[ArcticSplash]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/201308...alone.html

A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY was confronted by three armed home invaders in Upper Darby on Monday morning, and it wasn't the first time the teen had faced down at least one of the intruders, according to police. About 11:30 a.m., the boy was alone at his house on Littlecroft Road near Marshall when a noise led him to his mother's room. There, he saw a man climbing through the second-floor window, Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said. The boy went to get a phone to call 9-1-1, but the alleged intruder, Daniel Taylor, 28, of Philadelphia, was able to grab the teen by his arm, police said.

This one is a toughie. I was raised to shoot at a young age. Supervised. The supervision dropped off to observation then to nothing somewhere around the age of 14/15. The test for my father was "whether I would clean the damn gun after shooting it"... (he is of the "you must clean after every bullet fired"-type).

When I worked in my grandmother's office alone when I got my hardship DL at 14, I would sometimes have to drive from my parents house across to the next county over to the town my grandmother's house and her office was located, which is a distance of 56 miles. An hour's drive on I-37, but that's still a significant distance.

When I had to do this my mother showed me in which out of the endless file drawers the .38 special was hidden in, which was always kept loaded.


I was told 'someone breaks in, you EMPTY that revolver and then run to the police station' (two blocks away... it's faster to go talk to the police or Texas DPS in person than it is to deal with county dispatch). You take that gun with you and give it to DPS and you sit there and wait for us to come down.

At the house, when I was left alone, I knew precisely where the key to the gun cabinet was to get at the ammo, and there was a .357 Mag sitting on a wicker shelf ready to go should I ever need it. Didn't hit me until I was about 13 that I'd have to prepare to use this option if needed.

There were a couple of times a strange vehicle would come up the driveway and I would spot it from either in the house or from acres away up the pasture.


Now that I'm in a highly urban environment I don't really think in that paranoia anymore since I've got video surveillance cams and security, plus a lot of insurance. But I dunno... if I had a 13 year old son this is probably the time I would be hauling him to the ranges to get him to shoot and if he's in my house alone and I'm away on a trip I'd definitely want him armed.


You?

[chrisjp]

did the boy have a means of defense... and as a thought...if you belive he is trustworthy to be home alone and you have guns...you would be a FOOL to think they couldn't find a way to access them. SO TEACH THEM AND KNOW THEY ARE TRUSTWORTHY

[Philadelphia Patriot]

Depends on the 13 year old. When I get my own house, I plan on installing an alarm system. I really don't want to leave my [future] 13 year old alone, but if I did, the alarm system would be on, and I'd teach my kids if it isn't turned off in 10 seconds to run upstairs, lock the bedroom door, and call 911. I'd tell them not to come out unless they hear my voice or their mother's. Even if someone says it is the police and to come out, I'd instruct them not too unless I told them over the phone to exit the room or they hear my voice on the other side of that door.

[jahwarrior72]

If my kid could prove she was responsible enough to be left alone in the house with a gun and not play with it, while not burning the house down, and was trained enough to be able to use one unsupervised...then, yes. My daughter is 10, and I've been working with her to get her familiar with the firearms in the house. She's already a pretty good shot with a .22 rifle; she'll be ready for a handgun soon. She's still a little irresponsible, though, but she's only 10, so there's still time.

[Camper]

Now that I'm in a highly urban environment I don't really think in that paranoia anymore since I've got video surveillance cams and security, plus a lot of insurance. But I dunno... if I had a 13 year old son this is probably the time I would be hauling him to the ranges to get him to shoot and if he's in my house alone and I'm away on a trip I'd definitely want him armed.

Since you've got video surveillance cams and security, plus a lot of insurance why do you need a gun at all? You could sell them and buy more video surveillance cams and security, plus a lot more insurance especially since there isn't ever crime in highly urban environments

Seriously though, if my kids were to responsible enough to leave alone at 13 then they better be responsible enough to defend themselves because to an irresponsible kid a stove is more of a likely danger scenario than a firearm.

[Rcpaul]

I started my daughter shooting idpa when she was 11 she is now 13 and trust her with a gun. She knows where it is kept if the need arises. I honestly wish she could carry at times. We love in a very rural area that is heavily wooded that have bears. When she goes walking in the game lands behind our house I wish she could carry it for protection.

[Internet troll]

If I were living in that neighborhood and I was leaving my kid home alone i would make sure he had a means of defense. My older brother lives around the corner from Littlecroft. On more than 1 occasion I have heard gun fire on the streets while visiting him.

It's a high crime neighborhood that has seen more than its fair share of news stories on pafoa. If I had to live there I would take the appropriate steps to make sure everyone in my family knew how to defend themselves.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

[51158]

did the boy have a means of defense... and as a thought...if you belive he is trustworthy to be home alone and you have guns...you would be a FOOL to think they couldn't find a way to access them. SO TEACH THEM AND KNOW THEY ARE TRUSTWORTHY

I agree whole heatedly with what you said, BUT. I'm not going to intentionally give a 13yo access to firearms. Did you ever see a 13yo run? Shit I couldn't catch him in my freekin truck if I had to. At that age. I'd say bail out kid, There's nothing that can't be replaced..I would not want to put him through killing a man.. plain and simple. I'll fight for my stuff, I wouldn't what my son at 13 too.

I Always told my son, If you EVER want to see, touch and yes do a quick draw, Just ASK and I will Get any gun I have for you.. I'm a firm believer and I told my son that those people that we'all read about that shot themselves while they where CLEANING their gun, they where PLAYING with a loaded freekin firearm and to embarrassed to say so. not going to happen at my house.

Just a little side note: boy is a man now at 34, No accidents..

To Answer OP's question "Hell No"

[JustinHEMI]

If I had a 13 year old son, yes, because by 13, he'd already have 7-8 years behind the trigger, and he wouldn't be a little worthless fuck, like most 13 year olds these days.

Justin

[streaker69]

How about a 12yr old girl?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/20...92381.html

If you raise your kids around firearms that they know how to use them safely there's nothing wrong with them using them when needed.