What age

[NSP]

I was hoping to get some advice from the parents out there. My son is already 5 years old and I'm wondering at what age you guys recommend you start the child on guns, safety, marksmanship etc.

Thanks

[AMS MIKE]

I will tell you one thing from my personal experience. I am in my early 20's and I have been into this hobby for about a year or so. I wish I was introduced to it when I was much younger, like 10-13 years old.

It's no longer a part time hobby, its now apart of my everyday life.

[ChrisG]

Originally Posted by NSP

I was hoping to get some advice from the parents out there. My son is already 5 years old and I'm wondering at what age you guys recommend you start the child on guns, safety, marksmanship etc.

Thanks

Now!!! Especially the safety part. The NRA publishes an "Eddie the Eagle" series geared towards gun safety for children.

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by ChrisG

Now!!! Especially the saety part. The NRA publishes an "Eddie the Eagle" series geared towards gun safety for children.

Eddie Eagle Safety Program

[AuburnHunter]

I think a lot of it depends on the maturity of the child.

My oldest child is 3 and we have already started gun safety talks. Nothing too serious, just stuff like never touch a gun with out asking mom or dad first, always keep it pointed in a safe direction, never point a gun at a person, etc.

When asked "what do you do if you see a gun?" she says "STOP!, Don't Touch, Leave the Area, and Tell an Adult".

When she gets older I plan to start her with a BB gun, and work our way up to .22

Personally I think 5 is a good age to start with gun safety and BB gun practice. If he does well with that, then move up from there.

Here is a link that I think has good advice for starting a young child:
Cornered Cat - The First Lesson (Kids and Gun Safety)

[Bombard]

Mine is 4. At three she knew the 4 rules of shooting - and really understood what she was saying. We've recently had the discussion about toy guns, and why she may not play with them (other than super soakers). In another 6 months or so we'll start touching only with mom or dad there, and leave and tell an adult if she sees one. Unfortunately she'll go lawyer on me - but what if I see one that a policeman has? What if there's one on TV? - so it's going to be a long conversation.

I have a child size air rifle for her, and even though she's tall for her age it's still too large. I'm guessing she'll have another 2 years or so. After that, there's a special order Henry Mini-Bolt - stainless single shot bolt 22 - in the closet. The serial number is her initials and birthday.

[DVSmith]

Depends on the child. When you can trust them to follow instructions and they are big enough to handle the gun you are planning to let them use. My boys started out with BB guns. I seem to recall it was about 5.

[NSP]

This is great advice. My mom never let me have toy guns due to her previous marriage being to a guy who would threaten and torment her with real ones.

My dad got me a bb gun at 10 but I never had any formal safety training till I was 14 and in boy scouts. So my history is less than perfect and I'm really interested on what kind of guide lines are out there.

[DVSmith]

The BSA standard for Cub Scouts:

Youth members of Cub Scouting are permitted to participate in the shooting activities named in here only.

Archery and BB gun shooting are restricted to day camps, Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camps, council-managed family camping programs, or to council activities where there are properly trained supervisors and all standards for BSA shooting sports are enforced. Archery and BB gun shooting are not to be done at the pack level.


Cub Scouts are not permitted to use any other type of handgun or firearm.

BSA is pretty conservative. Proper supervision is a NRA Certified Basic Rifle Instructor and (I believe) National Camp School (essentially policy and general safety and first aid training).

Cub scouts start at first grade. I only bring this up as comparative info for you.

[1buba]

Our two daughters are 19 and 18 now. They were both handling the guns at about 3. I have a theory - if something is secretive kids will want to explore. Make it as common as paper and it won't stand out.

Anthony is seven, we got him when he was 3, and put a gun in his hand the day he came to the house.

The girls didn't start shooting until 7 and 6 - maturity issues.

Anthony has been shooting a bit ever since he was 4. Not for accuracy or anything. I basically helped him hold the gun and point it in a safe direction, then pull the trigger. Kind of like gun training a dog. lol

At 7, he's really pretty good with a 10/22 from the bench. However, there are a LOT of kids much better than he. They have dads that know how to teach them. I really need to get him in a program of some sort.

All of my kids were safe handling a real gun by the time they were 6. However, it has been REALLY hard to teach them to handle the toy guns (plastic, lightweight, the kids know they can't shoot) with the same regard.

