Don't worry about anything you read here. 99.999% of the folks will try to help you or at least try to make you laugh about the situation. Your son is very fortunate to have a dad that wants to teach him to hunt and give him a rifle. That's worth way more than any gun will be.I'm fine with that. I don't let things people say get to me. Yes I know it was stupid for my husband to lend the gun out, yes the friend was dumb and irresponsible for leaving it behind, obviously my 8 year old can't shoot the gun yet by himself but none of that is the point. I'm doing what I can to hopefully recover a gun that my son one day would go hunting with and that is rightfully his. Not whoever took it upon themselves to pick it up and not turn it in at the ranger station or to the police. I'm fully prepared for anything these guys want to dish out.