bobbi-j I don't think it makes you a "bad" parent. Our oldest is 17 and the youngest 18 months. While the older kids are responsible with the guns and understand gun safety, the younger ones do not. Nor do the many teens that are in and out of my house. None of them have ever shot a gun, even a bb gun. They are not my children, but I am legally charged with their safety. Guns are illegal on campus, but I got a waiver with stipulations.
I never grew up with the idea that guns were bad. My dad made me pass safety tests before I could shoot. My mom and her husband kept our guns locked up, but not the ammo. My little brother (at 12) got a .22 from a friend, loaded it up with our ammo, and went hunting by himself after school one day. He didn't know the safety was broken. He dropped the gun and shot his finger off. This is the brother that was thrown by and IED blast and almost had his thumb cut off when he landed on his pocket knife in Baghdad. My first gun was actually a hand gun at around 12. I am going to e. TN to go shooting with my dad this weekend and I am excited! He is taking our ten year-old out for some gun lessons. He is a crack shot, but needs some reinforcement on gun safety. My dad used to teach gun safety, so I think he will be good.