Never Too Early: Teaching Your Children Gun Safety Without the Fear

We should start with the hard truth…

As fun and fascinating as firearms are, they were created for one reason and one reason only: to end life. This is a fact that, ironically, tends to be forgotten amidst the love for shiny "cool guy" gear, fancy guns, and accessories, and especially fun times at the range, when shooting paper tends to be so disconnected from the reality of violence.
 
Now, don’t get me wrong, all that stuff is great. I am a bit of a gear nerd myself, and the lifestyle aspect is honestly a big part of why I enjoy firearms. However, for any of us to do so safely, we need to first understand the basics of safe handling and operating a piece of technology with such destructive potential.
 
As with most things in life, these important lessons are best learned at an early age so they can become muscle memory and part of normal life. This is why it is so important to teach our children the basics of gun safety. By demystifying firearms and making them part of everyday life, the "wow factor" that could potentially cause kids to use them improperly will go down. How many times have we heard the sad stories of a parent placing a loaded gun on a coffee table, only for their toddler to walk over and grab it, thinking it is a toy? Well, we all know the rest.

It is our responsibility as parents to break these terrible cycles that not only perpetuate the myth that “Guns are bad,” but also create fear. Not only the fear of a child who has been told, “Don’t ever touch a gun because they are dangerous,” but also the fear that a responsible adult will have when deciding if it’s time to place a firearm in the hand of a child. We would all feel a lot better if, when this moment arrives, our children have a firm grasp on fundamentals that have been drilled in a safe manner, using a training tool that is completely inert and lacks the capability to be loaded with live rounds at all.

TitanX presents an incredible alternative. Not only is it a perfect replica of a real firearm down to the most minute details, but it allows for real-time feedback via the Mantis/pistol rifle app and provides a visible laser to observe our point of aim and point of impact. All of this comes while making it absolutely impossible for accidents to occur if and when a child makes a mistake, spawned not from malice, but from inexperience.

When I was learning to shoot (and keep in mind, I did not even touch a firearm until I was in my 20s when I joined the US Army), one of the biggest and honestly hardest things to get used to was muzzle awareness. “Flagging” your teammates or yourself is never a good idea because it creates bad habits. We don’t want to get used to randomly and carelessly pointing a firearm at something we don't intend to destroy (firearms safety rules, anyone?). Back then, we used to talk about the “lightsaber analogy,” mostly because at heart we are all gigantic nerds and Star Wars is life.
 
If we imagine there is a beam of light always coming from the muzzle (whether red or green, I will leave that up to you and your chosen path in the Force), and avoid “touching” anyone or ourselves with this imaginary lightsaber, we will get used to always pointing that weapon in a safe direction. Couple this skill with trigger discipline, and we have effectively lowered the risk of an accidental discharge happening and hitting an unintended victim.

If we get creative enough, we soon discover that with the TitanX, we don’t have to pretend. The visible laser in this system has an “always on” mode, where the laser stays on regardless of whether you are pulling the trigger. Originally, this mode is very useful for adjusting and zeroing your sights, as it allows you to see a constant beam where your point of impact would be. Once you've completed this adjustment, you can return to normal operation. To access the always-on mode, simply double-click the on/off button, and when ready to resume normal operation, click it again once.

But what if I explain the lightsaber analogy to my child, and then let him handle the TitanX with the laser on? We will soon discover that if he is careless with his muzzle discipline, he will shine this laser at his feet, Mom, the dog, etc., and the lesson (being able to actually see they are pointing it at things they do not want to destroy), will stick. Then we can move on to more practical things like trigger manipulation, where the TitanX provides a great, realistic trigger feel and the ability to take multiple shots without recoil. This allows your child to get used to the cycle of operation without a “scary” bang. Once this “feel” has been assimilated and reinforced enough, live rounds at the range will not feel nearly as intimidating. (Maybe some dry fire on the real thing with an X10 before the range trip will get them nice and warmed up!)
 
What about holster discipline and safety? Would you want your 10-year-old walking around with your Glock 19 in a holster while you work? Probably not. But what if he had a holstered TitanX? Getting used to walking, moving, and operating in daily life (at least at home) with a holstered weapon is a very overlooked skill that sometimes gets people into trouble. Remember that one video of the dude walking around Walmart when suddenly his pistol falls right onto the floor? Not a good look.
 
At the end of the day, firearms are a way of life, and they require a lot of training and an understanding of key concepts. It is never too early to teach our sons and daughters to protect themselves, while at the same time demystifying the tools of the trade. We need to help them understand that firearms are appliances that make our lives better, but unlike your microwave or fridge, they do come with dire consequences if handled improperly.
 
Ready to start teaching the next generation the right way? Build flawless safety habits, build confidence, and take the fear out of firearms training. Visit www.mantisx.com to explore the TitanX and Mantis training systems today.