Who hides a gun behind their Christmas tree?

In Cortez, Colo., a boy shot himself in the calf while he was playing with a loaded pistol that his folks had hidden behind their Christmas tree. The local law says no charges will be filed because the parents had left the gun a "reasonable distance" from the kid, though I've got to say -- what parent doesn't think their kid will root through the presents when nobody is looking?

Comments

[kybo61]

I have to say, in all the years I grew up in a house with parents who hunted -- there were guns on a rack in the den, guns in the downstairs closet, guns in mom & dad's bedroom (including a shotgun that was always loaded) -- I *NEVER* touched one of them, nor did any of my friends who came to the house to play, even though we were rarely supervised. We just knew it wasn't allowed. Mom & dad simply told me that guns were not toys, and that every gun must be assumed to be loaded and never pointed at anyone or anything. I only had to be told once. If we wanted to play cops & robbers, we used our imaginations and pointed our fingers or used sticks for guns. So what's the deal, are kids just dumber or more disobedient than they were 40, 50 years ago?

[cripjak]

This gets my vote for the early morning "They walk amongst us" award but it's early.

[jeano]

kybo61, you had parents who said what they meant and meant what they said. If you disobeyed, you were punished, no questions asked. Parents today make lots of threats but never seem to follow through. They are either lazy, stupid, clueless or all of the above. They need to remember they are the PARENTS, not their kids' friends!

[jeano]

BTW, guns under the tree are tacky, however, shurikens (ninja throwing stars) ON the tree are quite tasteful.

[Searching]

jeano... What? No taser tree topper?

[cripjak]

On the bright side it could've been an RPG launcher.

[roxorz]

kybo, kids now get in trouble for pointing their fingers like guns. /sigh

jeano, I think you just designed my tree for next year. =-O

[Nanny]

Dad's(always unloaded) gun stood in the corner of the living room. We never touched it, because we were taught that if it wasn't ours, we were to leave it alone period. We were also taught to respect guns at a very early age. Unforunately, that's not the way today. But a gun behind the tree is really quite stupid. Could be mistaken for a present.

[inetmail2003]

I have 2 kids that are now in their late teens. I never purchased them toy guns and did not allow them to pretend to shoot at people. I am also an avid hunter and target shooter. When my children became curious about guns, I took them to a shooting range and taught them proper gun handling technique and safety. In fact each of my children owns their own target rifle. Guns are a tool no different than a car, if used carelessly it is dangerous. I keep my guns in a safe at my home. I see no need to tempt fate. Don't give young kids car keys and don't leave your guns laying around. Parenting is a responsibility! If you can't handle it don't have kids.

[Marvin]

I know ONE guy who leaves a gun behind a tree.

[sly]

KYBO--Its not that parents are suddenly easier now. My father was strict as well & I only had to be told to stay away from his gun once myself. But my brother & sisters weren't so obedient. Which is why my father also took care to hide his gun someplace we'd never find (and he hid it really good too since even tho I had a knack for finding all kinds of things I wasn't supposed to find I never once came across his gun). Even very strict parents have kids who disobey them. So, hiding a loaded gun behind a christmas tree fails the common sense test.

[JUNGLE JIM]

Gangsta Clause?

[Boogaloo Shrimp]

What's the point of hiding a gun behind a christmas tree? What good could that possibly do? That's probably the worst possible place to hide a gun.

[Mickey Mouse]

Who hides a gun behind their Christmas tree?
Why, Jaun Claus Van Dam!

[Shifty7]

"I'm dreaming of a red Christmas..."

[Drasil]

What's the gun for? If Santa doesn't give what you want? Stick 'em up fat man.

[JUNGLE JIM]

idiotalics off!

[Oldtimer]

inetmail2003,

I have the same situation in my home. Never had any kind of gun-related "accident" or child-involved misbehavior with a gun. My children are not in awe of firearms, and they realize guns are properly used only in certain settings (shooting range, while hunting, etc.) Seems so simple. It bothers me that so many others can't see the simple logic of responsible gun ownership. Makes every gun owner look bad when that logic is ignored.

[LoveKC]

Daddy had a lot of guns while we were growing up. We were taught not to consider touching them unless you had to use lethal force period! Like a someone breaking into the house. As a child, I knew not to play or even go look at the guns. Yea, I would have gotten my tail busted if I did. We just knew whene the parents said something they meant and backed it up.DUMB idea to hide a gun near Christmas tree during Christman! DUH!

[Chuck McRizzo]

I grew up like most of you, had plenty of guns around and never messed with one EVER.

And yes behind an xmas tree is a stupid place to hide anything. Maybe thats where Tiger tried to hide his phone........