At what age do think it is OK to teach Gun safety to a child?

Question

My husband and I are really argueing over this he wants to start teaching my son who is 8 how to handel a gun I think this is way to young.

Just common sence stuff I guess he wants to make sure that he knows about guns, what they are for, due to the fact that he has Guns that are locked up in a safe, but he recently told us he saw one at a friends house.

Answer 1

Let's see...would you rather you child pick up a gun at a friends house with no knowledge of firearms or would you rather he understand the basics of firearms and no not to do certain unsafe things.

That should answer your question. Teach children early to respect guns and be safe.

Answer 2

Gun safety and using a gun while are the same somewhat are also different. Any age is alright to teach a child gun safety and not to play with, and consequences etc. Actually using a gun is a whole other story. Maturity plays the biggest role in when a child should handle a gun in any way. If your child is too young and becomes facinated after being allowed to touch it and hold it, may decide to do so on their own without regard to consequence. You know your child best, is he still playing shooting games and pointing his fake gun or fingers at living things for fun and "shooting" them? if so you may reconsider this. Maybe you should do some research on the internet and find articles and info on accidental shootings and deaths because of younger children playing with guns, maybe this would change his mind.....i am in total agreement with you. Some things are just too tempting for kids of any age let alone a child who couldn't possibly fathom what could happen and what does happen from improper handling and use of guns.

Answer 3

I started teaching gun SAFETY to my daughter at 5. Just the basics. Explain what a gun is, never to touch one, always come to mommy or dad if they see one, every gun can kill, etc.

At 8 I started safe gun handling and shooting lessons with a BB gun. Later she graduated to a .22.

She went on her first hunt with me at 10 and loved it. We have spent many days outdoors and developed a good bond. Hunting has brought me close to my kids and I am happy about that, specially when I see so many lost kids running around that have no respect for the environment, parents, school, etc.

Now she is 16 and spends more time with her friends and text messaging, and music, etc. but the bond is still there.

I used the same time line for my son, he is now 8 and just received his first .22 rifle. I hope to develop the same bond with him.

Teach your children about guns at an early age and before they become a statistic. If you don't they may learn the wrong things.

Answer 4

We've had locked guns in our house ever since my daughter was around. We let her know what they were as soon as she could understand and told her that it was not safe for her to touch or look at without her dad around.

She went hunting for the first time with daddy last year (8 years old) Although, daddy shot the deer...Jade was there to see the results of the kill and understood that by shooting the gun in the direction of the deer, the deer no longer lived.

I think it will be another 3 to 4 years before she'll get the opportunity to shoot the gun though.

Answer 5

Actually, if you are going to have firearms anywhere near your son, the sooner the better. My son is 11 and has been shooting with his father and I on many occasions. We started teaching him how to set the safety and know when a gun is loaded and unloaded at about the age of 5. Of course our firearms are always locked in the safe, and there will never be a time when he could touch them without us there, but at least I know he won't get hurt or hurt someone else because of curiosity.

You should consider having your son take a hunters safety course, he will have to really study and pass a test on safety with firearms.

Answer 6

Well in my opinion and experience the child should be taught as soon as he or she can comprehend. I am 19 and I was taught to respect all firearms and I fired my first rounds out of a .22 rifle when I was five. The gun is not something to be feared it is something that should be respected at all times even if its a BB, pellet, air-soft, or even a paint-ball gun. The more people understand them the better off they will be. If you are going to teach someone about firearms safety or you just want to be enlightened then go to the NRA website to pick up a few tips.

Answer 7

I hate to disagree with you, and I certainly respect your feelings. However, I gotta tell you that my father brought me up with guns and stressed gun safety all the while. I've got a .22 cal. rifle with my teething marks on it. That's how young I was when I first started being around guns. He bought me my first rifle when I was eight, and we spent many memorable hours hunting together. He's now passed away, but every time I handle a gun or go hunting, I think of him. Call it bonding or whatever you like, but many times I feel his presence even now when I'm out hunting. My simple answer would be yes. It's never too early for your boy to learn gun safety. One day he'll look back and be thankful for the times he shared with his dad. I know I am..

Answer 8

If you have guns in the home - it's never to early. Less likely to have an accident.

Are we talking how to operate and use it to go out and hunt with? or just common sense stuff so they don't think it's a toy? Because if I were a hunter - I'm not sure I'd want an 8 year old in the same woods as me. Sorry - I just wouldn't.

Answer 9

It's never too early to teach children about guns. The sooner they know how to treat guns safely and with respect, the less likely they will be to use them recklessly later in life. Your son doesn't neccesarily have to be shooting them every weekend, I think your husband is more concerned about your son being able to know the safe way to handle guns. It really depends on how mature he is. If you think he is mature enough to understand why gun safety is important, then I see nothing wrong with it.

Answer 10

I learn at 12 from my dad I agree with you a gun is a big responsability theres also gun courses get the child a bb gun so he can learn the basics with out hurting anyone