Should kids take up shooting as a sport?

[Mike OTDP]

Shooting is a fantastic sport on several levels.

First, shooting is a sport for the average person. Most sports require a freakish body if you are to excel. Basketball players must be freakishly tall, football players freakishly large, etc. Shooters? All it takes is discipline and perseverance to make your way to the Great Big Dance - the one held every four years.

Second, shooting is a sport for a lifetime. In most sports, you're washed up at thirty. Thirty-five at best. Shooters are just hitting their stride at that age. Remember, the oldest Olympic medalist was a shooter - a 74-year-old shooter.

Third, shooting trains the character in ways that will last a lifetime. You learn mental discipline and focus that will serve a lifetime. No other sport does as much.

 

[stickhauler]

Well, Believe It Or Not....

Back in my youth, they actually had firearms classes at most schools. Should a child take up shooting as a sport? Certainly, as a matter of fact, shooting skills could land them a scholarship to college if they demonstrate an ability for the sport. It is an Olympics sport as well. I'd rather have my child honing his or her shooting skills than learning a lot of other athletic sports.

 

[gunsandreligion]

Most of my experience, both as a kid and with kids, has been very positive, but I must admit that there are people of all ages who are not and likely never will be capable of safely handling a firearm.

Thats one of the reasons kids shouldnt play violent video games some will think you can shoot anybody and can be extremly dangerous with a gun.

 

[flrfh213]

my 9 year old loves going to the range, i bought him his own 22lr and it sits in MY gun safe, but he does better with range safety than some adults i have seen there. he loves the smaller pistols i allow him to shoot, 22, 357 (38 rd) 9mm sometimes but he and the range officer get along well and they chat about safety and guns too...

so i vote yes teach your kids to shoot...

 

[Frank Ettin]

I've help coach our club's Scholastic Clay Target Program trapshooting group -- kids from 10 to about 17. It's been a great program and it's great for the kids. Here's a nice local newspaper article on the program: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20050709/ai_n15831214/