At what age should kids be allowed to learn to use a gun?

Question

My husband thinks kids should learn as early as possible so they have a healthy respect for guns. I'm not sure yet. I think 12 years old is a good age to teach a kid how to shoot. What do you think and why?

Answer 1

I do think that the earlier you start teaching your kids to have respect for guns the better. We live in an area where there is a lot of hunting, so most people I know have guns. I think it depends both on the age and the gun. My husband is teaching our 10 year old to shoot. He has been shooting a BB gun since he was about 5. From that he moved to a shotgun last year. I think if your husband knows a lot about guns and he has a healthy respect for them himself then you can go with what he thinks. I know that my husband has some guns that our son won't be shooting for a while because they are too big for him and kick too much.

Answer 2

Between 7 and 12. By 7 they have a pretty good grasp that killing somebody is wrong. If you don't think they are ready at that age, just wait until you see a bit of maturity and go from there.

There isn't a thing wrong with teaching a child how to use a gun. They learn responsibility, true life responsibility at that because they are handling something that has the possibility to hurt someone if not used properly. It is also the parents job to keep the guns locked up and not teach the child a safe combination until they are 18 or so. If your child shows signs of being a bit on the dark side, I would rethink teaching them.

Also...my family is redneck (one side anyhow) and we all learned to shoot at about 6 or 7 years old. My cousin David has about 12 rifles. They hunt downhome so why wouldn't you? We also knew we'd be knocked senseless if we ever screwed around with the weapon.

Answer 3

I grew up in a household where learning about the safety of guns was necessary at an early age (my dad is a hunter). I am the oldest of 4, and my dad started to teach me, my sis and my 2 brothers about guns as early as about 4 years old. My brothers are now 15 and 21 and have a great respect for guns, and how to handle them appropriately.

I think the earlier the better, even if you don't own a gun (your child's friend's family may have guns in their household, and therefore, your child should know what to do when they come in contact with one.)

To everyone who keeps saying that we shouldn't teach our children how to shoot a gun: that's not the point. We are teaching our children to RESPECT guns, to understand what they are, and to use them properly.

Answer 4

Kids can have a healthy respect for firearms without actually using one. I wasnt allowed to fire a weapon until I was 12 years old and took a hunters safety class.
I dont think age limits are the solution, but I do think different kids hit different points of maturity at many different ages, and this should be considered.
My husband was first brought out with a .22 rifle at 8 years old.
I think that when they are mature enough to take the class, pay attention, care about others safety, and abide by range rules, they should be allowed. However any horsing around or irresponsibility on the range means they should wait until they are older.

Answer 5

Never. I believe in gun control. I'm sitting here trying to think of a good reason as to why I believe children should not use guns and the only thing that keeps popping up in my mind is when I was 10 and I had to. go to my brother funeral because his friend accidently shot hom in the face in our back yard. My brother was 16 and his friend was 15(the friend was so upset by what he did that he killed himself, they were buried side by side). I guess if you feel the need to teach your children to use a gun than I'd say wait until after high school. you should know that both my brother and his friend knew how to use a gun. I'm sure they didn't think it was loaded. It's the only time I ever saw my father cry because he was the one who taught them both how to use a gun. They too had respect for the gun. Please do what you feel is right for your family don't let anyone myself inclued tell you what do to. I'm just venting I guess. Just be careful please.

Answer 6

i got my first shotgun at age 10...we had a big farm, and lots of guns around...in practically every corner of the house was three or four loaded rifles and/or shotguns.

we knew what they were for, and what they WEREN'T for...by being around shooting all the time as natural as driving a nail or pushing a wheelbarrow, we didn't see guns as such a big deal...it was a tool to get a job done...

we each had our favorites. mine was my daddy's BAR that he brought home from WW2. now dad's gone, and i still treasure and cherish this rifle, because it meant so much to him.

teach you kid what the gun is to be used for, and when it should be left alone, and make sure none of his empty-headed friends EVER get access to it...that's when tragedy can strike.

the poster above me said " drunk hillbillies kill..." sorry, goofy...but there are more gun murders committed by city-slicker thugs in one day than every drunk redneck in a year!

Answer 7

It is important to have a respect for guns BUT each child is different and you can teach a healthy respect for an item without using the item itself. For example would you teach your child to have a healthy respect for sex by having them have sex with someone?

Answer 8

I agree with Joyce. I don't think it's necessary to teach kids how to shoot a gun. How different would Columbine be today if those kids never learned to shoot a gun? I think the responsible thing to do is teach them that guns are bad and not to have them in the house.

Answer 9

My daughter started with a B.B gun at 7. She is 9 now and wishes to learn to shoot a real gun (in a controlled setting of course). I suppose it all depends on the maturity level of your son.

Answer 10

In England we aren't allowed guns till 18!