[Jeff Higgins]

I know what worked for me when I was little, and what worked for my boys when they were little. Puppy said it above - eliminate the novelty of it all. I had ready access to my dad's guns any time I wanted - no one had gun safes or anything at all like that back then. Hell, they were in his nightstand, in his toolbox, in his closet - all over the house. Some loaded, most not. And I knew any time I wanted to look at or handle one, all I had to do was ask.

All of this was pretty similar with my boys, with the exception that I do keep them (the guns, not the boys, although I considered them at times) in a safe. Same idea, though - they could handle them any time they wanted, all they had to do was ask. Guns were such a part of their lives that the whole mystery was gone before they were in kindergarten.

All of that is, of course, far more difficult with other peoples' children. It has to be a part of their lives on the same level as their own toys, with the only difference being an adult has to be present when they want to check them out. That's just around the house. In addition, frequent range time, preferably with their own guns (I started mine at six years old with their own single shot "Chipmunk" .22 rifles). That part might be very difficult with your friend, however.

Gun ownership takes commitment, and she has to understand that. Not just for her own safety and for the safety of her own children, but also due to today's legal environment. There are likely storage/access requirements she will be obligated to meet under state law. Unless you can bring her to understand the seriousness of all of this, and the commitment required of her, I would discourage her in any way you can.