Teaching children to defend the home...or not?

[BuryTheHatchet 1,073]

With the uptick in more violent robberies and home invasions, does anyone have some advice on how home defense and involving children worked for you? Obviously a child's age in not an indication of their firearm proficiency, situational awareness skills, and mental/physical fortitude. I have not brought this subject up to my children yet and am feeling the need to have this discussion. My homestead is rural with small towns scattered around me about 15 miles away. What have you done or not done?

[fixer 4,472]

my 13 year old son is more prepared than most men

[AIM01 68]

I, do not have kids at the moment but here is my advice. A kid automatically sees things as "fun" & not dangerous. First & fore most, a child must be taught that a firearm is very dangerous if not handled with caution & also must be taught that they "the child" should only touch it, if there is danger in the midst. Secondly, they should be taught what a firearm is & how it operates. Thirdly, they should be taught that a firearm is intended to destroy a target or whatever it is aimed at. Fourthly, they should be taught that there is consequences to using a firearm for negligent or criminal uses.

 

After all that is completed & the child understand that, then I would move on to how to handle the firearm, how to properly hold it, proper trigger finger discipline, muzzle control, how to load it, how to un load it, how to clear jams, how to get proper sight picture, front sight confidence, how to not "anticipate" recoil, know what is beyond your target, how to tear down & re assemble firearm for cleaning.

[Erik Hanson 110]

@BuryTheHatchet, This really depends on the age of your children. I have two. Both girls. One 13 and the other 11. As AIM01 stated, I have taught both the fundamentals of firearms safety and marksmanship. I know that they know that guns are dangerous and not toys. I have begun teaching my eldest daughter the basics of CQB. I still need to have a serious conversation with them on the realities of shooting and killing another human being. Not an easy task for most people, let alone children.