When to introduce guns to children?

children i think must be told the safety and responsibility about guns from
an early age but under constant supervision. when is a matter of how mature
you think the child is at the time as a parent. Neil

"Ignoramus11065" wrote in message
...
How would you determine when it is appropriate to introduce children
to guns?

Obviously, the determinant of that should be maturity and
developmental level of the child and not some arbitrary age. But what
would constitute a child who is mature enough to be introduced to
guns?

What is a good way to introduce children to guns while at the same
time maintaining safety of that learning environment, and avoiding
injury or death.

I know some 12 year olds who hunt and seem to be relatively
responsible around guns, for example.

Would such introduction begin with BB guns at some earlier age? With
BBs, the "stakes" are a little lower in that an accidental shot,
however regrettable, does not end in death as often as an accidental
gunshot.

Do you take them to shooting places with letting them shoot, for some
time? (sounds like a bad idea). Do you hold safety classes with them
prior to letting them shoot, for quite a while, making sure that
safety habits are well drilled in? Any thoughts on this will be
appreciated.

i

"NEIL JAMES ASHBY" wrote in message
...
children i think must be told the safety and responsibility about guns
from
an early age but under constant supervision. when is a matter of how
mature
you think the child is at the time as a parent. Neil

"Ignoramus11065" wrote in message
...
How would you determine when it is appropriate to introduce children
to guns?

Obviously, the determinant of that should be maturity and
developmental level of the child and not some arbitrary age. But what
would constitute a child who is mature enough to be introduced to
guns?

What is a good way to introduce children to guns while at the same
time maintaining safety of that learning environment, and avoiding
injury or death.

I know some 12 year olds who hunt and seem to be relatively
responsible around guns, for example.

Would such introduction begin with BB guns at some earlier age? With
BBs, the "stakes" are a little lower in that an accidental shot,
however regrettable, does not end in death as often as an accidental
gunshot.

Do you take them to shooting places with letting them shoot, for some
time? (sounds like a bad idea). Do you hold safety classes with them
prior to letting them shoot, for quite a while, making sure that
safety habits are well drilled in? Any thoughts on this will be
appreciated.

All three of mine started shooting at age five - a boy and two girls, six
and
three years apart. My thought was, the earlier they knew exactly what
weapons are and knew their purpose, the less likely they'd ever consider
them toys.

The first few times, they'd sit in my lap and we'd shoot a pine 2X12 with
a .22lr revolver from about 15 yards. Next, they'd fetch the 2X12, "oooh"
and "aaah" over the nice, neat holes - then I'd have them hit something
with it as hard as they could (Well, the girls anyway, the boy got bonked
on the noggin with it - just like I did.. ) The lesson was "Which is harder,
the board or your body?" and "If a bullet hit you, what would happen?"

By age six, I could cover the kitchen table with a variety of weapons, ask
them "Without touching, which ones are loaded?" and *always* get the
response (with little eye-rolling) "All of them are, Dad." No fear - just
respect; every fall they saw what happened to living things that had the
bad luck to intercept a bullet in flight.

From then on, the lessons continued on a regular basis, wether they
wanted to go shooting or not. 200-300 rounds of aimed fire per session
with Dad looking over their shoulder (and the clean-up of range and
weapons that followed) took the "mystique" out firearms quickly.

By age 10, they went hunting with Dad, at age 12, they carried their own
weapons.

My oldest girl is the best shot of the three (so far), and if my eyes keep
going downhill, she'll be better than me some day.


CC

Here are some starting places for children and guns:

http://www.recguns.com/Sources/XIIIA1b.html

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...40046?v=glance

"Ignoramus11065" wrote in message
...
How would you determine when it is appropriate to introduce children
to guns?

In the US of A would that be when they can aim and hit teacher at 50 yards?
0

On 3 Dec 2003 21:59:17 GMT, Ignoramus11065
wrote:

In article , NEIL JAMES ASHBY wrote:
children i think must be told the safety and responsibility about guns from
an early age but under constant supervision. when is a matter of how mature
you think the child is at the time as a parent. Neil

What would be some indicators that he is able to follow safety
instructions properly? For example, it seems that when he can do
mechanical repairs of modest complexity, that would be a good
idication that his mind and attention are mature.

