Shooting Range Birthday Party?

[sunshinehighway]

For the record, it would probably be considered weird here too, even though owning & using guns would not. And I wouldn't be shocked to find that many people who own guns and whose children have already fired guns would say "no" to this kind of party. So, it wasn't objection to the party that I thought was "extreme". It was PP's objection to her children associating with the children of the host (or anyone who would have even a "vague notion" of hosting such a party) that I thought was "extreme".

Oh, I think that's extreme too. If someone was always randomly talking about their guns or something, it would probably make people here a little wary because, here, that's not the norm. Other than that, I don't see how you would even know if someone owned a gun.

 

[elaine amj]

I think the party would be rather fun. Living in Canada, guns are not really a common sight around here.

One time I had a chance to visit an army training camp and got to shoot a huge rifle - what an amazing opportunity that was - I had a blast.

My kids have shot a gun once - we were camping in Michigan and I was thoroughly shocked to see a target field set up and a very redneck family shooting the targets there offered to let my kids (around 7/8 at the time) try a shot or two. We took them up on it and my kids thought it was very cool.

I was in Vegas recently and if it wasn't so expensive, would have loved to go to that gun store they have there and shoot a few. I wouldn't have any problems with my kids going to a party like that. I can imagine it would be a super expensive party to host though!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

This is an issue I have no problem being "extreme" about.

Swimming pools aren't guns, NRA rhetoric notwithstanding.

It's not rhetoric, it's fact. There's a reason your insurance company requires a hefty premium for owning a pool, but not for owning a gun. Statistically speaking, the pool is more dangerous. I'd also be willing to bet that if your extreme attitude is prevalent in your circle of friends that were one of your friends to own a gun, they'd be very unlikely to mention it - even if the topic comes up. There are 80 million gun owners in the U.S. It's extremely unlikely you'll be able to keep your children away from the children of gun owners for their entire adolescence.

Probably one of the best things your kids could do would be to attend such a party - they could even leave before the actual gun handling & shooting begins. But, the safety portion is as important as knowing how to swim, if not more so. I forget the news program (wanna say 20/20) that aired the segment on kids & guns several years back. But, the basic study had children from gun-owning households & children from non gun-owning households. They put these kids in a room with a real (but disabled) gun and no adults. Without exception, none of the children from gun-owning households touched the gun. NONE. Most of them ran from the room calling for an adult. The only kids to pick up the gun (and some pointed it at each other) were from homes of families that did not own guns. Needless to say, it was a REAL eye opener for the parents. They all took the safety course with their children immediately.

 

[DopeyDame]

Swimming pools aren't guns, NRA rhetoric notwithstanding.

That's true...
In 2010, 3782 people unintentionally died from drowning, while 606 died from firearms.

(http://webappa.cdc.gov/cgi-bin/brok...=lcd1age&ethnicty=0&ranking=10&deathtle=Death)

 

[sam_gordon]

This is an issue I have no problem being "extreme" about.

Swimming pools aren't guns, NRA rhetoric notwithstanding.

I'm curious, what's different about them?

They are both safe when used correctly.
They are both beneficial when used correctly.
They can both be "fun" depending on the user.
Many people are scared of both.
They can both be deadly when used incorrectly.

ETA: I do remember a neighbor's child (I think around 3) dying after falling into their pool. I don't know anyone who's been shot.

 

[joviroxx]

This is an issue I have no problem being "extreme" about.

Swimming pools aren't guns, NRA rhetoric notwithstanding.

From your previous post something struck me. You didn't say you wouldn't let your kids go to a home with guns, you said you wouldn't hang out with PEOPLE who owned guns.

I sounds to me you have more a problem with someone who would own a gun as much as the gun itself. Maybe Im wrong and Im reading too much into it. But there are many dangerous things out there, what is it about guns and PEOPLE who own them that bothers you?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

OP here. Interesting reading the posts. I was really on the fence about this one and had to think a bit. My bottom line is that I wouldn't have a party there,but then again Maryland is a bit too far from Texas when it comes to party locations. Seriously, though, I wouldn't have that particular type of party, but I do not have an issue with older kids learning about guns.

I was raised in a house with guns and there was a near tragedy in my family. Interestingly enough, it was something my father would have been to blame for....and when I was older (jr high maybe?) I wanted to take a gun course, but wasn't allowed because I was a girl.

When my daughter was in girl scouts, my friend, who was one of the leaders, wanted to have a gun safety lesson and the other leaders were not in favor of it. My husband at the time did not want our kids learning about guns, other than to avoid them. In the end, I got rid of my husband and am still friends with my gun-owning friend, even if she is republican.

I did used to ask the parents of my kids' friends if they owned guns and if so, how the guns were stored. I also talked with my kids about what to do if they ever came across a gun. I did not, however, forbid my kids to play with the kids of gun owners.

If invited to a pool party, I went along, also. It never hurts to have an extra set of eyes watching swimming children and from what I've heard, a child who is truly drowning does so very quietly, without splashing or yelling.

 

[cornflake]

You ... ask is how you know. That's one of those general questions you might ask before your kid goes to another kid's house for the first time.

The level of no to the party I can't even.

As to the guy in NYC who apparently owns guns - I wager he's either a cop, a diamond merchant, or a very wealthy, determined, special snowflake with a good lawyer. Er.. or really dumb.

