Spoon safety...what to do?

[KFC911]

I'm sure this may end up in PARF, but I'll start here. I've been meaning to ask here, and the "rash" of accidental shootings at gun shows yesterday prompted this now. I'm getting a bit concerned about the "glamourization" of spoons lately due to the political climate. For example...I purchased my dad a couple of boxes of shotspoon shells back in '09 (at his request). Though he grew up "rabbit hunting" as a boy...he hasn't shot his in probably 40 years. A few weeks ago, he mentioned "getting a pistol"...don't know if he's ever even shot one...to my knowledge he hasn't. I told him "he doesn't need one", but he's gonna do what "he's gonna do". Now here's my concern....they are not secured, and my grandnieces have (or will eventually have) access. Just last week they were hiding in his closet, and when I went to find them, there was "one wrapped up" on the upper shelf. I don't even know how many he actually has around, nor how to broach the subject with hin...it would not go well I'm sure. What would you do?

ps: I'll also add that my dad "isn't as sharp as he used to be"...age is taking it's toll I'm afraid...just as it did with both of my elderly grandfathers when they were his age. I'm stumped...(nor is it at the point where I would "remove or disable them")...suggestions?

[sc_rufctr]

Talk to him about getting safe. He's your dad so just do it.
If he's got health/mental issues then that's a whole other matter.

How old is he?

[azasadny]

I'm going through this with my father right now... no little kids involved, but I'm concerned for his safety as he's a little loose with "gun discipline" and he never was before. My father has a gun safe, as we all do in our family and I would highly recommend one! Unfortunately, my father keeps guns all over the house, including lying in kitchen drawers, unholstered! Like I said, there are no kids involved, but I'm concerned that my father is disregarding the "gun rules" we have always lived by in our family...

[manbridge 74]

"Unloaded" guns kill many. I'd suggest starting kids off with a clear demonstration of the danger. Get a large cantaloupe and show them how life changing it would be to get hit with a bullet.

Follow typical gun safety rules but add a few of your own like leaving a gun out in the open(unloaded) and, from another room, let them come and tell you that it is there and an adult needs to know. I'd also suggest keeping all ammo separate from guns. My kids can spot a fake gun from a real one in seconds. I had to do this because of a similar situation as the OP. My dad has a safe but they can be left open.

Make sure you use a lot of repetition to make it stick. The gun show accidents were likely caused by typical attitude that comes with getting a new appliance. As in people don't think they need to read any rules on safety or how something operates. That it should all be intuitive. This might cause one to burn their toast with a new toaster but could get you killed with a gun.

Also: One never knows where a kid might have to make a decision to tell an adult at someone else's house or even if they found one off the street playing. This is why you need to know what they'll do before they get in that type of situation.

[Crowbob]

To get his attention, in addition to the inherent safety issues, strike up some kind of conversation about the liability issues involved in unsecured firearms. It is not inconceivabe that his entire life-time estate could be jeopardized by an accidental discharge of an unsecured weapon. Old-timers tend to respond quite readily to the machinations of lawyers.

[Rick V]

My dad has more guns than I even know about and for the most part all is well and since he lives alone, there isn't much danger of someone else getting hurt but................
My Dad is the oldest gun carrying deputy in the state of Va, he is deadly with any gun he gets his hands on, just a natural shot, and being a cop his gun discipline, sucks. He is very good about not touching a trigger but the muzzle direction issue is something I always get on him about. There have been several times I have actually put my hands on his wrist and moved his arm, then proceed to tell him to straighten up.
Sure it makes him mad, and sure I get the I am a cop and I am trained and I know what I am doing lecture to which I tell him to get some more training and stop pointing a gun in the wrong direction. He realizes I am right and he makes an effort to correct it, but always falls back into this bad habit.
Some subjects you just have to speak your mind and not worry about making someone mad. At the end of the day they will realize you are right and get over it. If they don't then they have just proved your point and you can bring that to their attention.
Tough love is the only way to handle this situation.

