The only reason I ask is I was thinking about buying my nephew a .22 Rifle for Christmas. His dad is a hunter and he wants to be just like his dad.
Ive spoken with My sister and his Dad and they agree that would be a perfect gift for him.
His Dad has a gun safe and of course it would stay locked up. He would never get the chance to use it without his fathers supervision.
Without telling you his age when is the right time age wise? Is it the sooner the better or should I wait?
2006-10-06 09:21:58 · 11 answers · asked by Theandysullivan 3 in Games & Recreation ➔ Other - Games & Recreation
I'd say 12's a fair age. But some kids are quicker at figuring things out so that age could be as young as 8 if (s)he's a prodigy.
2006-10-06 09:24:46 · answer #1 · answered by Tones 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I come from a hunting family my self. My son who is 9 now got his first rifle at 8. He was old enough to name the parts of the gun and listen to the rules and repeat them. He wasn't allowed to learn to shoot it until he could take the class to shoot it. Which they do make one for younger children without such big words. So if he can read and recite the parts of a gun and the rules go for it. It's locked up and he won't know how to get into it to use it unsupervised so that's a plus. As far as teaching gun safety to a child, immediately if one parent owns a firearm. We have them in the house here and we bring them out and discuss the dangers and what to do if you see one lying around. This is a must! They really do respect the weapon if they are taught to. It's not a toy and should be talked about very seriously. If this has already occured or will be when he gets his rifle then go for it. They love hunting here and it's a family thing. Good luck
2006-10-06 09:31:38 · answer #2 · answered by Baby girl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was taught to shoot before I could walk. I won the NCAA pistol championship in 1974. Never have I had a shooting accident. You are talking about a .22 rifle. Due to the long range of a rifle, age becomes a very big issue. I was given my .22 rifle at Christmas of my 7th grade. That was one month before I turned 12 years old. But, I already had a shotgun. I was given it when I was 10. Before then, I used one of my father's or grandfather's guns while hunting or shooting. These ages are what I recommend for a boyor girl who has a shooter in his/her life: 9-11 for a small shotgun, 12-14 for a rifle. Hope this helps.
2006-10-06 09:47:25 · answer #3 · answered by William T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gun safety and awareness should begin once they are able to understand and comprehend their native language. I'd say around the age 5 or so. As for shooting a firearm, I think that should wait until at LEAST the age of 8. Even a .22 will leave a bruise at that age. Of course, this is only my opinion.
2006-10-06 09:31:58 · answer #4 · answered by HappyApple 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think any age is too young to begin to teach about gun safety. As far as the appropriate age to own and fire a gun, I would say around 10, depending on the child's maturity. Also, will he be hunting or target shooting? I only ask because it takes a higher maturity level to cope with the taking of an animal's life than it does to put a hole through a piece of paper.
And good for you for being a responsible uncle!
2006-10-06 09:34:07 · answer #5 · answered by Christina D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got my first BB gun when I was 9. My dad treated it like it was a real gun. We cleaned it and kept it locked up with the big rifles. This was a really good way to start out because I could learn about gun safety with a non-lethal weapon.
I got a .22 when I was 13 and a shotgun when I was 15.
2006-10-06 09:33:46 · answer #6 · answered by Who_Dey_Baby? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it quite is a confusing concern. My kids have had complete get entry to to all the firearms in the homestead because they were born and it develop into not in any respect a topic. once you've some thing like a .40 5 ACP with a heavy cringe spring, i'd anticipate that you would possibly want to get your little ones attentive to and to be threat-free with firearms earlier they could pull the slide again. i'd say in simple terms leave it without a round in the chamber. it could be swifter to pull the slide again than to remove it from a threat-free or remove a collection off lock. an option determination might want to be to keep the firearm with the slide locked again and carry the magazines with you. A CCW let might want to be the perfect.
2016-12-04 08:29:27 · answer #7 · answered by embrey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In our State kids under the age of 8 are considered too young to have a gun, but I think it's never too early to teach safety. Talk about the dangers and get them respecting the equipment as soon as they can understand it, and then it will be a fun sport that they respect as they get older.
2006-10-06 09:35:03 · answer #8 · answered by Elisabeth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gun safety should be taught as early as possible, for instance, don't point the gun at someone, always have the safety on when you're not shooting it etc. it's good to understand it when you're young, same way with swimming and stuff like that, better to learn when you're young.
2006-10-06 09:34:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
12-14 if he alert, and safety minded?
2006-10-06 09:24:51 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