 

[happygirl]

Sounds fun, wish they had those parties here for kids

 

[Gumbo4x4]

As to the guy in NYC who apparently owns guns - I wager he's either a cop, a diamond merchant, or a very wealthy, determined, special snowflake with a good lawyer. Er.. or really dumb.

I don't get the impression it's terribly difficult to own a gun in NYC (handgun, yes. Rifle or shotgun, no). New Jersey OTOH..........

 

[LSmith]

What do you think about this? http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/5486-texas-gun-range-offers-birthday-parties-for-children

The first thing I think about this is only in America. Or Afghanistan. Or Iraq.

Or Alberta.

 

[LisaR]

I think it's great if it is something the birthday person and his or her friends are interested in. Why is it really different than other "activity-type" party places?

Lots of parties do otherwise dangerous activities that would not otherwise be safe except under controlled circumstances - like rock climbing walls or trampolines or laser tag or go-karts. Why is shooting guns different?

It's different than any other "activity-type" party because the chance of Johnny killing Susie with a bowling ball because he can't sit still long enough to listen to the instructions is less likely than killing her with a gun.

I've hosted some kids for birthday parties, and while mine may not be angels all the time, I have seen some absolutely horrendous behavior by some kids.

So while my son plays airsoft, has been to paintball parties, and has been to the gun range with his dad, I would never have allowed him to go to this type of birthday party when he was 8.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

The first thing I think about this is only in America. Or Afghanistan. Or Iraq.

Or Alberta.

My first thought was "well, it is Texas....kids are born holding guns". And then I remembered that 2 of my kids were born in Texas and I don't remember them emerging holding a rifle....that would have HURT!

 

[Colleen27]

I think it's pretty self-explanatory. We don't own guns, don't hang out with people who own guns, and any family who thinks a gun-themed party for children is a good idea isn't anyone I'd want my kids near. YMMV.

That seems really extreme... as though all gun owners fit one undesirable "type" that should be avoided. We own guns but you'd never know it. I'm a hippie liberal earth-mother type, DH is a homebody and a gamer-geek. I can't imagine anyone would peg us as having them even if they did feel they should avoid socializing with gun owners. Occasionally a parent will ask if we have guns in the house before letting a child come over to play but the answer to that is a simple "no" - DH keeps his rifles in FIL's gun safe rather than buy one for our home.

 

[cornflake]

I don't get the impression it's terribly difficult to own a gun in NYC (handgun, yes. Rifle or shotgun, no). New Jersey OTOH..........

Oh, you didn't specify it was rifles or shotgun only.

That is somewhat easier to obtain. It only costs $250 for the permit and it's said to only take like 6 months or so (sometimes less!).

You don't need the interview and some of the other stuff you do for a handgun application, but you do need to apply in person and have any adult you live with sign off and etc.

This is a link to the permit application if you're curious.

I dunno about Jersey; I thought they were more lax.

 

[LSmith]

My first thought was "well, it is Texas....kids are born holding guns". And then I remembered that 2 of my kids were born in Texas and I don't remember them emerging holding a rifle....that would have HURT!

True. I realize not everyone thinks alike but it's definitely the norm for many in the USA. If you asked the same question to Canadians I can assure you that the vast majority would think it was a joke.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

It's different than any other "activity-type" party because the chance of Johnny killing Susie with a bowling ball because he can't sit still long enough to listen to the instructions is less likely than killing her with a gun.

I've hosted some kids for birthday parties, and while mine may not be angels all the time, I have seen some absolutely horrendous behavior by some kids.

So while my son plays airsoft, has been to paintball parties, and has been to the gun range with his dad, I would never have allowed him to go to this type of birthday party when he was 8.

While I don't begrudge you saying "no" I do doubt little Johnny gets to hold the gun unless he's actually shooting. But I'd certainly say "no" if anything about it made me uncomfortable. For the record, 8 is when mine get to start with bb guns. The .22 is a year later if I'm happy with how they handle the bb gun.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Oh, you didn't specify it was rifles or shotgun only.

That is somewhat easier to obtain. It only costs $250 for the permit and it's said to only take like 6 months or so (sometimes less!).

You don't need the interview and some of the other stuff you do for a handgun application, but you do need to apply in person and have any adult you live with sign off and etc.

This is a link to the permit application if you're curious.

I dunno about Jersey; I thought they were more lax.

To be fair, the guy who lugged his gear through Manhattan may very well have been a bow hunter. It's the most popular method at that particular destination.

NJ creates issues when it comes time to go anywhere with your gun. It's not hard to own one, but transport is a mess. I don't believe it's impossible, but there seems to be a lot of red tape.

 

[cornflake]

To be fair, the guy who lugged his gear through Manhattan may very well have been a bow hunter. It's the most popular method at that particular destination.

NJ creates issues when it comes time to go anywhere with your gun. It's not hard to own one, but transport is a mess. I don't believe it's impossible, but there seems to be a lot of red tape.

Transport here is in a locked case, ammo in a separate, similar thing, either on your person or in a locked trunk - with a handgun you're like, only allowed to go to and from a range even with that setup.

I have no idea about bows, eek.

I have no idea about hunting at all, obviously.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Transport here is in a locked case, ammo in a separate, similar thing, either on your person or in a locked trunk - with a handgun you're like, only allowed to go to and from a range even with that setup.

That's pretty much the same as airline travel. Locked cases (checked, obviously), ammo in separate case from firearm.