The scenario.... I come from a long line of war veterans... WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm. I vividly remember sitting in my grandfathers lap shooting his Jap rifle he acquired while on Iwo Jima. So, we have a long history of shooting.
My grandson, who is now 8, finally expressed an interest in shooting. So, I called my cousin and off to the range we went. This was a big deal as the only prior shooting instruction he had was on his BB gun. He was very intentive, eagerly listened, and excited to boot. I am a stickler for safety. NO excuses. After all the instruction and practicing, we went to live fire of a Ruger 10/22, a Buckmark .22 and finally an AR. For an 8yr old, he listened very well. I could not of been more proud of him. Even other members of the club commended him on how well he did. His smiles are forever engraved in my memory. Now the problem.
When we got home he was so excited to tell his mother what he did and how much he learned and the fun he had. The poor little guy was met with outrage. Then I get it. My daughter seems to forget how she was raised. She never shared the interest in firearms unlike her younger sister. Firearms and hunting were always a way of life in the household. She chastised this poor child telling him he was too young and he should not be doing this at his age. She crushed his excitement.
So, how do I go about changing my daugters mind with out wringing her neck or shoving my boot up her Liberal ass?
Sam is a good boy. You can see by his expressions how much he enjoyed himself. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

Great job with the lad Mark. I'd talk to her and remind her how she was raised.

Whup her stupid damn ass


Mike

Every boy that age learns that what momma don't know, won't hurt her.

Tell her that your grandson should know how to safely handle guns unless she does not want him spending time with you.

All of the above. Dare her to listen to the kid's brief back on what he learned with Grandpa, especially the safety and responsibility part. Then call your other daughter in front of the liberal one and tell her how much you appreciate her temperament.

So you want to get between a mother and her cub on purpose?
Is there a father in this scenario?

Force the issue and everybody loses. Teach the boy to keep his mouth shut when his mother doesn't like something. Good luck trying, but see if his mother has an idea when he won't be "too young".

My Daughter started shooting with me at about the same age.

I recently bought her a S&W shield (her choice) as an award for getting her CCW.

She has other favorites, too

She has specifically stated that this is "heirloom material".




Perhaps Mom is just overly concerned or protective and may eventually become comfortable with the idea.

with that good wood on the garand, the fact she is shooting an 11pound rifle, both her and the gun are heirloom material. thats pretty neat.

Shooting glasses wouldn't hurt.

Did mom say specifically what her objections were? "Too young" is a smokescreen for something else.




P

I'd have to scan it, but I have a pic of her burnin' a belt up through an M60.

The girl ain't scared of guns!

Take your daughter shooting.

Problem is, you didn't shove enough boots up her liberal ass.

There is an old saying that every young boy needs an old man, other than his father, to teach him everything his mother doesn't want him to know. You did a good thing.

I had a real life Rancid Crabtree to teach me, and hope I have passed on some it to younger generations, much to the anguish of their mothers.

(For those of you that don't know Rancid, go read a Patrick McManus book.)

Contact social services and have the child removed from that toxic environment. Then adopt him.

Cut her out of the will, liberals only care about money. Name the boy instead. But that is my knee jerk reaction.

Just show her those pictures!

Wow! That laser smile will cut right through!

Campfire wisdom


Stick: threats to daughter of shunning grandson, kicks to liberal daughter's ass, blatantly showing preference for the other daughter.



Carrot: learning to swim is drown-proofing. Learning to shoot and gun safety is gun-proofing. Water and guns will be encountered in a boy's life. Best to know how to handle both.

discuss for starters. Pictures as icing.

I wouldn't do a damn thing. Let her think about it. If she's the right sort she'll bring up her 'outburst' in conversation (probably in a round about way).


You have time, let it ride for now.

Show her the photos of his smile and ask, Would you rather he learn from an experienced pro or some kid on the street or a tV show or video game.

I coach a rifle Team at high school (air rifle) same reasoning there.

Safety, responsibility, respect...

One tip, mark:

He may be too young now...


...but next weekend, he'll be older.

This!

Swim lessons are EXPENSIVE, but I realize the value of your statement and will gladly fork it over to save their lives which hopefully will never happen.

Shooting is different, though, money is no object!

You're on the mark, they are both life savers!

What Steelhead said, lay low for a while, you planted the seed, he won't forget a day like that.

Maybe she just wanted you to ask her if it was ok to take him shooting. It could be a respect/boundary thing and have little to do with guns. If it was me I would talk to her in a neutral setting. Not at your house or her house and just the two of you. Take her to lunch or get some coffee. Tell her you know that it is her son and it is her decision to make. Don't get defensive or mad. You need to be the voice of reason. Explain that guns were an important part of your upbringing and you want to pass it along to your grandson. Tell her that showing the kid how to use a gun responsibly under supervision will make him less likely to abuse or misuse them. Invite her to come along, so she can see the safety precautions you are using to protect the little guy. The important thing is to make her feel like it is her decision not your decision.

