Would this freak you out?

[messy mama]

I took my DS to school today for his K screening. There was a cop there w/ his car doing a demo type thing for the K kids.

As we're walking to the office I overhear part of his conversation w/ the kids. He gets his shotgun out of his car and says,"This is a shotgun. It is different than my other gun. (points to gun in holster) This gun is used when you need to shoot something far away. The bullets go a lot further w/ a shotgun than w/ my......"

I went into the office so I didn't hear the rest. I was speechless. I almost said something to the office staff. But then I wondered if I even had a right. That was not my child's class. Although he did hear him as we were walking by. My son asked me why he was showing the kids a gun.

Would you say something? Or should I just wait until next year, when it's my son's class.

It just seems so bizarre to me. Am I overreacting?

[hellyaellen]

maybe just maybe there was a message about gun safety rthat you didn't hear aftyer that? good lord i hope so.

yes i would freak out. i hate guns. hate hate hate guns.

yeah i think i would say something at least see if you can find out exactly what the cop says in his talk. reasonable considering your son will be having the talk next year.

[Kathrine69]

Nope. It wouldn't freak me out. Keep in mind I wouldn't have a gun in my own house for any reason, but I know that my kids would love to learn about guns. I am sure that the police officer taught the kids about gun safety as well.

I would be concerned, however, if I found out the school didn't inform the parents ahead of time and give an opt out for this demonstration. I am totally fine with the presentation, but every family should be able to decide that for themselves.

Kathrine

[angelpie545]

Wow! I think that is extremely inappropriate and very unnecessary. It's just another way to introduce children to power and control at an early age-and yes I know that sounds extreme, but look at the ridiculous amount of power the police have in this country. Showing their big guns off to kindergarten students is NOT something I feel comfortable with nor is something that I feel should be taking place at a school.

[annethcz]

No, it wouldn't bother me. I think it's good for kids to have at least a cursory understanding of gun safety.

I live in an area in which hunting and fishing are very common, and many families keep guns in their homes.

[Lingmom]

Yes, it would freak me out a lot. But... I would chalk it up to a one-time visitor who didn't really know much about young children, not as something indicative of the school's curriculum!

[hellyaellen]

Originally Posted by angelpie545

Wow! I think that is extremely inappropriate and very unnecessary. It's just another way to introduce children to power and control at an early age-and yes I know that sounds extreme, but look at the ridiculous amount of power the police have in this country. Showing their big guns off to kindergarten students is NOT something I feel comfortable with nor is something that I feel should be taking place at a school.

ditto that! have you had a chance to anyone about it?

[jeca]

It wouldn't freak me out but I would be very curious on his exact purpose there and I would have definitely asked the staff about it.

[rabrog]

Wouldn't freak me out at all, but then we have a gun in the house. The demo was done by a police officer who is trained to handle the weapons and he was giving factual information so far as you could tell.

When kids aren't informed of gun safety is when they get in trouble by playing with guns. I think it was a great idea for the school to do this.

Jenn

[wildmonkeys]

I wouldn't be comfortable at all. I wouldn't assume the police officer was professional or appropriate about it just because he is a police officer. I have a neighbor who is a police officer and an idiot. I don't think most are, but I don't ever assume anybody is professional based soley on their job.

I think if people choose to guns in their houses they can provide the gun safety info themselves. We don't have guns in our house and I do not let my kids play at houses where there are guns so I don't think a gun safety lecture would be at all helpful.

[nkm1968]

It would not have freaked me out, but just because my dad was on the arson squad for a few years as part of his firefighter employment history.

But on the other hand, I always ask parents that invite DD2 for a playdate if they have guns in the house (because 45% of USA families do) and if they DO, request changing the playdate to my house.

I know it is hypocritical. But, I only trust my own dad to drive (fast like all firemen) with me and the DDS, and nobody else. I drive like 10 miles UNDER the speed limit.

[Kushali]

Did one of the kids ask to see the shotgun? If the kids asked I think discussing it would be okay. But taking it out of the car would freak me out too. I don't like guns and a gun out of its holster/rack makes me very very uncomfortable.

