The Cornered Cat
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Yeowch…? Small guns and new shooters
July 29, 2017

A lot of times what happens is this: in the gunstore, small guns feel pretty good in most people’s hands. New shooters aren’t (as) scared of small guns, because they seem so cute and non-intimidating. Plus of course, when you’re shopping for a concealed carry gun, the smaller guns are much easier to conceal and lighter to carry. So… small gun it is. Maybe even a super-small, tiny gun. Fast forward to range day, taking… Continue reading →

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Mechanics
December 30, 2012

…n’t pay much attention to gun issues. They hear on the news that “semi automatic weapons” are bad, and that no one supports owning those things. But your friends and neighbors know you, and some of them know that you own handguns. That’s okay. You’re not a bad person, they think, and the guns you own are probably fine. It’s just those other people and those other guns. In their ignorance, your friends well might vote to take away your handguns –… Continue reading →

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SHOT Show Day One
January 16, 2013

…Almost all styles retail for less than $100. Still looking for practical ways to secure firearms when not in use, I’m standing in the SportLock booth. Lots here to study, but I zero in on the Life Jacket series to secure handguns, shotguns, and AR-style rifles. These nifty products are super-lightweight (under 2 pounds for the steel versions and almost nothing for the polycarbon one) and can easily travel with the gun wherever it goes – although… Continue reading →

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Parking Lot Safety
January 1, 2000

…ts realize. Teach your older kids how to buckle the younger ones, or have them help load the groceries. Never ever do something for a kid she’s old enough to do for herself … and remember, things do change as the kids grow. Kids notice things adults don’t. Take advantage of this. Make a game for the older kids: “How many people in the parking lot?” or “What color shirts do you see?” — vary the… Continue reading →

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The First Trip to the Range

…l you are within reach again. Keep the trip short. The first outing should be just long enough to allow the child to satisfy her curiosity about firing a gun but not enough to allow her to grow bored or inattentive. For some kids, that may mean just a couple of rounds. Other kids are more adventurous, and will want to keep firing until they have exhausted a box of ammunition. The child will remember your trip to the range more fondly if it ends… Continue reading →

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Two layers of safety
October 15, 2012

…’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.”). When the kids are old enough to ask questions about what you’re doing, it’s time to show them how the gun works and de-fang their dangerous curiousity about guns. It’s tempting to think that simply keeping the guns locked up will always be enough. But even responsible adults make mistakes sometimes. When there’s an unplanned failure in your lock-it-up system, the… Continue reading →

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The First Lesson
January 1, 2000

…eeping guns locked up and out of sight. Me, I’m a suspenders-and-a-belt type person. I believe any plan that relies entirely upon human beings (of any age!) to be perfect is a flawed plan. So around here we lock up the guns and we teach the kids what to do if they find one. That way, we aren’t relying on the kids to be perfect and never disobey. We also aren’t relying on the adults to be perfect and never goof by leaving the… Continue reading →

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Kids and Guns

…Notes: I use feminine pronouns for the child throughout this article, but don’t draw any conclusions from that: children come in two sexes, and both boys and girls should be taught basic firearms safety. ↩… Continue reading →

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