Those who had weapons when they were younger ...
 

If your parents didn't have any, how did they react?

Mine seem to think I'm some sort of future psychotic mass-murderer just because I've got a few sets of throwing knives, a bamboo staff, and some Airsoft guns.

When I lived with my parents, I always kept anything remotely hazardous secured and locked, and my younger siblings knew not to snoop around or they'd be in for a world of hurt.

Well, I'm still living at home, and I've started collecting knives, including a couple khukuris and a (functional) katana. They are fine with it, but my grandma is convinced that someone is going to break in and cut my entire family to ribbons! Her husband is an avid hunter too, go figure. :rolleyes:

Now guns on the other hand...I think my parents would flip if I bought a gun. I may have to wait until I'm out of the house to get myself the guns I'd like.

I had a huge knife collection when I was a kid, including throwing knives and swords, archery equipment, pellet guns, sling shots, and was always making spears from sticks and knives tied together.

Parent even bought me most of the knives for presents.

They were always supportive of it, they just made sure I was using them safely. Which I sometimes wansn't. The pellet guns got confiscated lol.

Well I guess I'm void here, because my dad had alot of guns and I used throwing knives, so he really didn't mind.

when I was a kid, it was Maniditory that I learned to shoot a gun safely!
As for knives.......My dad didn't see them as weapons, but a basic tool.
A folding knife is as important as keys, and a wallet.

My family has always had guns. My first firearm was purchased for me while my mother and I were still in the hospital after I was born. I had to prove that I was responsible enough (and big enough) before I could actually shoot it, but it was mine nonetheless.

Gun safety was ultimately paramount, and responsibility was the watchword for all activities involving firearms. My kids are being raised the same way.

I have a huge sword collection and my dad thinks they're awesome but my mom is convinced that i'm going to get drunk and have sword fights. I actually think she'd be better if i bought a gun.

I had a .22 rifle at six years old, but no toy guns whatsoever. The line between toy and weapon was very clearly drawn in my household.

I grew up with katanas, but it's family/cultural tradition. I don't think it ever crossed my parents' minds that I might use my training to slaughter innocent bystanders.

I still haven't told my mom that I have anything bigger than a Swiss Army Knife. She thinks that any knife that can be opened with one hand is a switchblade, and even a paintball gun is out of the question because it's too messy, too expensive, and too dangerous. I'm 19, and she still acts like this.

I have around ten knives from Remington, a switchblade, a butterfly, three pellet guns, an airsoft gun, a crossbow, and three paintball guns. She doesn't know a thing about any of them. With a parent this protective, I can't even let her find a zippo in my room. The sword on the wall that I claimed I got for 40 (actually $105) is OK becuase it's "just for decoration." I use the sword as part of my exercise routine.

Grew up with pocketknives, had family guns in the basement. I was a boy scout, so I had pocketknives. Once a year, our troop would have its rifle/shotgun camping trip. We would shoot .22 target rifles and skeet shotgun. We learned how to handle a gun at an early age. They were not used often, but we knew how to handle them safely.

I've got 11 firearms so far (12 at the end of the month) and a large bunch of knives, but my parents doesn't really care. They trust me, that I'll handle my weapons correctly... eventhough I'll never forget my father's face, when I brought home an M1 Carbine (not really legal in Denmark anymore) :p

I started out as most kids with a pellet gun when I was about 11 or so. I quickly moved up to a beeman air rifle with a scope and brought havoc to the birds around my house. By the time I was fifteen I had a 20 gage mossberg and pheasant hunted with my father regularly. He taught me endlessly about saftey with firearms....always. At sixteen I had a marlin 30-30 with scope and shot my first deer that year. Now, I have many guns and pistols and teach my two boys about saftey with guns (red-rider), they are 6 & 9 and whenever they shoot the "red" its all about being safe.;)

I got a .410 double barrel for my 10th birthday so that I could learn how to shoot and, more importantly, do it safely. When I was 11 or 12, they bought me a pellet gun so I could run off into the woods behind my house and plink. That is actually where I learned marksmanship. I used to set up cans and see how far back I could go and still hit them. At one point, I was able to consistently hit a can from about 40m with iron sights. I also used to work on my reflexes, setting up cans, and seeing how fast I could go from a safe position (gun facing ground and safety on) to hitting the can. That practice actually paid off pretty well--my first time skeet shooting I hit 13/15 of the skeet.

My dad and grandparents are avid hunters. I had a single shot crack barrel .22 at age 8. Then got a .410 and 12 Guage. Later had a compound bow that I only ever used for target practice. At 15 I received a semi-auto .22.
I have quite a large collection of daggers, swords, flails and other Medieval weapons. Most are only decorative but many are functional. Some I have made myself. My parents are completely cool with it in fact last Easter they gave me a Claymore :)