Children and guns

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thriftyjoe

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At what age should children be introduced to firearms?

When should they be brought to the range for practice?

Share you experience or opinions of firearms with children in 2 areas:

1. technically; what age and ability will children be efficient with firearms?

2. emotionally; why introduce "fear" and the harsh realities of the world into their lives?

P.S. i'm not asking about safety it's a different subject
 
Age will very with each individual child and parental decision.
My opinion around 8 – 10 yrs. old they should be good to go shooting with proper supervision; “fear” is not the word I use at all.
Emotionally each child will be a little different but as a parent you’re not introducing fear – you are educating them so that they can be smarter and safer. Fear comes from what you don’t understand, if my children understand what firearms are and how to behave appropriately and safely around them they should not fear firearms.
 
I was introduced pretty early, I remember my dad teaching us about firearms about as soon as we were coordinated enough to work a lever action;) I know that by the time I was six I could work lever and bolt actions and check to see if a rifle was loaded. My dad spent a lot of time teaching me about how the rifle worked, how to work the action, and to make sure it was unloaded before I ever got out to the range. We had an open door policy about guns too. If we wanted to look at the guns, all we had to do was ask and my dad would bring them out. When I had a friend over, i didn't need to go snooping for guns behind my dad's back because I could always just ask.

I was shooting my dad's winchester lever-action .22 for sure by the time I was six. I was gifted my first pellet gun I believe when I was seven, possibly eight. By this time I was well aware of all the firearms safety instructions, and I understood that guns weren't toys. Fear wasn't part of the teaching, I understood what would happen if I didn't keep a rifle pointed inthe right direction, but we were not taught that guns were for shooting "bad guys". Guns were for shooting at the range and for killing deer. Education is really the key, as well as maturity level. You can't give any old seven-year-old a pellet gun and say "have fun", but if you work him up to it after a few years of teaching and practice, there's no reason to not start them out young. Teach your kids, and they'll learn. It's up to you, however, to make sure they understand what they're doing before you turn them loose with anything.
 
It depends on the child and the relationship with the parent. Use your parental instincts to determine if you should allow the kid to shoot guns.

I was introduced to guns at age 13. My parents bought me a 20 gauge 870 remmington. I still remember the first time i shot it. I was under the impression that 20 gauges were weak, womanly firearms and its nothing. The first time i shot it, feeling the kick and observing the big hole i just shot out of a bed mattress was a very sobering experience. Then my dad took me at least once a month to shoot trap and skeet, which was a LOT of fun. I got good enough with the gun, that i still shoot it better than any over under double barrel 12 gauge when it comes to skeet and trap 10 years later.
 
2. emotionally; why introduce "fear" and the harsh realities of the world into their lives?
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No need to "introduce fear"

Just teach them how to safely enjoy guns. You can fill them in about the other stuff later, or just wait for them to learn it on their own.
 
I started my oldest girl at 5 years old, she showed responsability even at that age. My twin girls are 7 now and I plan on starting them this spring, they are a bit more, lets say reckless, but are starting to understand a bit better about how dangerous guns are.
 
I went with around 8 years old for both of mine. It started with them realizing that I had guns and we talked through the whole safety aspect and the rules keeping it pretty basic and remembering that repetition is the key with kids and in fact for most of us adults.

Then they would start to go to gun shows with me occasionaly and that is where each of them got their first airsoft guns and we began the practice there again keying in on the safety aspects as the most important things.

Then they would come to the range with me (outdoor) and I would let them shoot their airsoft guns while I shot my rimfire and centerfire. All the time continuing with the talks about safety but also introducing the site picture training as well.

At a point they showed the interest in shooting something that I was shooting and we again covered all the safety aspects and they started with 22lr but I quickly realized that the guns I was using were not suitable for them as they were too heavy (for example a S&W22A with a 7" barrel, a 617 revolver with a 6" barrel) so I started searching for a smaller gun and bought both a Walther P22 and a S&W model 34 2" barrel. These were just right for them and have served to be good trainers for both of them and as good trainers for both revolver and semi autos.

Then we started graduating up to 32 S&W long for a little more power, and 32 acp in a semi auto, then to 380, then to 9mm in a semi and 38 special in revolvers. Keeping all the loads as light as possible as they started out.

My son at 14 just shot his first few cylinders of 357 magnum and his first few magazines of 45 ACP a couple of weeks ago.

As we started out and changed calibers I always loaded only one round in the cylinder /magazine for the first few times they shot a gun until we were both sure they were comfortable with it then we would load them complete.

We also always started at 7 yard distances so they had a fighting chance of hitting what they were aiming at and closer if necessary to build up their confidence. There is no reason to start them back 25 yards with a pistol as you will quickly lose their interest.