[ODDJOB UNO]

BOLT OPEN INDICATOR FLAGS....................aka lil stoopid plastic yellow flags that ya stick in yer freeking pipe TO INDICATE A FREEKING RD AINT IN THE PIPE!



mandated by any and ALL MATCH SHOOTS!


available from brownells or midwayusa.com


if yer TOO STOOPID or TOO CHEAP to USE THEM.............ya deserve WHAT YA GET!



which could be a friend or loved ones killed or one hell of a LAWSUIT! OR BOTH!


heres a lil food fer thought. think about it damn hard cuz yer life or someone elses may depend on it.



when hunting by yourself(MY FAVE) its OK to have a round in the pipe. safety ON!



when hunting with others...............DONT HAVE ROUND IN PIPE UNTIL YA SEE WHAT YER GONNA DESTROY! then rack round in, then fire.


clearing your weapon 200yds from camp is a damn good idea also. cuz there aint gonna be NO GAME 200yds from yer camp worth killing!


you cant be stoopid with a firearm. everyone of my spoons is loaded at all times WITH A BOLT OPEN INDICATOR FLAG IN THE PIPE! denoting PIPE IS CLEAR DESPITE LOADED MAGAZINE INSTALLED!



note stoopid lil yellow BOLT OPEN INDICATOR YELLOW FLAG IN PIC!



P.S> buy a SAFE!

[flatbutt]

Home lock ups are essential in my opinion. If not a full blown safe then at least a steel cabinet bolted to the floor and wall. Lying loose around the house is irresponsible and just plain unacceptable.

My son is clear on this...when the ol' man starts losing it he grabs knives,axes, chainsaws, everything.

[Rapewta]

The accidental discharge of guns at gun shows was predictable.
The influx of people for whatever their reason for going to these shows has increased a lot.
If you like beef jerkey and candles then go. I don't go. I have been a NRA member for a few years but I don't look at guns as a hobby or passion.
Big 5 is my gun show.

[sc_rufctr]

What happens to someone when they loose their ability to drive a car safely?
(Whether it be old age or illness)

They loose their licence.

I know it's a bad situation but maybe you need to ask him some tough questions.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Rapewta

The accidental discharge of guns at gun shows was predictable.
The influx of people for whatever their reason for going to these shows has increased a lot.
If you like beef jerkey and candles then go. I don't go. I have been a NRA member for a few years but I don't look at guns as a hobby or passion.
Big 5 is my gun show.

Why do they even have ammo at a gun show? And why load any gun there?

Surely there must be some basic safety rules that weren't followed.

[Mericet]

KC911, you can also mention to him that NC law (can not remember exactly which one) states that a firearm needs to be stored in a way that is not accessible by minors. Also some training for the grandnieces (something like Eddie Eagle) should be done. He might want to look at some of the biometric gun safes available.

[Rapewta]

People attend gun shows to look for great deals on ammo.
One change that might be coming down the pike from the WH is that "no more ammo will be allowed in to the events".

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Rapewta

People attend gun shows to look for great deals on ammo.
One change that might be coming down the pike from the WH is that "no more ammo will be allowed in to the events".

Ok but why load any of that ammo in a gun at a gun at a show?

Am I the only one that thinks that's JUST NUTS?

[Rapewta]

I understand what you saying and my only answer to that is...
"You can't fix STUPID."

[ODDJOB UNO]

here at all the shows i have attended, the show worker beez upon entry, install a zip ty thru action to indicate chamber EMPTY! NO LOADED GUNS ALLOWED!

i mean what is so hard to comprehend about that.

now speaking of barrel wagging which in and of itself at the minimum can land you an ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON FELONY..............it kind of JUST PISSES ME OFF LIKE OVER THE TOP PISSES ME OFF TO NO END THAT SOME IDIOT PLACES YER LIFE IN SUCH DISREGARD!


at ben avery range here(world class intl range) if you barrel wag ANYONE you will be asked to leave ASAP as in 86'D!


if you pull that stunt at a match shoot with military teams and police teams...........well you'll be damn lucky if ya dont have a hospital visit while the DOC removes yer firearm from yer AZZ! and you may be POOING yer teeth out yer azz at the same time!


i have had it done to me by 3 different people over the years. all of them i knew very well. one had medical issues(NO EXCUSE! EVAR) and the other (2) thought they were special and knew everything about everything.


well the (1) thing they didnt know.................was i will nevar hang with them in any way shape or form for the rest of my life for their stoopid stunts. and i verbally made it CLEAR TO THAT EFFECT!


lifes short and i will nevar take the fall for someone elses stoopidity nor allow it on my part.



all it takes is the finger on the trigger and the next thing ya know someone is dead.


if i had ever barrel wagged anybody around my dad(5 yr wwII south pacific vet) when out shooting, he would have beat my ass to a pulp 10 times over and then kicked my worthless stoopid ass around the block just for drill. and then kicked me in the head!

