Dear Mensch: My 16-year-old son recently stayed for a week at the country home of a friend (also 16) in a rural location where they used guns to shoot at cans in an open field, unsupervised by an adult. I am horrified by this lack of oversight by the friend’s parents and would like to confront them. I am also tempted to call the police in their town to let them know of this unsupervised gunplay. Am I overreacting? — Jen
Dear Jen: You are not overreacting. When it comes to guns and kids, you can never be too careful. However, there some variables to consider.
First, were they shooting handguns or rifles? Laws governing the use of rifles by minors, with and without supervision, vary by city and county.
You are perfectly within your right to express your concern to the parents and demand that any shooting engaged in by your son be conducted in an authorized area with adult supervision, ideally at a professionally staffed range.
You can also insist your son not use guns at all when in their care. However, California law prohibits the possession of a handgun by a minor — period. If they were using pistols, call the police.
Dear Readers: On Sept. 13, a week before Rosh Hashanah, more than 70,000 groups (such as classrooms, workplaces and Kevah groups) will be participating in the fourth annual Character Day. In a shared experience, participants will explore, through short films and exercises, the development of character and its higher attributes such as empathy, humility and bravery.
In other words, menschhood!
Character Day is the creation of Bay Area Emmy-nominated filmmaker and lecturer (and all-around mensch) Tiffany Shlain. To learn more about Character Day, or to sign up, visit letitripple.org/character-day.
Additionally, Mensch highly recommends his readers take 10 minutes to view Tiffany’s online film “The Making of a Mensch,” a charming, entertaining and thought-provoking look at Mussar, a Jewish but not exclusively religious movement focused on ethics and morality. And its usefulness in the pursuit of being a mensch.
It’s not illegal for a 16-year to possess a handgun with their parent’s permission. Period. Don’t call the police, talk to the parents.
ARTICLE 1. Possession of Handgun [29610 – 29615]
29610. A minor shall not possess a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person.
29615. Section 29610 shall not apply if one of the following circumstances exists:
(a) The minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves this use of a firearm.
(b) The minor is accompanied by a responsible adult, the minor has the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(c) The minor is at least 16 years of age, the minor has the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(d) The minor has the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, the minor is on lands owned or lawfully possessed by the parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
Yes, it is an over reaction. If I read the post correctly, it seems that the parent was aware of what goes on in the home prior to his son staying there. 1) The conversation with the parent should have happened prior to the son staying there 2) If knowing this the parent still chose to let the son stay at the house, it seems like the parent gave implied consent 3) Gun owners are generally very responsible people, so I am sure the son was given proper training prior to operating the gun.
Would the parents be just as furious if the child rode a horse unsupervised? Asking because the chances of getting injured by improperly riding a horse (or simply falling off a horse when riding properly) are FAR GREATER than getting hurt by property operating a firearm.