I wish you well. She may not let him go and she might apologize for blowing up and give you her blessing. Hard to say from here behind the keyboard. Don't lose your cool, she is sitting in the catbird seat.

Yeah! What's with that? Are you sure you are qualified to teach gun safety?

I hate to take that attitude with you but it is a glaring safety risk.

What would your daughter's reaction have been if you brought her son back with a cut or burn on his cornea from an ejected casing? Or an eye full of ejecta from a burst rim?

Leave an upper decker in her bathroom.

I'm with Gunreader on the glasses.If you are such a 'stickler" and "no excuses",make sure he wears them.Rims do separate on rimfires.And hopefully your daughter will come around.You're a good Grampa for that boy,plain to see by the smile on his face! Scott

Thanks for all the replies. Yes he did have eye protection on at the time of firing. We had an agreement this morning that only .22 LR would be used until he is older. I can respect that. Then she goes to work and talks to her Liberal [bleep] friends on FB and back to "NoDeal". I feel sorry for my grandson for the fact that his mother is a closed minded follower.... FWIW the sperm donor for my grandson is NOT in the picture. Thanks again.

Parents do have a right to raise their kids. Remind her that everyone should know about guns, even if they do not shoot.


I was raised in a non hunting non shooting family. When we visited cousins I was wild to get to the dump with a .22 if I could talk my cousin into it. There is a mystique about guns for a lot of us. So a kid that wants to shoot will find a way, or be a wound up spring. IE

The day I turned 21 I bought a revolver, kinda made the clerk uneasy, but I never did anything bad with it. I was an adult before a friend invited me to go hunting with him, showing me the ropes of gutting, skinning, and butchering. It was all things I wanted to do, but never had a chance.

DO not punish the kid if mom will not let him shoot, still maintain a good relationship and do other things.
BTW, my range will not let me take in a minor without the parent along.

Good advice, Remember the "Don't lose your cool" part.

You did a piss poor job of raising her.


Mike

Give it time. That kid will not forget your day of shooting. The fact that his mother is against it will probably make it all the more appealing to him. If he is like most boys he will bring it up every chance he gets, she will get sick of hearing about it. Fat chance mom will get that kid to lean liberal when Grandpa leans the other way. Most boys idolize Grandpa and their beliefs, not mom. You will get the chance to teach him how to shoot again, just a matter of when.

Really,....sometimes apples roll away from the tree.

Just the way it is, and I won't put you down for the way she's turned out.

You're doing GREAT, and time IS on your side,...pace yourself, and don't let the kid become a pawn, it'll all work out, Gramps.

GTC

Remind her that life isn't all about her...

I can tell, by the look on his face, you have already won. ;-{>8

You might want to remind her that introducing the kid to guns in a controlled environment will help end some of the curiosity about guns. It's curiosity that gets the best of children when they find a loaded gun in a friend's house.

Guns exist in the world. Without thoughtful training by a responsible adult, preferably grandpa, the proper use of a gun will be dictated by Hollywood or the gangbangers on the news. Should he encounter a firearm, whose influence will keep him safer?

pellet gun.

ultimate compromise.

also, ask her if she feels safer for her son if he knows nothing about guns and finds on in a friend's home, or knows a lot, and finds one and tells someone.

Exactly my thoughts....

Adopt your grandson.

Hold her under the water until she quits bubbling.

Great news ..... she caved. Common sense finally kicked in. He was so excited, he cried..... that's Papa's boy..... Thanks again .....

Great news!!!

It is great news! Pictures my man, pictures!

The big grin on the boys face is worth a million!

It's possible she felt slighted in some way if you didn't include her in the gun shooting lesson, for that you could apologize. HOWEVER, make it clear there is no way to deny learning to respect firearms, and learning firearm safety is an important lesson a young man needs to learn just like using a knife, ax, chainsaw, etc.

You should gently point out how she crushed her son's feeling of accomplishment, and that she should be proud of him and his demonstrated skill. You can explain that she should express her fears and concerns in an open conversation with her son, and realize he is growing up and needs to learn important life lessons in order to not make mistakes. Who is going to have these difficult discussions with him? Wouldn't she rather have him learn responsibility from a man she knows rather than from friends. Guns are just one little thing. There will need to be conversations about drinking, drugs, girls, etc. and at about the age he is now.(maybe not everything but...) They start "learning" a lot younger than parents want to believe. Goes for daughters too.

I started with my boys at 4 years old. At eight they knew gun safety and understood the devastating difference between T.V. and real life. That understanding is what saves lives.

Since she is his mother and you are not then it not your decision to make...when he hits eighteen he can make up his own mind.

Then you can take him shooting.


And to the others that are advocating ignoring his mother's wishes...way to go in undermining the family.



Added...I see you got your way.