I was scolded for teaching a youngster to shoot.

[pharmer]

I would not bet on that. You ever heard of child endangerment?

Unfortunately, this is the problem. Nothing illegal happened but if moms goes to the cops and spins up a tale about a neighbor taking a boy in the woods with a handgun, it could turn into film-at-eleven stuff. Lay low, let the boy know you will be around. Joe

 

[dmcm33]

The boy loves horses. I’ve taught him how to handle a horse and we occasionally ride together. His mom has no objection as long as my wife or I ride with him and he’s on a gentle horse.

So what's so different about a horse that could easily trample, kick or throw a child, compared to you letting him shoot a small caliber (gentle) pistol? You taught him safety with both. Taught him the dangers of both. He has adult supervision with both. And yet he is probably more likely to fall off the horse and crack his head open then he is to shoot himself in the foot!
This is the kind of **** that is wrong with America. People are mindlessly afraid of guns just because they are guns.
You keep doing what you are doing. I wish I had had someone like you when I was growing up!

 

[MSgt G]

A difficult situation for many people there. Your heart is in the right place. Thanks for the nice things you told the boy about his dad, and for not saying bad things about his mother. Kids love both their parents even when they don't understand everything going on.

 

[soFlaNative]

Keep doing what you do.
I was the dad on the street with the ball and glove, Frisbee, football, etc. and every kid knew they could help themselves as long as the stuff returned. Air in tires, chains rehung these kids kept me abreast of goings on in the neighborhood in exchange for a non judgemental ear.

Nice to see they remember enough as they have grown and have children of their own to stop by when they're around or still see around town. I figure today it's easy for any child to get confused even under the best of circumstances... too many mixed signals. Just be a stable point in a kid's life is worthwhile.

 

[RJJ 1971]

Think it's good that you try to be a friend to the boy.
Anything like that, in this day and time. Def ask parents first before going target shooting.
You can always remind the mom about her son being on your property. If she continues to be witch.

 

[Mickey D]

You did right in my book.
It's a shame the young man is stuck in the middle of two feuding parents. Never a good situation, especially when one is calling the other names (loser).
Keep up your friendship and be a good mentor. He will remember you the rest of his life.

 

[frankcr]

It is understandable that knowing the child hunted with his father you allowed him to shoot a handgun. By the same token, knowing now that the mother does not want him to do that, you need to respect her wishes.

Taking the boy under your wings and being a friend to him is very commendable. That is a pleasure to both of you.

 

[wbraswell]

You did right Jinglebob. The Mother must like you, or she would already forbid the son from seeing you. My own Mother might have taken that stance, although my folks were always happily married. She most definitely would have been mad, if it were about motorcycles. Just because she's an anti, doesn't mean she's a bad parent. Although calling her ex names where the boy can hear it, doesn't win her any points.

 

[cmort666]

I wonder what the "boyfriend" is teaching the kid...

 

[NYlakesider]

Being I was a NRA instructor and also did shooting instructions for the Boy Scouts I was careful about who I instructed. If the kids were children of members at my gun club and shooting at our facility and were taken there by parents (who waited in the upstairs club area all was well.

At Boy Scout summer camp (Overnight) we had to have signed paper work in order to let the kids shoot. CYA for sure. Got to admit our troop was from a decent working class suburb and they were not too many that had a problem with shooting,guns in general or teaching the kids good gun safety and marksmanship!

 

[johnbeaver]

You are a good man Jinglebob.
Just keep it up...
Easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

 

[Sconnie]

The boy loves horses. I’ve taught him how to handle a horse and we occasionally ride together. His mom has no objection as long as my wife or I ride with him and he’s on a gentle horse.

There ya go! You're half way there. Cowboy now, six guns later on when he is of age. Actually, I applaud you for opening up your life to let him in. I also suspect mom likes you or she would have put an end to the kid's visits. Who knows, someday she may come to you looking for advice on her first CCW if things keep going the way they are going. I know nothing about horses and I too wish I had grown up next to you.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Or what? What exactly is she going to do? Yell some more? There's nothing illegal there!

While the OP's heart was undoubtedly in the right place, and his efforts laudable, determining legality would be troublesome and expensive. Moms wishes are clear and must be respected.

TEX PE. CODE ANN. § 22.041 : Texas Statutes - Section 22.041: ABANDONING OR ENDANGERING CHILD(c) A person commits an offense if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, by act or omission, engages in conduct that places a child younger than 15 years in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment.

I'd hate to be forced to prove that the shoe does not fit, especially with a ten year old, although it being Texas might give you some slack.

 

[gtk]

Invite the mom & the son over, teach her to shoot too

 

[the ringo kid]

Jinglebob, as everyone else said, your a good man and positive role model. Maybe the mother will soon realise that her son will grow up and do what men do--manly things. My ex girlfriend Jenniffer has a 9 yr old son, and I taught him a few things about guns---which she approved. However, they moved about 20 miles away, so I don't see them often and enough to get her son back to the range. Her kid is another natural gunner.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

i would definitely talk to the father, perhaps he needs to sign some sort of legal document giving his approval.
A friend was stabbed in the back by his wife a few years ago, they're fighting over their daughter attending church-she had her throw away the Bible she was given by the church.

 

[rick1085]

Thank you Jingle bob for helping a kid grow up.
Lost my father at an early age. Had my uncle AL to teach me and take me hunting and fishing. That's a debt I could never repay to my uncle . So now when I take kids fishing and sometimes hunting I'm not just helping a youngster but also paying back uncle Al.

 

[Blowncar]

Try a different angle. Make a time for the mother to come over. Tell her you feel badly still and want her to know exactly what you taught her son. Put her through the same lesson, she might even go as far to shoot. I have taken a few anti gun people through this process. A few feel into the hobby and some didnt. However those who didn't at least learned to respect guns not fear them. Afterwards they kept their anti gun opinions to themselves.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Best to avoid all contact with the mom - she's out of control and desperately seeks to regain it through any means - she's unstable.

She sounds like the type that will do anything for a short term gain, no matter what it costs you or anyone else.

 

[keith44spl]

Sounds like the 'mom' lost out on two fine men, her husband and son.



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