[ODDJOB UNO]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

What happens to someone when they loose their ability to drive a car safely?
(Whether it be old age or illness)

They loose their licence.

I know it's a bad situation but maybe you need to ask him some tough questions.

howz bouts private pilots in their "golden years" hahahahahahaha it will take an army with crowbars to yank their pilots license from them.


think about that one......................SCAREY!

[Rapewta]

When my daughter was around 14 yrs old (ten years ago), I took her to the local range with a 22 cal rifle.
She did the barrel wag and the range marshal tore into me (and her) so hard, I thought we both were gonna cry.
It was my fault and I knew it. The ass-chewing was well deserved.
Never will forget it.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Talk to him about getting safe. He's your dad so just do it.
If he's got health/mental issues then that's a whole other matter.

How old is he?

Safe just isn't gonna happen (for him). He (and I) grew up in a "different time" and place where a LOADED shotgun was always right by the door "back on the farm". I'm almost 100% certain his are unloaded though. I never had secured spoons when I lived there either...which my niece grew up around. Times do change however...

He's 77. No "real" issues...

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

"Unloaded" guns kill many. .

Not the way I was trained since 6-7 years old, but point well taken.

Originally Posted by Rick V

..., and being a cop his gun discipline, sucks....

Some subjects you just have to speak your mind and not worry about making someone mad. At the end of the day they will realize you are right and get over it. If they don't then they have just proved your point and you can bring that to their attention.
Tough love is the only way to handle this situation.

Tell me about LEOs ...I've had two as tennants (still have one), and you simply woulkd NOT believe it if I told ya....

You're probably right about the tough love...thanks!

Originally Posted by flatbutt

.... Lying loose around the house is irresponsible and just plain unacceptable.

My son is clear on this...when the ol' man starts losing it he grabs knives,axes, chainsaws, everything.

You would have had a helluva time convincing my Grandfather (WWII vet, RIP) that...like I said earlier....men from a different era. At least my dad doesn't venture THAT far into the deep woods with a chainsaw anymore, but I STILL have to ask to take over for him. Only in the past few years can I even keep up with him

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

What happens to someone when they loose their ability to drive a car safely?
(Whether it be old age or illness)

They loose their licence.

I know it's a bad situation but maybe you need to ask him some tough questions.

Another sore subject I'll likely face someday...twice within the past year I've been with him when he went the wrong way or was in the wrong lane while "distracted"...thanks!

Originally Posted by Mericet

KC911, you can also mention to him that NC law (can not remember exactly which one) states that a firearm needs to be stored in a way that is not accessible by minors. Also some training for the grandnieces....

Their dad is ex-Army ranger...I think he's got that covered. Most (re LEOs mentioned above) don't give a quack about what some "law" might state...that's just not gonna change.

Originally Posted by Rapewta

I understand what you saying and my only answer to that is...
"You can't fix STUPID."

Call my LEO tennant "STUPID" and I'm pretty sure you'd find out REAL QUICK the definition of the word...thanks for the "advice" however

Although I didn't quote everyone posting, I appreciate "almost" everyone's perspective...keep 'em coming. Like I've said before...men from a different era.

Although my niece grew up around unsecured guns (mostly mine when I went away to college ), I think I'll run this by her also...

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Ok but why load any of that ammo in a gun at a gun at a show?

Am I the only one that thinks that's JUST NUTS?

It is not allowed at any gun show under any circumstances unless you're a cop. I haven't read the story, but this is definitely a case of someone sneaking one in past the zip tie checkers or loading after it was cleared. Both are serious taboo at all gun shows and the guy responsible will be financially ruined for his error.