During this time they have also started shooting some rifle as well starting out with a Remington 522 with iron sights in 22lr and now they are both shooting either the GSG 5 or the S&W M&P 15-22 and they are loving those (both scoped). They consistently eat the center out of the target at 25-50 yards with either one.

I also involve them in the cleaning of the guns so that they can begin to build an understanding of how things work and that you have to take care of things. I started doing this on other projects as well such as changing the oil in the cars, any building or remodeling project, as if they don't learn it at home either I will always be on call to help them out (which I secretly look forward to) or they will have to pay someone to do everything for them which is not how I want them to function once grown.

The other things I noticed along the way are that they may not always want to shoot when we go to the range an I don't force it. In fact my daughter at 13 loves to go and just read a book while I enjoy shooting.

It has also given me a chance to teach them about situational awareness and for them that is just about being aware of your surroundings, we leave Walmart or any store/restaurant and I will sometimes ask now where did we park the car just to see if they understand what I am talking about. I am not trying to make them paranoid just aware of what is going on around them.

I know the thing I enjoy most about it is spending time with one or both of my kids!
 
Depends on the kid... only you can decide. I started my nephew on a .22 rifle at the age of 6. I will likely start my daughter when she turns 5. I also picked up an airsoft pistol to get them used to shooting a handgun early. Probably won't let them shoot the real handgun until they are about 8.

As for teaching them "about guns" and self defense, I don't think its ever too early to start that.
 
A few months ago I took out my 8 year old and let her shoot for her first time my Sig Mosquito 22LR. But months back, I was already teaching her how hold and aim a pistol, and teach her basic safety as in keeping the finger off the trigger and pointing th egun downrange. She completley understands the danger of the firearm.

The first shot, of course threw her off a bit. But I was surprised at how good a shot she was. She was making a swiss cheese out of the pumpkin about 5 yards away.
 
thriftyjoe said:
At what age should children be introduced to firearms?
Click to expand...

As soon as they become curious about them.

thriftyjoe said:
When should they be brought to the range for practice?
Click to expand...

As soon as they're mature enough to understand and follow the rules of safety.

thriftyjoe said:
Share you experience or opinions of firearms with children in 2 areas:

1. technically; what age and ability will children be efficient with firearms?
Click to expand...

It depends on the child. Usually 8-10 years old if they're smart and raised right, sometimes earlier if they're genuinely precocious, and for some people preferably never. :)

thriftyjoe said:
2. emotionally; why introduce "fear" and the harsh realities of the world into their lives?
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I wouldn't want children to be so blissfully unaware of the very real dangers that surround them that they would do something dangerous or trust people that they shouldn't trust. They live in reality, so it's never too early to teach them about it--not everything all at once, just what they need to know to keep themselves safe. I prefer real safety over a false sense of safety.

Regarding firearms, what does fear have to do with it? There's no reason to fear firearms themselves, and being proficient with firearms gives us less reason to fear anybody else.

thriftyjoe said:
P.S. i'm not asking about safety it's a different subject
Click to expand...

What is there besides safety to be concerned about? If guns weren't inherently dangerous when mishandled, then we could let toddlers play with them unsupervised.
 
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When my son was in kindergarten I contacted the NRA Eddie Eagle Program for material for the entire class He received a BB gun for his 6th birthday his marlin 22 bolt action rifle at 7 now he is seventeen his collection runs the gambit from that original BB gun to Remington 700 in 308 win he now knows how and when to shoot He has become an outspoken proponent of firearm owners rights and firearms safety in his school and at his jobs
 
My daughter at 7:

Teaching-1.jpg

She'd been shooting for four years by then. That's a 629 with .44 Specials. I think her form is excellent in this picture.

But my kids can't compete with Miko Andres: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSYCQC4D7KU

Kids are more capable than most folks give them credit for.

-Sam
 
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All of my children were raised with guns in the house, several on a gun rack, unloaded and unlocked. As soon as they were young enough to comprehend, I taught them to fear my wrath more than the guns. They learned the safety aspect first. When they were about 10 years old I started them on a .22 rifle. I'm sure they were ready sooner, but I wasn't. None of them have ever been nervous around guns.
 
My dad taught me NOT to fear guns at the age of six. He taught me how to handle and shoot. He showed me what they are capable of and that they are not toys. That was perhaps one of the most valuable lessons I have learned in my intire life.

2. emotionally; why introduce "fear" and the harsh realities of the world into their lives?

I'm not too sure why you do not want your child to know about the reality of the world. I guess buying violent video games and letting them retire to their rooms in seclusion is better?


