It was evident that Joey had not been raised around guns and never received proper parental instruction about never playing with guns and never even touching them without an adult around. It wasn't Joey's fault. Nell should have instructed him properly if she was going to have the Chief's gun in the house. I'm surprised the Chief didn't talk to Joey about it. Of course the Chief never paid much attention to Joey. It didn't matter what Joey did really. The Chief loved his own daughters, and Joey was always Nell's kid and not his. The Chief only took Joey in because of Nell. He had his family. I'm sure when the three girls were little that the Chief talked to each of them and warned them never to play with his gun or go near it when he wasn't around. I'm sure they knew they'd be in for a whipping if they did. The Chief liked Joey okay, but he never treated him like a son.

It was evident that Joey had not been raised around guns and never received proper parental instruction about never playing with guns and never even touching them without an adult around. It wasn't Joey's fault. Nell should have instructed him properly if she was going to have the Chief's gun in the house.

Children are naturally curious and sometimes parents don't think. As Nell states in the ending, it was both of their faults.

All I am going to say on this subject is that I find the comments by both posters on this thread to be very interesting food for thought!

All I am going to say on this subject is that I find the comments by both posters on this thread to be very interesting food for thought!
My point was that probably nobody ever sit down with Joey and talked to him about guns. I can easily picture the Chief sitting down with his three girls when they were little, showing them his gun, and telling them that guns are not toys. I can see him telling them that it is people that kill people, but guns kill people when people are stupid as to a gun's use. I can see him telling them that in his job as a cop it is necessary for him to carry a gun and why. I bet he explained to them what guns can do and what their purpose is because he knew that like most children they would be curious. I bet he particularly worried about Samantha wanting to play with it. Katie and Julie were probably not that interested, but I can see Samantha sneaking into the closet and looking at it. I'm sure the Chief had to promise punishment if this ever happened. I'm still on the fence as far as my views on spanking, but I can see where a couple of licks with the belt is nothing compared to finding your kid shot.

My point was that probably nobody ever sit down with Joey and talked to him about guns. I can easily picture the Chief sitting down with his three girls when they were little, showing them his gun, and telling them that guns are not toys. I can see him telling them that it is people that kill people, but guns kill people when people are stupid as to a gun's use. I can see him telling them that in his job as a cop it is necessary for him to carry a gun and why. I bet he explained to them what guns can do and what their purpose is because he knew that like most children they would be curious. I bet he particularly worried about Samantha wanting to play with it. Katie and Julie were probably not that interested, but I can see Samantha sneaking into the closet and looking at it. I'm sure the Chief had to promise punishment if this ever happened. I'm still on the fence as far as my views on spanking, but I can see where a couple of licks with the belt is nothing compared to finding your kid shot.


Thank you very much for all of that interesting incite!

Thank you very much for all of that interesting incite!
LOL, I don't know if you're being facetious or not.

LOL, I don't know if you're being facetious or not.
He's constantly complaining that people don't post in his numerous Gimme A Break threads, and then when someone else posts a new thread,, he really doesn't contribute all too much. He's only interested in his own threads. That's why he's constantly bumping up his neglected threads from years ago. :lol:

My point was that probably nobody ever sit down with Joey and talked to him about guns.

Talking is wonderful. A locked gun box is even better. I can understand what you are saying, but many times children are told not to do things repeatedly and they do them anyway. They don't have the self-control that an adult does.

The chief kept his gun in a strong box in the living room closet. All the kids knew it was there. He probably should have hidden it somewhere else.

The chief kept his gun in a strong box in the living room closet. All the kids knew it was there. He probably should have hidden it somewhere else.

In the episode mickrobatt is referring to ("The Gun"), the box is unlocked in one of Nell's bedroom drawers. Joey finds it when Nell sends him into her room on an errand.

In the episode mickrobatt is referring to ("The Gun"), the box is unlocked in one of Nell's bedroom drawers. Joey finds it when Nell sends him into her room on an errand.
OK, I haven't seen that particular episode yet. I'm still on season three.

OK, I haven't seen that particular episode yet. I'm still on season three.


I believe that the episode that they are referring to is from season five. It is less than a year after the chief has died. It is when the show is first starting to go downhill but still not quite as bad as after the move to New York.

In the episode mickrobatt is referring to ("The Gun"), the box is unlocked in one of Nell's bedroom drawers. Joey finds it when Nell sends him into her room on an errand.
Nell's negligent for leaving an unsecured loaded gun around a child. But I haven't seen the episode yet, so I'm speculating.

Nell's negligent for leaving an unsecured loaded gun around a child. But I haven't seen the episode yet, so I'm speculating.


If you are already up to season four, then you are very close to this episode. After you have seen it, I will be very interested in what you think.