My biggest problem is that Anthony's attention span isn't as good on some days as others. Usually it is the length of a gnat on the days I REALLY need trigger work. But that is what happens with kids. I try to remember that - though I don't always do so well.

He's hammering me now to take him hunting - he can't figure out why he sees pics of little kids in the South part of the country shooting deer and he can't even shoot a squirrel...

[JandJDude]

I'm also in my early 20s and have been shooting since I was bout 7 or 8. I was always allowed to play with toy guns but the difference between toys and the real thing was always different and not to be touched unless my dad was there.

I got my own Winchester lever action .22 when I was about 12 and still it's my favorite gun to shoot. I never shot any firearm without my dad present until after I graduate high school and moved into my own place in Irvine.

Either way, it really is up to you based on how responsible and mature you think your child is but it's obviously it's the best way.

When I used to work at Grant Boys we sometimes had married couples come in looking to get a gun for home defense but were concerned about their small children. I always told them the worst thing they could do is hide the guns and keep their children ignorant. If you make something taboo or a secret, kids are naturally going to want to know about it on their own and that's when accidents happen.

[akulahawk]

Originally Posted by 1buba

Our two daughters are 19 and 18 now. They were both handling the guns at about 3. I have a theory - if something is secretive kids will want to explore. Make it as common as paper and it won't stand out.

Anthony is seven, we got him when he was 3, and put a gun in his hand the day he came to the house.

The girls didn't start shooting until 7 and 6 - maturity issues.

Anthony has been shooting a bit ever since he was 4. Not for accuracy or anything. I basically helped him hold the gun and point it in a safe direction, then pull the trigger. Kind of like gun training a dog. lol

At 7, he's really pretty good with a 10/22 from the bench. However, there are a LOT of kids much better than he. They have dads that know how to teach them. I really need to get him in a program of some sort.

All of my kids were safe handling a real gun by the time they were 6. However, it has been REALLY hard to teach them to handle the toy guns (plastic, lightweight, the kids know they can't shoot) with the same regard.

My biggest problem is that Anthony's attention span isn't as good on some days as others. Usually it is the length of a gnat on the days I REALLY need trigger work. But that is what happens with kids. I try to remember that - though I don't always do so well.

He's hammering me now to take him hunting - he can't figure out why he sees pics of little kids in the South part of the country shooting deer and he can't even shoot a squirrel...

That's because some squirrels have a longer attention span and know that it's generally safer to be behind the muzzle instead of in front of it.

[1buba]

Originally Posted by akulahawk

That's because some squirrels have a longer attention span and know that it's generally safer to be behind the muzzle instead of in front of it.

hahahahahahahaaaa.

[Bombard]

Originally Posted by JandJDude

I'm also in my early 20s and have been shooting since I was bout 7 or 8. I was always allowed to play with toy guns but the difference between toys and the real thing was always different and not to be touched unless my dad was there.

I was too. But that was back

a) before there were very realistic Airsoft guns around - and people play shooting them at each other and

b) before Glocks.

I have a PM40 that looks and feels much more like a toy than a real gun, and I'm saving up for a S&W 340 that's the same way.

When I was a lad my toy guns wood and stamped tin. Dad's guns were steel. Now it's all plastic, real or fake.

As some point I'm sure I'll be teaching the kids muzzle control with a bright blue plastic training pistol. But the point, even then, will be always follow the 4 rules.

[EM2]

Originally Posted by 1buba

I really need to get him in a program of some sort....

The NRA has the "NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program".
Marksmanship Qualification Program

This is a structured program which takes you through any number of firearm related disciplines from beginner to Distinguished Expert level.

My middle child recently attained the Distinguished Expert level at Handgun Qualification.(At age 14)

I started each of my three girls shooting at the age of 8 years old. They have a little better attention span than a typical boy. One problem we had was their small hands and short reach. Rifles with bolts proved to be tricky, as they initially lacked the hand strength to operate the bolt regularly.

I did buy a Henry Minibolt .22 single shot which helped a lot. The Minibolt is small and operates easily.

I also started them on handguns with a Ruger Bearcar .22 single action. (fun to shoot even for adults ).

I believe that children should be taught about guns as soon as practicable depending upon maturity. The more we get firearms training and familiarity into the mainstream the better. These kids will grow up one day and be voting, so it is in our interest to have them on our side.