I would like to share a sad story, but one that needs to be on everyone's mind.
About 30 years ago, my sons were in Scouting here in So Cal.
One of the boys in the troop went to a friend's house after school. They dug into the dad's closet and found the 9mm pistol that the boy's dad used doing part time security work.
The parents of either boy had not taken the time to teach them what to do if they found a gun. They didn't know how to handle it. They weren't taught not to touch it.
Tragically the 12 YO scout lost his life.
At the following parent meeting, the parents of the young Scout that lost his life were there. A few of us leaders that are shooters thought we were going to hear how horrible guns were and no one should have them.
To the parent's credit, they asked the Committee Chairman to address the other parents. The mother could not speak, the father pulled a check out of his pocket and handed it to the Chairman. With tears in his eyes, he begged us all to teach the rest of these boys what to do if they find one. Teach them to go find an adult, how to handle them only with an adult present.
The check was enough to put on very good program for the next five years. As a Hunter Safety instructor and Merit Badge counselor, I had the privilege of heading up the Troops shooting program.
The program we put on required the boys to attend 4 out of 5 safety meetings each year prior to being allowed to attend the shooting camp out. The boys were taught how to safely handle all types of firearms. The camp outs always had 40-60 boys out for a weekend of shooting. NEVER A SINGLE ACCIDENT OR ISSUE. (wish the boys acted that well on other outings, LOL)
On Friday night before leaving on the trip, I would always circle the boys up for a last minute safety talk. The safety talk was always closed with "Gentlemen, you are about to have to opportunity to participate in a Man's Sport, Little boys are not allowed to come. Leave the Nintendo and horseplay at home. If you cannot act like a young adult, you do not belong on this outing, go over to your Mommy and go home!"
I was raised around guns, my boys were raised around them, and now my grandsons are being exposed. I have never denied my sons or grandsons the opportunity to look at them when they ask. I believe that is one of the reasons there has never been a problem.
So many parents today think they can hide them from kids, then tragically when they find one, curiosity gets the better of them, and someone gets hurt.
Of course, I am preaching to the Choir here.