[NkmG19]

I have been divorced for some time now and have two boys from the marriage. One is three years old and the other is five. I pick them up from school every single Friday and keep them for the weekend. When they are with me I either have my Glock19 on me IWB or secured in the safe in my closet. My five year old saw my gun a few months ago and questioned me about it. This gave me a chance to get both boys together and gave them a lesson in safety about guns and what to do if they see one at a friends house or at school. I told them never to touch one and if they see one to leave the area right away and tell an adult. I told the five year old that I will teach him to use one when he gets older.

I fully expected my sons to tell their mom when I dropped them off the next day and also expected to get the phone call from their mom. But this never happened. Months went by and the boys were no longer curious about my gun when I had it on me. To me this is good because they will be less likely to be tempted by curiosity if they come across one anywhere.

Then today I got the phone call. All I heard was screaming and carrying on about what was I teaching my son and why do I have a gun and how unsafe that was and so on and so on. When I finally got a chance to speak I found out that my oldest finally mentioned it to her in the car on the way to school. When I finally got a chance to speak the first thing I said to her was I hope she did not make a big deal out of it in front of the kids. Secondly I told her that I loved my sons just as much as her and that I am extremely safe with them around. I also told her that whenever they are old enough I will teach them how to shoot. I think thats what really set her off.

She says she is gonna take me to court because I'm endangering my kids. At a certain point I stopped listening to her because I was at work. Anyway I know she will eventually calm down and if she does not, I'm not worried because I have not done anything illegal.

This just showed me how anti-gun people can be. It's something that I can't understand. What do you all think about this?

 

[FCC Admin]

Wow divorce sucks, especially for the kids. However I don't know or care to know the reasons for your situation. That said, think about it this way. If you were still married, this is the crap you would have had to put up with trying to protect your family. As far as your sons are concerned the earlier you can teach them properly about firearms and firearm safety the better it is for them.
Someone said on another forum said that his dad had him clean all the weapon in the house regularly and this made him not fascinated by guns anymore.

 

[Glockcarry23]

"Ex" sounds about right. Looks like you made the right decision. She might get over it or she might not. However you can never stop teaching the kids about guns and safety. It could save their lives someday. Kids either learn from you or someone else. Please make sure they learn from you. Also grow them up Conservative.

 

[SingleStack45]

It's tough dealing with uninformed, frantic people...but it sounds like you handled it well. Don't back down...and make sure you teach those boys the truth about guns...without directly telling them their mom is an idiot.

I taught my sons to shoot when they we in the single digit ages...and both of them have their own .22 rifle and shotgun. They are 16 and 18 and I have NEVER had to worry about them handling guns unsafely...ever.

 

[Yardman]

On the subject of kids and guns, I have no experience with rifles. Does anyone have a recommendation as to what would be a good rifle to teach a 8 year old how to shoot?

 

[SingleStack45]

Any .22 would do...or start em off with an airgun for basics.
We use .22's in the NRA Basic Rifle class.

 

[Red Dawg]

Any .22 would do...or start em off with an airgun for basics.
We use .22's in the NRA Basic Rifle class.

I agree with SingleStack45. I started with a Red Rider. Yep, the first thing my grandmother said is "he's gonna put his eye out with that thing." Well, I'm 40 now and still have both eyes and a safe full of just about everything from shotguns to rifles and a muzzle loader.

I started my son with a Red Rider he is 12 now, has a .22, .270, an a .410. He's even wanting to go to a CCW class so he can get a permit. I told him he's not old enough.

I thought my wife would freak out too. But to keep that from happening, I bought her a .380 and have taken her out shooting a well. ONce she got into it, she quit thinking negatively about guns.

 

[OrlandoDriver]

yep i agree your doing the right thing teaching them at an early age.More people should do the same.Would be Alot less gun accidents with kids.

 

[Jakester]

Thats why she is an Exwife, who gives a **** if she starts to blow smoke up your ass over it, hang up the phone. You cant tell her or people that are that anti-gun about guns or even attempt to teach them about it and enlighten them. I would just argue that the kids are that much more unsafe with her unarmed... how would she defend the life of her kids... ask her that and see what kind of **** she can come up with.

good luck, and hope i didnt offend you man.:drinks

 

[mortpes]

In this situation you should be able to prove responsibility in your gun ownership. You should be able to prove that the gun is always on your person or in the safe. You should be able to document classes taken, range time, etc. Just in case she wants to make an issue and you have to go to court to be able to see the kids.