One clue is whether or not the child can learn, memorize,
*understand* and *obey* the four rules of gun safety. (Not just
parrot them back to you.)

If you start with BB guns then the consequences of accidents are much
less likely to be serious. (In my more cynical moods I think that
this is why the gun control lobby hates BB guns. Every accidental
child gun death increases support for gun control.)

Also remember that any group of children is much more foolish than the
most foolish member of the group. Just because your children can
individually be trusted with guns doesn't mean that they won't do
something stupid when they are with their siblings or friends.

That's why guns need to be locked away from children when parents are
not present. (There are exceptions to this. I knew one 16-year-old
girl who could have been trusted with an atomic bomb, not just a gun.)

--
Gun safety information:
http://www.tincher.to/

On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 09:27:02 -0000, "The Rifleman"
wrote:


"Ignoramus11065" wrote in message
...
How would you determine when it is appropriate to introduce children
to guns?

In the US of A would that be when they can aim and hit teacher at 50 yards?
0

Nahhh.

I started my grandson plinking at targets dressed in Brit uniforms.
That way he's ready next time we share a battle field with you guys.
I wouldn't want you disappointed.

G

Bob

Ignoramus11065 writes:

How would you determine when it is appropriate to introduce children
to guns?

Seems to me that as soon as you think that they might be able to
understand the Eddie Eagle program is about right.

As to taking them to shoot, sure -- as long as you're careful to make
sure that nothing bad happens if they forget about the safety rules.
(Using a long-barrelled gun rather than a pistol, for example, and
being always ready to grab it if the muzzle even starts to swing out
of line.)

The key to it all is redundant safety: making sure that they
understand both the Eddie Eagle rules, and the gun-handling rules, and
then being sure that even if they forget or ignore them, you're in a
position to make sure that nothing bad happens.





------------------------------------------------------------
Joel Rosenberg 612.824.3150
AACFI-certified MN Carry Permit Instructor and Certifier
BCA-validated Minnesota Carry Permit Instructor
NRA-certified Range Safety Officer, Pistol Instructor, Home
Firearms Safety Instructor, Personal Protection Instructor
http://www.ellegon.com/homepage.phtml
(Reverse disclaimer: actually, everything I do or say is utterly
supported by Ellegon, Inc., my employer. Even when I'm wrong.)

Nahhh.

I started my grandson plinking at targets dressed in Brit uniforms.
That way he's ready next time we share a battle field with you guys.
I wouldn't want you disappointed.

G

Bob

Ah so your Grandson is going for a career in the USAF eh, better start
showing him pictures of Airbuses full of pilgrims, and ski lifts full of
Italians ? )))

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 12:32:53 -0600, Bob G wrote:

On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 09:27:02 -0000, "The Rifleman"
wrote:


"Ignoramus11065" wrote in message
...
How would you determine when it is appropriate to introduce children
to guns?

In the US of A would that be when they can aim and hit teacher at 50 yards?
0

Nahhh.

I started my grandson plinking at targets dressed in Brit uniforms.
That way he's ready next time we share a battle field with you guys.
I wouldn't want you disappointed.

You have no granddaughters? ;o)
Sue

G

Bob

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 20:31:40 -0800, Robert Sturgeon
wrote:

On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 19:09:31 -0000, "The Rifleman"
wrote:


Nahhh.

I started my grandson plinking at targets dressed in Brit uniforms.
That way he's ready next time we share a battle field with you guys.
I wouldn't want you disappointed.

G

Bob

Ah so your Grandson is going for a career in the USAF eh, better start
showing him pictures of Airbuses full of pilgrims, and ski lifts full of
Italians ? )))

I have to agree with Bob G. When I get to help train my grandson to
shoot, I'll have him plinking at pictures of Redcoats, our true
enemies - if one can go by messages posted by you and likeminded
British ingrates.

And if you have a granddaughter? ;o)
Sue