[bratch]

Should you buy a friends child their first gun as a gift or wait for their parents to buy it?

Parents are pro-gun.

[pax]

Ask the parents.

Ignore any "aaawwww, you shouldn't do that ..." noises and instead listen for "... but I wanted to!" or "...well, our family tradition is ..." type noises.

pax

[22-rimfire]

How old is the child? It must be quit a friend.

[glockman19]

Lots of questions. How old? Revolver or rifle?

Perhaps It's best to invite them to a shoot and let the little guy/gal shoot a couple of .22's and see what one they enjoy the most then ask the parents if they wouldn't mind you getting one for them.

Family tradition will dictate alot. Mayber gramps wants to hand down the first rifle to the youngster?

JMHO

[bratch]

Ask the parents.

I was kind of wanting to surprise them.

well, our family tradition is

Aren't any that I know of. No living grandfathers on his side.

How old is the child?

Unborn. Was planning on a single shot 22 for when he gets a little bigger.

It must be quit a friend.

Hes a pretty good guy.

[kingpin008]

From my standpoint - If anyone does anything for my child, they had better come to me about it first. While I fully intend to introduce my children to guns, the guns my children come in contact with need to be approved by me or my fiancee first. I can see how a friend would possibly want to buy one for my kid, but I don't think it's appropriate for it to be done before the child is even born, and certainly not without me knowing it.

I'd ask them what they think, because while it may be a welcome suprise, they also may take it very, very wrong. Also, being that the kid isn't even born yet, maybe they'd appreciate a more appropriate gift that can be used sooner, like a car seat or a crib. Shooting is a huge part of a family, but some things have to come first.

[Neo-Luddite]

If you buy it now or in the near future, it's a gift for the parents like a baby shower gift is.

[tank mechanic]

My first child is on the way and it means the world to me to be the one to buy him his first rifle. I would be royally ticked off if some one beat me to it. I bought my little brother his first rifle ( my parents were never going to get around to it and I talked to them before hand about it) and I made him work for it. It made him appreciate his rifle and he wouldn't have had the respect for it that he has now if I had just given him one.

[HellsBelle]

My best friend has two girls and they never took an interest in guns at all until I got their momma into shooting about a year ago. I don't have any children (and don't want any either).

Two weeks ago the older girl (about 7) saw a PINK BB Gun in a store and now she's dying to have it. I'm not above buying it for her for her birthday (September) but I'm pretty glued to the idea that she needs some sort of safety class BEFORE we let her shoot it the first time. There just needs to be some understanding about what this thing does before I buy.

I think her parents are okay with her having it but there will be rules and some understandings.

[nezumi]

As above, ask the parents first. As a parent, I would be displeased if anyone bought my child a gun (assuming the child is under 18). However, gun training and lessons are always welcome ;)