"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud

"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it". Albert Einsein
 
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We had an open door policy about guns too. If we wanted to look at the guns, all we had to do was ask and my dad would bring them out. When I had a friend over, i didn't need to go snooping for guns behind my dad's back because I could always just ask.
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Same here! I didn't feel like snooping because I could always have my Dad show me his shotgun. If a friend asked, and my Dad wasn't home, I didn't go snooping, I just said, "When my Dad gets home he'll show it to us!" I found that my curiosity was satisfied, and my Dad taught me the valuable lesson of always treating a firearm like it's loaded. It made me feel "grown up" to have my Dad showing me his gun, and I got to show how "grown up" i was by being responsible with it. The safety rules were the main focus of bringing out the shotgun to show me, always.

As best I recall, I was around 9 or so when he first showed me it. I had some difficulty operating it, namely pulling the trigger and opening the chamber - more a strength thing than anything.

I don't remember any fear of it, as the purpose of showing me wasn't about "harsh realities" of the world or anything. It was just that Dad had a gun, and he was showing me how it worked, how to be safe with it, and that if you're not safe with guns they can be dangerous and hurt you or others around you.

I don't remember if i asked to look at his shotgun, or if he took the initiative, but it was a very special moment for me when he first showed me it, and how to operate it.

Unfortunately, he sold his shotgun some years back while I was in college :( It was a semi-auto Remington of some sort. He has made reference to a long-slide .45 many times, so I think he may get himself one sometime :) Or, it would be one heckuva gift from son to Father...
 
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With regard to the fear of firearms, there's a difference between fear and respect. It's natural to fear things that one knows nothing about because there could be danger involved, and for the sake of safety that's a good thing. But if children and people in general are taught how to properly handle firearms and develop the proper respect toward them, then there is no reason to fear them. It's not any different for any other device capable of inflicting grievous injuries, such as automobiles, and I doubt that most experienced drivers approach their vehicles with fear and trepidation every morning when they drive to work (maybe there's some fear of other drivers, but not of their own vehicle).
 
I don't remember what age I fired my first gun, but I'm pretty sure was around 7 or 8. Guns weren't big in my family, but they weren't a mystery. I was 5 the last year I lived in LosAngeles, and my father had to sit out front with his pistol so I could play out front. We were having problems with the kids in a gang a few houses up.
I introduced my kids to fire arms as soon as they were able to under stand what they were. I bought my son his first 22lr Marlin last Sept, on his 10th b-day. I tried well before that, the the wife wouldn't let me. My daughters, 7 annd 5, have been shooting with us the last year or so. I've taken them all to the range the last 2 to 3 years. They have fired my 22 rifles, and pistol. My son can handle my P11, and my 7 yr old has fired it. They understand the responsibility that come with fire arms and the dangers they can pose.
I believe the more you keep things a mystery to kids, the more curious they will be, and be more apt to go about finding out about them by thier selves. Which can be very bad depending on what it is. My kids understand what purpose guns serve, that they are in the house, that I CC, and know that they are not toys or to be messed with. they also know to stay put in the house or thier rooms when they see me coming out of my room or un-holstering and rushing outside. They know there is a varmint or something that needs to be dealt with, and to stay put and out of the way, until I give them an"All clear"
 
...first put a gun in my son's hands at five...he's 22 now and serving us in Iraq...second son at five...he's twenty now and serving us in Iraq...third son at five...he's 16 and holding the fort at home...with his big brother's .P90 and his Mini-14 and his 10/22 with 50 rds Stingers...
...went from this is a real gun...never point----to when to shoot and where to shoot and when not to...in short I've taught them everything I learned by 60 in compressed sessions...my youngest knows more about guns than I did by 30....all three started with Ruger .45s and don't know that they're hard to shoot...don't tell 'em, OK?!!!

...no fear...they can handle and well the tools that stare fear in the face without blinking...they know the laws and where they stand...oldest's carry permit arrived after they deployed...middle one's P90 will be waiting for him when he comes home...youngest wants a MilSpec SS Springfield and we're waiting for it to come in...they know 'em and love 'em...and will stand against evil if it shows its ugly head...glad Texas is a no-retreat state cause these boys wouldn't anyways!!!!

...L I F E introduced fear into them...9/11...threats of school attacks...drug-related shoot'em'ups a block away...it's up to us to teach them how to deal with the fear!!!
 
i started my son and daughter with a .22 when they were 6. i'll start my oldest grandaughter this summer (she'll be 6.5). i plan on starting the remaining 2 grandaughters and grandson when they are 6 as well.
 
I coach 4H Shooting Sports, and take kids at age 8. Some aren't quite ready, but usually come around with a lot of careful coaching. Pistol kids usually have a year of rifle before I take them. I'm trying to teach my granddaughter at age 5, but she's really not ready, but I'm keying on the safety rules with her. I dont worry about her messing with guns, because she knows better.
 
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