Would this freak you out? - Page 2

[lifeguard]

I don't know that bringing it up with the school administration is the best route. I would go right to the police department. I have several police officer friends. They are not allowed to take their guns out of the holster (& would assume this applies to a rack in the vehicle) for show & tell.

Plus, usually the officers that are going to schools, children's groups, etc. are part of a special "education" group - whether formally or informally arranged (it's not generally who ever is aroudn that day). I'm sure they would appreciate feedback about the information that is being shared with children through their program.

I'm not against guns but this doesn't seem like the way to lead a discussion about gun safety with 5 year olds.

[ecoteat]

I didn't read the whole thread, but I wanted to add my opinion... I guess I don't see a police officer showing his gun to the kids that differently than a carpenter showing his saw and drill or a dentist showing his equipment. It's all the tools of their jobs. I would hope that all of these people would talk to kids about using their tools safely and appropriately, though.

[spero]

Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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[mrsbernstein]

Guns are a fact of life. And as a big 'gun-rights' believer, EDUCATION is key.

Sure, the Officer's information is incorrect and his method, too. For THAT, I would let the Resource Officer on duty know. But for the meer fact of SHOWING the gun...nah.

Mrs Bernstein

[LynnS6]

I do find it inappropriate. When our ds turned 6, we had his bday party in our church fellowship hall. The doors to the church were open and an on-duty sherriff stopped by to use the restrooms. When he saw that there was a bday party going on, he stopped by to say hi to the kids and gave them badges. One of the kids asked to see his car, and he said sure. So, they go a tour of his car.

Then one of the kids asked to see his gun. He refused. Instead what the kids got was a lesson on gun safety. "Guns are tools. Some tools can be used by kids, but a lot of tools, like saws and guns should only be used by grown-ups. What do you do if you find a gun? Find a grown-up. What do you do if one of your friends wants to show you a gun? Find a grown-up. Never point a gun at anyone. If you find a gun, or someone has a gun, find a grown-up."

THAT is an appropriate speech about guns for kindergarten kids.

[EFmom]

Having cops in the school freaks me out. And having them pulling out weapons, yeah, that makes me crazy.

[MattBronsil]

It seems interesting...those that are bothered by it are probably those that needed the lesson themselves. That's at least what I'm observing in the replies.

That said, I think there's a better way to handle this.

[Laggie]

Originally Posted by MattBronsil

It seems interesting...those that are bothered by it are probably those that needed the lesson themselves. That's at least what I'm observing in the replies.

Nobody NEEDS a lesson in which gun to use to shoot somebody. Certainly not a 5 year old.

ITA with LynnS6 on what an appropriate lesson for 5 year olds would sound like.

[Flor]

I don't think it would bother me. Our district contracts with the police station. We have several "campus safety officers" who work on the campuses. They are in and out of the schools all the time to handle situations, but also so that the kids have an officer with whom they are comfortable. They are armed. We also have officers come in as "career speakers." On year on a juvenile justice presentation the officers brought a Taser. We do not own a gun, but at various times each of my children has decided they would be a officer. I'd assume he was being professional unless I saw otherwise.

[momz3]

Originally Posted by mrsbernstein

Guns are a fact of life. And as a big 'gun-rights' believer, EDUCATION is key.

Sure, the Officer's information is incorrect and his method, too. For THAT, I would let the Resource Officer on duty know. But for the meer fact of SHOWING the gun...nah.

Mrs Bernstein

Ditto

[matey]

Seems completely ridiculous! Sounds like a cop showing kids how cool guns are. I thought schools were trying to work against that...I would have said something.

Having worked with young emotionally disturbed students, I know how a simple description or demonstration could be taken to another level. My students did participate in the regluar environment, so my concern would be the students in the mainstream population who may obsessively dwell on situations involving guns and shooting. I know education is important, and children should be educated wisely about guns, but I think there was probably a more appropriate way for the police officer to talk to the students about his job and duties.

[Ruthla]

Without hearing the entire presentation by the police officer, it's hard to know the exact context of his words. In general, it seems appropriate to me for a police officer to talk about his job, including the equipment he carries with him. I would not have objected to any of my kids viewing such a demonstration in kindergarten.