Gun for a 7 yr old

[stealth2]

it is a major responsibility and is something that both parents should agree on and both parents should be responsible for seeing that it's handled safely and with all the proper training - which doesn't seem to be the case here.

SHOULD be, but that doesn't mean it has to be...

 

[disneykid52]

6 year old girl kills deer

google the above. there's even a video

 

[stealth2]

Uuuh, no thanks. No one disputes that there are 7yo's who hunt.

 

[Mom_of_Two]

I think the key will be that the child has been diagnosed with mild mental retardation and is in a Special Day Class at school, is only 7 (the older boy is 10, the child in question is 7, so it is doubtful he would pass the 6th grade level reading exam), and he has already stabbed a little girl out of confusion before. I am not sure that this is the most appropriate situation where a child should get a gun...shot gun, no less! If dad brings this up in court, with proof of his son's disability and past stabbing "accident," I would think that he might have a shot.

 

[mistoffolees]

I think the key will be that the child has been diagnosed with mild mental retardation and is in a Special Day Class at school, is only 7 (the older boy is 10, the child in question is 7, so it is doubtful he would pass the 6th grade level reading exam), and he has already stabbed a little girl out of confusion before. I am not sure that this is the most appropriate situation where a child should get a gun...shot gun, no less! If dad brings this up in court, with proof of his son's disability and past stabbing "accident," I would think that he might have a shot.

I would say that there's a good chance Dad could block it given the circumstances.

 

[justalayman]

I think the key will be that the child has been diagnosed with mild mental retardation and is in a Special Day Class at school, is only 7 (the older boy is 10, the child in question is 7, so it is doubtful he would pass the 6th grade level reading exam), and he has already stabbed a little girl out of confusion before. I am not sure that this is the most appropriate situation where a child should get a gun...shot gun, no less! If dad brings this up in court, with proof of his son's disability and past stabbing "accident," I would think that he might have a shot.

I had missed that somewhere. Yes, due to the child's inability to control themselves, a gun is not a good idea.

Here is the story of a 14 yo that couldn't control himself. He is now sentenced to prison, for life, with no chance of parole (Michigan's answer to no death penalty). Clear through the trial, there was never a justification for the killing. The kid simply has some mental problems.

Teen shoots, kills sleeping grandfather | WOOD TV8

 

[LdiJ]

I would say that there's a good chance Dad could block it given the circumstances.

I agree with you and mom of two, given the details of the situation. However, he is likely to still buy the guns for the other two children, therefore there are still going to be lots of guns in the house.

I know that many people like hunting, but I just think its dangerous as heck to combine children with guns.

 

[acmb05]

I would say that there's a good chance Dad could block it given the circumstances.

Though it should be I don't think he would have a legal leg to stand on. The child would not be the one who owns the gun and there are no laws that says he can't hunt with an adult present.

 

[acmb05]

There was also an incident a little over a year ago where my son stabbed the babysitter's daughter with a kitchen knife. He didn't know it would hurt her, he had seen it on tv. (It was minor on the arm but still scared me) The babysitter did not want child services involved.

I would wonder why she did not want them called. Job or no job if someone's child stabbed my daughter anywhere I would have called the police and CPS immediately. Are you certain nothing was going on that maybe your child was trying to protect himself? Now granted, stabbing someone is not the way to handle it but when someone is stabbed on tv it usually hurts the person so I can't see your son saying he did not think it would hurt them.

 

[neopandora]

OP- even if you convince Mom your child does not need to have gun and that the other two boys should not have shotguns, there will probably still be guns around due to hunting, Mom's boyfriend, etc. Mom may even take up hunting, or own guns in her home. So, it looks like the likelihood of guns being in and around the home will be present.

I completely understand your concerns with your son, but I also recognize there's a strong possibility that if he is the only child in the home without a gun, guns may also become more attractive to him as something "forbidden" is often more interesting.

What I would suggest is if you and Mom can't come to some sort of understanding after discussing the issue (which doesn't appear likely), I might consider purchasing trigger locks for all 3 children myself, and maybe even cases (soft cases are not as expensive as hard cases) with keyed padlocks as a Christmas gift from you. Ammo boxes are also very inexpensive (just another keyed padlock will work) and, in my opinion, ammo stored seperately from guns and under lock is another very important safety factor. Doing so, maybe you can voice your concerns to Mom and she will have a more open mind, and you will be helping to ensure safety at the same time.

Is your area an area where lots of people hunt and/or own firearms? If so, a local attorney could probably tell you what the Court climate is like regarding firearms, particularly shotguns.

 

[mistoffolees]

I might consider purchasing trigger locks for all 3 children myself, and maybe even cases

There were times I wanted locks for my children, too. Cases might be overkill, though.....

 

[neopandora]

There were times I wanted locks for my children, too. Cases might be overkill, though.....

lol, guess that is a little overkill. Was hoping OP would see that there's some safety options with guns.

Maybe Mom's boyfriend, after pricing 3 shotguns, will decide it's bb guns instead.

 

[acmb05]

Is your area an area where lots of people hunt and/or own firearms? If so, a local attorney could probably tell you what the Court climate is like regarding firearms, particularly shotguns.

The court climate is to uphold the law. Since there is no law as of yet that forbids the child from hunting in my opinion taking this to court would be a waste of time and money.

Use the money to make sure the child has the proper safety classes. Buy trigger locks or gun cases as was suggested. Ask if you can tag along when they go shooting to observe your child and make sure he is using the weapon properly.

 

[mistoffolees]

The court climate is to uphold the law. Since there is no law as of yet that forbids the child from hunting in my opinion taking this to court would be a waste of time and money.

The court's role is also to ensure the children's safety. Given that there's a 7 year old who has mental problems and who has already stabbed one person, the court could easily say that it's in the kids' best interest for them not to have guns.

I can't guarantee that they'd do that, but they certainly COULD.

Use the money to make sure the child has the proper safety classes. Buy trigger locks or gun cases as was suggested. Ask if you can tag along when they go shooting to observe your child and make sure he is using the weapon properly.

I didn't go back and check what the law said, but I believe it's required by law for them to have safety classes and pass a hunter safety test. THAT can be enforced.

 

[acmb05]

The court's role is also to ensure the children's safety. Given that there's a 7 year old who has mental problems and who has already stabbed one person, the court could easily say that it's in the kids' best interest for them not to have guns.

I can't guarantee that they'd do that, but they certainly COULD.

Your not getting the point here. The child is not the one who will be the owner of the gun, the adult is. There is little chance they are going to deny a persons constitutional right to own guns if he can legally own them. There is no law or even a case I can find so far that would support it. Maybe, and that is a stretch, they could go to court and get an order saying their child cannot touch this gun, but there is almost no way they will tell the adult he can't buy it.

I didn't go back and check what the law said, but I believe it's required by law for them to have safety classes and pass a hunter safety test. THAT can be enforced.

At a certain age yes, the child is not that age yet. The child does not even need a hunting license at this point.