 

[J T]

...

She says she is gonna take me to court because I'm endangering my kids. ...

If you don't have one already, get yourself a good lawyer. Whether you've done anything wrong or not is irrelevant if you get the wrong judge.

 

[T.S.]

First of all, congratulations on the fact that she is your EX! :clap

Second, the advice that you obtain a good attorney, is one you should heed.

Third, as long as you comply with 790.25 you should have no problems.

Good luck and keep the faith! :drinks

The 2008 Florida Statutes

Title XLVI
CRIMES Chapter 790
WEAPONS AND FIREARMS

790.25 Lawful ownership, possession, and use of firearms and other weapons.--

(1) DECLARATION OF POLICY.--The Legislature finds as a matter of public policy and fact that it is necessary to promote firearms safety and to curb and prevent the use of firearms and other weapons in crime and by incompetent persons without prohibiting the lawful use in defense of life, home, and property, and the use by United States or state military organizations, and as otherwise now authorized by law, including the right to use and own firearms for target practice and marksmanship on target practice ranges or other lawful places, and lawful hunting and other lawful purposes.

(3) LAWFUL USES.--The provisions of ss. 790.053 and 790.06 do not apply in the following instances, and, despite such sections, it is lawful for the following persons to own, possess, and lawfully use firearms and other weapons, ammunition, and supplies for lawful purposes:

(h) A person engaged in fishing, camping, or lawful hunting or going to or returning from a fishing, camping, or lawful hunting expedition;

(j) A person firing weapons for testing or target practice under safe conditions and in a safe place not prohibited by law or going to or from such place;

(k) A person firing weapons in a safe and secure indoor range for testing and target practice;

(l) A person traveling by private conveyance when the weapon is securely encased or in a public conveyance when the weapon is securely encased and not in the person's manual possession;

(m) A person while carrying a pistol unloaded and in a secure wrapper, concealed or otherwise, from the place of purchase to his or her home or place of business or to a place of repair or back to his or her home or place of business;

A person possessing arms at his or her home or place of business;


(4) CONSTRUCTION.--This act shall be liberally construed to carry out the declaration of policy herein and in favor of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes. This act is supplemental and additional to existing rights to bear arms now guaranteed by law and decisions of the courts of Florida, and nothing herein shall impair or diminish any of such rights. This act shall supersede any law, ordinance, or regulation in conflict herewith.

(5) POSSESSION IN PRIVATE CONVEYANCE.--Notwithstanding subsection (2), it is lawful and is not a violation of s. 790.01 for a person 18 years of age or older to possess a concealed firearm or other weapon for self-defense or other lawful purpose within the interior of a private conveyance, without a license, if the firearm or other weapon is securely encased or is otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use. Nothing herein contained prohibits the carrying of a legal firearm other than a handgun anywhere in a private conveyance when such firearm is being carried for a lawful use. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the carrying of a concealed firearm or other weapon on the person. This subsection shall be liberally construed in favor of the lawful use, ownership, and possession of firearms and other weapons, including lawful self-defense as provided in s. 776.012.

 

[SpecOps-13]

There are a lot of XXXXXXXXXXXX's that act that way. In this world there is much more danger in being Gun Ignorant. And, It's only going to get worse. My Second Wife and I taught my 2 boys from my first marriage everything they could learn about firearms. Both had fired a 44 Magnum by the time they were 10. Both have turned out as Responsible adults and are now teaching their children in the same way. They haven't wrongfully killed anyone or shot themselves yet.:drinks
SO-13

 

[Ds300C]

My daughter is almost 3 now. When she gets to be about 5 or 6 I will show her how to shoot. It will be something she ONLY does with daddy. Iv got the perfect little .22 Beretta for her to use. I keep my guns locked in my gun safe. And for right now, I dont let her see me with them. The closest she has come is seeing me walk in with my pistol case coming from the range.

I think you handled it well. If your ex persists in this matter from a legal point of view, I would contact an attorney just to have them tell you your options, and if you can get into trouble.