My son keeps buying guns- is it my place to tell him to stop?

Question

My son is a senior in college and is involved in the Air force ROTC Program. He unfortunately picked up a bad habit from his military training: gun collecting. My husband and I are both very anti-gun and never allowed him to watch violent movies or play violent games. I would like to tell to stop, but since he is an adult and does not live in my house, I'm not sure if i can do so and expect him to obey. I can't tell him to stop on the grounds that I pay for school, since the Air force pays. Can I tell him to stop? Is there any reason he is doing this?

Answer 1

Sure, you can ask him to stop.  He can simply say "no", but at least you've let him know where you stand.

Ask him if he has locks on the guns and are they stored separate from the ammo.

Whether you approve or not, guns are legal in this country.

Answer 2

well i myself collect guns and have for many years gone to places to compete in shooting matches,for me its very relaxing to go to the shooting range,having said that its not because i like to release my anger or stress using a gun.i was also raised in a house where my mother would not let me play with toy guns or anything but as i got older i talked of how i wanted to one day join the military and now i want to join a S.W.A.T team for law enforcement and shooting is a skill i need to learn the fine details of and it has also made me have more respect and patience and i have had 3 people in my family have set shooting records at 1000m yards so that's how i got into shooting.if you trust your son i dont think that you should worry about him owning guns,i have at least 30 or more.

Answer 3

It is your right and your responsibility to raise your child to the best of your ability so that he will be the best person he will be.

If you believe that this gun collection is a potential threat to him or the people around him, then it wouldn't matter if he was fifty years old, and proven to be more successful and more intelligent than you in every way.

Yeah, it's your place to tell him to stop.

However, he is a man. You're right. He must live his life and make his own decisions about what he does.

On a personal note, I don't believe that gun collecting is necessarily a bad habit. Remember that he is one of the most pro-gun camps around: The Military. A good understanding and appreciation for guns in a world like that may help him in his career and his social life and his general ability for learning and advancing, even if he never fires a single bullet.

Be sure that your concerns are for him and not for your personal values.

Answer 4

he doesn;t like in your house,

then if he is at age he can do what he pleases i feel

he knows the wrongs and the rights on gun control since he is in the rotc,

he is a man that is what they  

Answer 5

I have a friend that does the same thing. I think that you could tell him how you feel, but don't look forward to him stopping. He has found a hobby. Because you have raised him up anti-violence I think he wil lbe responsible with his guns. That is exactly the way my friend is.

Answer 6

If you don't pay for college and he doesn't live with you than he should be able to do what he wants to.  You can tell him anything you want to, but don't expect an ROTC to listen to you.  

I live in Texas and have my shotgun loaded at all times.  It stays put unless I feel the need to use it.

Answer 7

Maybe he just likes collecting guns. If he is in the airforce then i am sure he is well trained on how to handle guns. As long as you don't think he is doing anything stupid with them or going to harm himself then leave him alone. I know alot of people (including myself) he have guns for protection and hobbies. My mother in law hates the idea of one being in the house but my husband and i basically told her to stay away if she didnt like that. Be careful what you say to him you dont want it to come down to that. He is a grown man!

Answer 8

You have no right to tell another adult not to exercise a constitutional right.  You have the right of free association therefore you can stop associating.

Marie

Answer 9

I think by your strong anti-gun stance you made guns seem even MORE appealing to your kid. Maybe dad could go target shooting with him to show solidarity -- quite harmless, you know. It's an Olympic event.  

Answer 10

Whats the harm,I mean he is allowed to have interests out side of what your into isnt he,smoking pot is a bad habit,collecting guns is not

Answer 11

He might just really enjoy the guns, some are truly works of art weather you are anti gun or not. It is also an interest in keeping with his R.O T.C. education.

In keeping with that, your son has learned how to handle and store guns safely.

It sounds like you raised a pretty good kid and now he is an adult. If your son is doing well, and is a stable person then it is just a hobby he enjoys and my best advice on that is to let him be the man you raised.

He may have some different views but that just means you two get an A+ as parents because you raised an independent thinker. Unless he has some mental or emotional problems that would make him an unsafe person to collect guns, just be proud of him and let him be himself, gun collecting and all.

I don't like handguns at all but I live in a rural area where almost every home has a rifle. I can say it is a lot of fun to go to the shooting range and do target practice.

I am a pacifist also but living where I live I have learned to adjust to being around guns.

I am so far in the sticks that you need one in case you go face to face with a bear or other wild animal inside your house..

I am in Nor Cal and we have had a lot of very dangerous, confused ,misplaced animals in our area due to excessive fires.

We have been very lucky so far but there is a very real chance this year of that kind of home invasion happening.

Answer 12

Sure, you can tell him, but he's an adult now and is exercising his Right to Bear Arms.  If he's not living with you, I don't really think there's much you can do about it.  But talk to him anyway - what can it hurt?  Maybe he just likes to collect guns.  Hopefully he keeps them in a locked case with the ammo locked up elsewhere.  All you can do is talk to him as a responsible adult and see what he says.  It's better than him collecting kiddie p**n, isn't it?