Kids and lethal force

[kkb]

Reading this news item got me to thinking...

Short version:

10 y/o and kid sister home alone, bad guys break in, kids run to closet, bg opens closet, boy shoots bg, bad guys arrested at hospital.​

At what age do you start talking to your kids about the use of leathal force?

How would you handle your child's post incident counseling?

 

[hogdogs]

I was 6 or so when my dad showed me how to grab the single shot 12 I wasn't even able to hold on point. He showed me to grab it and hold it straight up and cock the hammer... facing the intruder let the gun slowly drop as if I were to be aiming and as it got on the target... let 'er rip and take the ride, son...
This was only for me to do if it was me and my other young sister being baby sat by "sissy"...
Brent

 

[txbirddog]

At what age do you start talking to your kids about the use of leathal force?

How would you handle your child's post incident counseling?

As soon as they can be safely taught and can safely handle the firearm in question. There is not a magical age that this occurs. It may be 6 for some and 15 for others. You would have to make that judgement based on the individual.

As far as the second question, I would give them assurance and find a professional that was not anti-gun. This could be such a traumatic experience that I would not take a chance on me, a non-professional in the mental arena. Shooting/killing someone is just the beginning. It after the fight that trouble can come.

 

[Tombstonejim]

And who says the kid needs counseling. He did what he needed to do. His mother told him good job. Lets get on with life.

When I was 10 years old I had lived in two foreign countries and new how soot rifles and shotguns. I woulda shot him dead and never thought twice about it.

 

[Sixer]

How would you handle your child's post incident counseling?

I'd buy him a beer

 

[Archie]

Be Positive

Texas has it for training. When they are ready, and the parent must determine that. My boys knew how to check and clear revolvers when they were around five and they knew the trigger was the dangerous part about the same time for all weapons.

From there, they learned about the other guns when they were curious. They could always ask to see them and I showed them. By ten or so they were pretty safe.

As for outliving a shooting, I'll stick with Texas on this one. However, immediately, I would be reassuring the child they did the right thing. Not encouraging to shoot anyone, but those circumstances called for the action. And a professional who is at least neutral on guns. Some of the side-effects might not appear for some time.

 

[big26john]

Those poor kids. I am sure someone tought them. Who knows what that guy was going to do to them... Could have kidnapped them and much worse. It sounds like they did the right thing.

 

[wickedrider]

Where are the news reports telling the kid that he did a good thing, that he is a hero? He definitely needs counseling to explain why what he did was OK. He alson needs support from firearms people to explain that what he did was OK? How would you like to go through life with everyone afraid of you be cause you protected your family. I'm sure that there are a lot of the childs parents who don't want their kids to play with him because of what happened.

 

[CWPinSC]

At what age do you start talking to your kids about the use of leathal force?

As soon as they're old enough to understand the concept and aim and properly fire the gun.

How would you handle your child's post incident counseling?

I wouldn't. Let a professional do it.

 

[Brian Pfleuger]

I wouldn't assume that the kid needs counseling, for one thing. Maybe, maybe not. If they did, it would be a pro-gun, pro-defense, non-psychiatrist, trained counselor. In my case, probably our pastor.

 

[stargazer65]

At what age do you start talking to your kids about the use of leathal force?

How would you handle your child's post incident counseling?

First part I'm still working out myself. Frankly, we're off to a late start on this, however, I've talked to my 11 year old yesterday because he asked me on his own just yesterday while we were target shooting.

Second question...as homeschooling parents we would handle this ourselves with assistance from our pastor. IMO nobody is a better counselor to a child than his own parents in most normal home circumstances. (Don't send me flames about "what if the parents have issues")

 

[Glenn E. Meyer]

Just a note - if the child develops symptoms of a serious stress disorder it is beyond the capacity of a parent or nontrained but well meaning 'counselor' to deal with it.

Treatment is technical and needs a professional - training in cognitive behavioral methodology seems most efficacious. I understand the concern about getting some kind of preachy antigun type - discuss this beforehand.

 

[Mr. James]

we would handle this ourselves with assistance from our pastor. IMO nobody is a better counselor to a child than his own parents in most normal home circumstances.

Absolutely no flames here; rather, a heartfelt "huzzah." Well done.

The professional grief counseling industry (for such it is) has us all thinking we're abnormal if we don't feel the need for "professional help" at every unpleasant happenstance. Deal with it at home if you can; if the child needs help, seek it when and where necessary.

 

[jg0001]

How'd he shoot the guy "in the lip" but not cause any dire damage... was this some head-turned to the side hit or did the perp have armor plated teeth that deflected the projectile? I'd also be curious to know if the BGs just fled after that or what...

 

[Tuzo]

10 years old sounds old enough

My son first shot a .22 rifle at 5 and then began shooting very well at 10. By very well I mean safely and with proper precautions.

The shooting in Baton Rouge is a mirror image of the violent nature of many areas of New Orleans. After living in this part of Louisiana for many years there is, sadly of course, no shock value associated with this incident. My reaction is relief that 3 violent individuals will be off the streets for at least a few years. The 10 year old did well and probably saved himself and his sister from something more terrifying than the wound suffered by one of the bad guys.

 

[Jmackk]

My dad tought me to shoot his 22 revolver when I was about 7, and by tought he said heres how you load it, here's how you pull the trigger, I never actually got to goot it. Did not get to shoot my first gun till I was 8 or so.

There was a girl in Montana that had been shooting trap and stuffer since she was really little and when she was 12 Y/O two guys broke into her house(her dad was not home) and she took here 12ga trap gun and killed both of them. She whent into her dads room grabed her 12ga and called the police but they found her and tried to rush her and she shot them.

So Im not to sure if there is such a thing as "too young"(that does not mean 3 year old kids) Its more a matter of phisical and mental capablility to handle the weapon in a responsible way. Wow.... that sounded like I knew what I was talking about

 

[Slopemeno]

That "Montana" story turned out to be pure urban legend. Check Snopes.

 

[Terry A]

Today, 12:27 PM #10
peetzakilla
Senior Member


Join Date: 2008-06-25
Location: Central NY, USA
Posts: 3,511
I wouldn't assume that the kid needs counseling, for one thing. Maybe, maybe not. If they did, it would be a pro-gun, pro-defense, non-psychiatrist, trained counselor. In my case, probably our pastor.
__________________
It's Peetza Killa, BTW. As in Pizza Killer, not Pete the Killer.


One of your best replies ever PK! I agree 100%.
IF counseling was needed, it would be by a Pastor. Maybe even a service vetern. Psychiatrists can really talk people into believing there are all kinds of issues when the bottom line on this scenario would probably be guilt and / or fear.

The kid can find out at the end of the day that he did the RIGHT thing and not the wrong thing!

 

[WhistlerSWE]

Well... If it were around my parts of the world this is what would happen:

1. The kid would go into heavy psychiatrical care, get drugged up for life and sent out when he's most likely to put a knife in some other kid who's not been traumatized.
2. The father who owned the firearm would be arrested, sentenced and sent to prison for not having his firearm locked up securely.
3. The surviving bad guy would be dealt a huge amount of money from the parents' sentence.
4. The press would love it.
5. Guns would be banned alltogether in Sweden.

 

[Housezealot]

As soon as they can be safely taught and can safely handle the firearm in question. There is not a magical age that this occurs.

that could not be anymore true IMHO.
I have know 14 year old kids that handled a firearm in a much safer manner than some 40 year old men.
I could sight several examles but then again I bet most of us could