If the kids didn't ask then I think he was out of line. It would surprise me though if the kids didn't ask. "Show us your gun!" and "Turn on the siren!" have come up every time I've seen one of these demonstrations whether kids or adults were in the audience.

[ananas]

It wouldn't bother me at all.

[Hannahsmummy]

It would really really bother me. However saying that, my issues probably come from the fact that the culture I live in is not one where guns are prevalent. My daughter has never seen a gun.

Also, I assume (hope) that he is a professional who is presenting in in an appropriate way.

[messy mama]

Thanks for all the replies.

Since I didn't hear the whole conversation, I can't really know if he went into gun safety. From what I heard, he was telling them the kind of gun you need to use when you want to shoot someone far away. I'm thinking the guy was just a little clueless. Maybe they should have a basic script on appropriate things to say to children.

I haven't talked to anyone at the school yet. I may just keep an eye on it for next year when my DS is there. My older DS attended K there and I don't remember them having a cop demo. Neither does he. They did have a firetruck demo. He definitely remembers that.

[Laggie]

I don't see how that is related to safety in any way. Of course, I'm Canadian and would prefer my 'gun safety' to be the type where there are no guns around me, or my kid, period.

I've never given any thought to what kind of gun can shoot the farthest, and frankly don't think that information is useful to a kindergartener. Making a kid imagine scenarios when he would need to shoot somebody who was close up vs. somebody who was far away is just weird imo.

[SAHDS]

Originally Posted by messy mama

He gets his shotgun out of his car and says,"This is a shotgun. It is different than my other gun. (points to gun in holster) This gun is used when you need to shoot something far away. The bullets go a lot further w/ a shotgun than w/ my......"

Yes, this would freak me out but only because that is incorrect information from a police officer. Pistols shoot much further than shotguns.

But in all seriousness...

It's very hard to say w/o knowing the exact circumstances. Was he a parent? Why was he there? Was the teacher present?

DH is a police officer and we own many firearms (all kept in a large gun safe in our room), so both of my children know about them. I prefer it this way, since I know there are firearms around them, I like for them to realize they are tools, not toys.

Although, I have no idea why a 5 yo would need to know which weapon would be best in shooting something (someone) at a far distance...

I'll ask DH what he thinks later (he's on duty atm.)

[Kirsten]

Yes, that scenario would make me really mad.

I fail to see how which type of gun can shoot further has ANYTHING to do with gun safety. He sounds like he has no experience with children and very little common sense. I'd complain to the principal of the school, as well as the police chief.

I'd opt right out of the police "demo" for my kid.

[mommy68]

Originally Posted by Kathrine69

Nope. It wouldn't freak me out.

I agree. The cop is talking to the children about "his" job and I doubt he was telling them that guns are okay to have around. I think by a certain age that all kids know that cops carry guns and if they don't know then they have to find out sooner or later. It's just part of their job.

I think you should bring it up to the school administration as far as what is appropriate to discuss with kindergartners regarding guns and what is not proper. Perhaps that particular police officer didn't have a clue as to how to talk to kids. This is why my kids won't be in school anymore after this year is over. I can't control what they put in my kids minds while they are there. Just because a school has a field trip doesn't mean the people who represent that field trip are going to say the right things in front of my kids and I have no idea what is being said to them if I'm not there. But the same goes with teachers as well.

[Mandynee22]

I know this thread is old but I'm bored LOL
I probably wouldn't do anything.
For my town, all kids have to go to the AF base for K (unless you skip k since it isn't mandatory or you hs or use private)... that means the buses (or cars, if you drive them) have to go through the gate- manned with AF people who carry rifles- or whatever they are. Sometimes during high alert days, they would even go on the buses to make sure everything was ok. Though they'd make fun excuses for it. If you don't live on base, you'd get a school id card (which i would always lose and have to show them my license to be checked to the list whenever we'd miss the bus). Sometimes, you'd be randomly selected and have to be "searched". I've never been thouroghly searched though.
So to us, it wouldn't be a biggie. Plus, my step dad is a deputy sheriff so she's seen lots of pics of him with guns (my mom and SD live in fl)

I forgot to touch on him telling about which gun does what lol--
I would just assume that he was probably asked