Some of us are parents here at Primer Peak. Others are aunts, uncles, and grandparents. As you could probably tell, many of us live an armed lifestyle, both at home and abroad. As part of this, it is critical to learn how to safely and effectively integrate these two parts of our lives. Failure to do so can end in tragedy, so taking the right steps is important beyond words.
If you’re new to firearms, or someone who has recently found themselves spending more time around children, you may be at a loss on how to safely merge these two seemingly incompatible parts of life. Luckily you’re not alone. We’ve gathered just a few resources that we find extremely helpful, and put them into one place. Let’s check out some of our options.
Reading, watching, and listening are three major ways that we learn. Books, articles, and videos easily fit into our busy lives, are inexpensive or free, and can be repeatedly referenced as time marches on. Here are a few media resources that we find really helpful.
Earlier this year I purchased, and reviewed “Toys, Tools, Guns & Rules” by Julie Golob. This is formatted as a children’s book, with colorful pictures and simple language, designed to help young children understand gun safety in terms that they can process. Julie is a well known competitor, trainer, veteran, and mother, who is highly qualified to cover this material. This book belongs on the shelf of any gun owning parent, or guardian.
You can read my full review of her book >>HERE<<.
“Your World is Not a Gun-Free Zone” is written by my friend Tim Kelly of Apache Solutions. Tim is an instructor, veteran, and father, and is one of the deeper thinkers of our shared generation. “Your World” is focused on the parent, giving in-depth explanations about not only physically securing firearms, but also how to safely introduce your child to some of the higher concepts surrounding them. He offers multiple scenarios to help readers visualize important points, and to better contextualize lessons on the page.
I have a copy of “Your World” on my bookshelf, and it’s a great resource for parents. I suggest you pick up a copy as well.
Eddie Eagle is one of the most prolific, and most misunderstood, firearms safety programs in the nation. For over three decades Eddie Eagle’s mission has been to teach four simple steps on what to do if they discover a firearm. These steps are simple: Stop, Don’t Touch, Run Away, Tell a Grown Up. The program has a significant pool of resources, including grants to help schools, law enforcement, and other non-profits, along with materials such as activity books to improve children’s understanding of firearms safety.
Learn more about Eddie Eagle >>HERE<<.
Project ChildSafe is a program operated by the National Sports Shooting Foundation with a goal of spreading firearms safety education and equipment throughout the nation. Since 1998 Project ChildSafe has provided more than 70 million free gun locks in all states and territories, and maintains a large online database of helpful resources for parents and guardians. Additionally, the program also provides materials in Spanish.
See what NSSF’s Project ChildSafe has to offer >>HERE<<.
In addition to various media resources, there are also a variety of classes available to help both children and adults learn how to be safe around each other with firearms. I’ve had the opportunity to attend some of these schools, and I think they offer a lot of value.
Apache Solutions is a firearms training school based out of North Carolina, owned by Tim Kelly. That name should sound familiar, as he is also the author of “Your World is not a Gun Free Zone.” I’ve personally trained alongside multiple Apache instructors over the past few years, and can attest to their quality, knowledge, and ability to adapt to student’s needs. Apache offers a host of youth focused classes, and can customize a course for you and your loved ones to best suit your needs.
For more information, check out Apache Solutions >>HERE<<.
Gunsite Academy is often considered the Mecca of defensive firearms training in the United States. I’ve had the opportunity to train at Gunsite twice over the past few years, and it’s a fantastic experience. For those with slightly older children, Gunsite offers a host of youth classes for children ages 12-16 years old. These multi-day classes focus on safe and responsble gun handling in a controlled environment.
You can check out the details directly through Gunsite >>HERE<<.
Myself and writer Ally Corless have both attended “The Armed Parent” on two separate occasions. My first introduction was when I found myself spending time around my girlfriend as she babysat her young niece and nephew. While I felt comfortable and confident around firearms, I knew there was more to know about this connection of carrying them around children, so I quickly signed up for this course. She followed along, then a year later we re-took the class to help solidify the lessons.
This course is more focused on the defensive use of firearms in the presence of your children, rather than gun safety at home. You can check out our reviews of the course below to help get a better idea of what to expect.
Ally Corless: The Armed Parent/Guardian Lecture: A Review
Dan Reedy: Citizen’s Defense Research Armed Parent/Guardian Review
Daniel Martin: Contextual Handgun – The Armed Parent/Guardian from Citizens Defense Research | AAR [2024]
The National Rifle Association has a wide variety of training available both online and in person. These include both classes for adults and youth, covering proper gun handling, safe storage in the home, and more. As a child some of my first safety lessons came through NRA programs at a local range, and they helped to mitigate practices that could have been problematic that I’d learned from television and video games.
Check out the NRA’s training website to find a class near you, >>HERE<<.
This isn’t an all-inclusive list regarding resources for you and your children, but it’s certainly a start. I highly recommend taking advantage of more than one offering here, as each provides unique advantages that will give you a better holistic approach to firearms safety in your home. How you approach your children about gun safety will change as they grow, and it’s important to start building your knowledge now rather than scrambling later.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Writing isn’t my full-time profession, and nearly everything I do comes out of my own pocket. Between ammunition, tuition, range fees and more, expenses add up fast. If you like what I have to offer, consider making a donation to my Patreon.
Every bit helps bring more work like this to you, and contributes to shortened timelines or more in-depth work on my part. You’ll also have more direct access to me, offering suggestions for future projects, looking behind the scenes, and getting early access to some content. You can find my Patreon >>HERE<<
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