times.
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CPT Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
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I have heard over and over gain that the second most important piece of equipment you need is a good holster. Unfortunately a lot of people don't understand the value of a good holster. When you try to gauge the retention systems and the speed of the draw most novice shooters will go for the speed aspect. Well I never carried a gun without at last strap that I would have to break with my thumb. It would always have a closed trigger guard. Then you should really look at the gun. I am sure she had a glock. If I were carrying a gun in a bag I would make sure it had an external selector switch. But it isn't sexy so people don't want to mess with them. They think that that one second delay could lost them. If you train enough you will eliminate that delay and learn how to draw and arm your weapon.

I agree. Just training alone isn't good enough. We tell kids not to take drugs or text and drive. Just training them is one thing but the maturity level just isn't there. By exposing them to such things we are making a disaster possible.
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CPT Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
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CPT Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
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I recall something about kids are prone to get guns.
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SFC Jim Ruether
SFC Jim Ruether
3 y
The Eddie Eagle Safety program applies to a gun found on the play ground or in a garbage can after it was ditched by a criminal. Guns just turn up sometimes and they won't necessarily be in a gun safe or secured in a purse, they may have a locking gun cable, or as likely not. Muzzle control is the #1 gun safety rule. Never point any weapon at anyone or anything you don't intend to shoot.
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COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM
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A few thoughts:
- The mother accidently killed by her 2 year old boy is a tragedy. I am sure, however, that it will be turned into a major media event by those with an agenda.
- I would be interested in seeing national data broke out by state and major city regarding accidental firearms deaths, gun related murders, crime prevented by personnel carrying weapons etc. Simply stated, I do not trust the media to properly educate and inform on this issue.
- 50-60 years ago I think more American grew up on farms and/or were more familiar with weapons and therefore developed better gun safety habits such as:
- Never point a weapon at something you do not intend to kill.
- Treat every weapon as if it is loaded whether it is loaded or not.
- Muzzle awareness at all times.
- Weapons safety training is key.
- Respect for weapons must be instilled/trained at a very young age.
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CPT Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
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I would agree with you but some statistics are can not be debated. One would be that 100% of deaths from negligent discharges were preventable. Guns have came into a place where they have never been before. They are a thing of entertainment or status. How many guy guys out there are only popular for their ability to gun. Instructor Zero is one that comes to mind.

In the past guns didn't hold true to the status they are today. Firearms are for a purpose. Children that grow up on a farm were drilled with safety. They knew what to do. It wasn't just a grab a gun and go shoot. They were with an adult that taught them how to hunt.

Hand guns were never in the place there were today. Today's generation and the concealed carry is new. It is needed in places but the issue you run into is you are also exposing yourself to a whole new threat, yourself. When I was a cop I was told that it doesn't matter to what type of call you respond to there is always a gun there, yours. What the idea is even if I don't need a gun I am bringing one. If I have to go to a school and read a book I have a gun. If I am just need to help a elderly person with medical care there is a gun. I always kept that in mind. When you don't you run into issues. I am positive that she would never just set a gun in the open next to her child on purpose. But that is exactly what she did.
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