gun shops and responsible parenting

[whplanet]

Hi everyone!
I'm new to the forum, new to shooting, and a new parent.

When I go out shopping and running errands, I almost always have my infant son with me. I often get the urge to go to my local gun shop to check out their wares. However, I have refrained from doing so because of a preconceived notion that it's "not right" to take a baby in a gun store. At the very least, I'm afraid to get the evil eye as I walk in.

Has anyone taken babies or toddlers into a gun shop or to a gun show? What's your opinion?

[gunderwood]

I doubt you would get any hassle bringing a kid in as long as they were behaved. Really is no different than any other store. It's a false image that the media sells...lots of kids grow up with guns. The youngest NRA champion was like 3.5 years old. I know several middle aged adults how were given .22s and told to hunt for dinner unsupervised (they had been well trained for years) at an age which would be illegal in VA now (<14)...

If any shop gives you problem and your kid is behaved then they don't really want your business, but it should be a non-issue.

[meak99]

Back in November, I took my then 9 month old daughter in her stroller to the RIR gun show. She drew a LOT of positive attention like "Bringing' her up right... starting her out young...", etc. She helped me pick out my first pistol! Well, sort of.

You're in a place of like minded people, I wouldn't expect any negative attention at all. And like gunderwood said, if the store/vendor hassles you and your child is behaving, they really don't want your business.

[fincastle]

Took my 3 1/2yo son with me to a gun shop and he wanted to see a revolver. I told him to ask the salesman if he could see it. He did and the salesman smiled, reached in the cabinet and jaded the revolver to him. Never to early to teach kids to show respect to people and firearms.

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[fincastle]

Took my 3 1/2yo son with me to a gun shop and he wanted to see a revolver. I told him to ask the salesman if he could see it. He did and the salesman smiled, reached in the cabinet and handded the revolver to him. Never to early to teach kids to show respect to people and firearms.

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[Yarddawg]

I would not think twice about taking an infant/toddler into a gun shop. As a matter of fact, I did with both of mine. Those that would give you the stink eye, will do it whether you have a child with you or not.

As the Good Book says, "Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

[kanata67]

toddler not a problem... 8 year old with add might be. As a parent you should know how well behaved your child is and act accordingly. Some parents seem to be blissfully unaware, or simply don't care, that their child is rampaging around a store... usually at wallmart. Can you take your child to a movie without everyone around you cringing? How about a nice place to eat? My parents took me everywhere till I rebelled at 14. Not that I was badly behaved mind you, but I would tell them flat out that "I had no friggin desire to go to any more friggin antique stores to look at old friggin stuff I didn't care about during my summer vacation so please leave me at home to play video games when you go to amish country."
If they went to gun stores I probably wouldn't have complained but nippon china still bores me LOL

[RocKor]

As long as the child is relatively well behaved and doesn't touch things without permission it's generally ok to bring them into a gun store.

[rromeo]

My daughter is now twelve. I've taken her to gun shops a few times. Usually she's bored out of her mind.
I've never gotten dirty looks though.

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[Diomed]

As long as child and parent are well behaved, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

That applies to most things, really.

[VBshooter]

Long as the kid isn't being cranky and noisy wouldn;t bother me in the least,,.

[wpoppert]

My boys were teens by the time I started buying guns, but I've been to a number of guns shows and seen children of all ages. I didn't see anyone misbehaving, and nobody seemed to object to having the kids there.

[Reverenddel]

I've been carrying my girlfriend's three boys with me since they were in pre-school. They behave, know the rules, and act accordingly.

Garrett is correct in saying: "I doubt you would get any hassle bringing a kid in as long as they were behaved."

Most Gunshops LIKE having kids come in that are behaved! They're SELLING TO A WHOLE OTHER GENERATION!

If I carry them into a particular shop, and they get USED to dealing with that particular shop, then that's where they're gonna go to buy their gear.

[frankD]

All of my kids have been to gun stores and shows. Nothing wrong with it.

Typically for my younger kids, if we go, I let them put their cap guns in the plastic holsters they came with. Lots of positive attention.

My three year old daughter even checked in her plastic revolver at the RIR show in February (I think). The officer checking firearms was impressed.

[davasmith]

No problems to report here. I took my daughter to several gun shows, gun stores, shoots ect... I never got an evil eye, and as a matter of fact wouldn't have cared less if I did. My children are all well behaved, respectful and don't touch without permission. I will say that the last gun show I went to in Richmond I took my (then) 6 year old son. He walked from boothe to boothe and actually had several men "offer" to let him hold something he was gaulking at. Of course on the other hand if your child sees something interesting to them, a good parent will stop and intertain the idea with the child to see where their interests lie IMHO. I've always had at least one child with me at all stores I go to and the only incedent I can remember was 15 years ago and Greentop sporting goods. I let me daughter hold a .22 rifle and the guy behind the counter asked me to take it from her. I asked to see the manager and when he came over, he smiled at my daughter and said,"what ya looking little lady?" It seems sometimes its not the child acting badly its the store staff acting ignorantly. Take your child/children every chance you get! We got your back.

[whplanet]

Thanks everyone for the input. I knew it's only logical to treat gun shops and shows as any other, but it's nice to hear reassurances from other parents.

I'm planning to go to the Nations Gun Show this weekend and I think I'll bring the whole family.

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[Diomed]

I'm planning to go to the Nations Gun Show this weekend and I think I'll bring the whole family.

If you have well-behaved children at that show you'll be in the minority.

[gunderwood]

I'm planning to go to the Nations Gun Show this weekend and I think I'll bring the whole family.

If you have well-behaved children at that show you'll be in the minority.

That seems to be more true everywhere though.

[kanata67]

just remember that lead bullets make poor pacifiers.

[Kreutz]

Has anyone taken babies or toddlers into a gun shop or to a gun show? What's your opinion?

Same as taking them anywhere-dont let them wreck anything, and dont run people over with the stroller(s).

I see babies/toddlers at gun shows. No one seems to care.