carebear
Member
And, having owned both, will probably grow up to be a moderator trying to keep a lid on the "AR vs. AK" threads. 
What to tell a child about pointing toy guns at others?
- Thread starter GunGoBoom
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entropy
Member
I too was raised playing War with neighbor kids, although I always borrowed toy guns, or used sticks because my father would not allow any toy weapons. I fired my first round at 5, and had my 'own' guns by 10. I did know the difference, and the 4 rules were literally beat into me until I could recite them from memory before I was allowed to hunt.
I have not been so harsh with my sons, they both were eager to learn the rules before they could shoot. My younger boy, who's 7, had to learn "Be sure of your target and beyond" the hard way, costing me a rear window in my Bronco, and him the ability to sit for a while, as well as being sidelined from shooting for a month. But he is very careful now, and knows even a BBgun can do damage. My boys are out in the yard 'playing Army' as I type this; what's great is that they are working together, defeating a common, invisible, enemy. (Usually the Germans in Stalingrad, they've seen 'Enemy at the Gates' one too many times, I fear.) They use sticks, as I am also strict on toy guns; heck my 11 year old has a collection of real ones some of you guys might envy! He also claims about half of mine, because he can shoot them well. (It's genetic, ask my Dad! )
They are never too young to learn the Four Rules. Start them early, make it fun, and stress safety. Then, sit back and watch them become riflemen and women.
I also made my 11 year old memorize the Rifleman's Prayer before he could fire my milsurps.
This is my rifle.
There are many like it, but this one is MINE.
My rifle is my best friend. It is my life.
I must master it as I must master my life.
My rifle without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless.
I must fire my rifle true.
I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me.
I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will...
My rifle and myself know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire,
the noise of our bursts, nor the smoke we make.
We know it is the hits that count. We will hit...
My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life.
Thus, I will learn it as a brother.
I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights, and its barrel.
I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage.
I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready.
We will become part of each other. We will...
Before God I swear this creed.
My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country.
We are the masters of our enemy.
We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until there is no enemy, but PEACE.
BTW, he wants to become a Green Beret.
I have not been so harsh with my sons, they both were eager to learn the rules before they could shoot. My younger boy, who's 7, had to learn "Be sure of your target and beyond" the hard way, costing me a rear window in my Bronco, and him the ability to sit for a while, as well as being sidelined from shooting for a month.
But he is very careful now, and knows even a BBgun can do damage. My boys are out in the yard 'playing Army' as I type this; what's great is that they are working together, defeating a common, invisible, enemy. (Usually the Germans in Stalingrad, they've seen 'Enemy at the Gates' one too many times, I fear.) They use sticks, as I am also strict on toy guns; heck my 11 year old has a collection of real ones some of you guys might envy! He also claims about half of mine, because he can shoot them well. (It's genetic, ask my Dad! ) They are never too young to learn the Four Rules. Start them early, make it fun, and stress safety. Then, sit back and watch them become riflemen and women.
I also made my 11 year old memorize the Rifleman's Prayer before he could fire my milsurps.
This is my rifle.
There are many like it, but this one is MINE.
My rifle is my best friend. It is my life.
I must master it as I must master my life.
My rifle without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless.
I must fire my rifle true.
I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me.
I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will...
My rifle and myself know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire,
the noise of our bursts, nor the smoke we make.
We know it is the hits that count. We will hit...
My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life.
Thus, I will learn it as a brother.
I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights, and its barrel.
I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage.
I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready.
We will become part of each other. We will...
Before God I swear this creed.
My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country.
We are the masters of our enemy.
We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until there is no enemy, but PEACE.
BTW, he wants to become a Green Beret.
Mauserguy
Member
Kids are smart, they can tell the difference between pretend and the real thing. I would want to be sure, though, that they have a proper respect for firearms. Maybe take them out, when they are big enough, and let them shoot your biggestfireball making rifle you have. Give them a good scare, and a healthy respect.
Mauserguy
Mauserguy
bigun15
Member
Oh my gosh, a thread I can really talk on!!
I'm 15 so sometimes I feel a little bit left out on some things. I'm here for the education about guns. But there is airsoft talk here, and I know that quite well.
Yes, airsoft will hurt. Some shots more than others. The shot to my tooth hurt worse than the one to my butt. A paintball mask is an excellent idea, but I heard in here about clear guns. Big no-no for the airsoft community. First, they all break very quickly. No big names company makes clear guns (99% of the time). But as long as you are responsible with them, there's no need to be forced to buy clear ones. I have a black M9, and I've only been confronted by cops once because of airsoft and he was really cool about it(no I didn't break any law). I guess this isn't totally the most appropriate place for airsoft talk, so if you're still interested, go to www.airsoftretreat.com a popular airsoft forum.
I'm 15 so sometimes I feel a little bit left out on some things. I'm here for the education about guns. But there is airsoft talk here, and I know that quite well.
Yes, airsoft will hurt. Some shots more than others. The shot to my tooth hurt worse than the one to my butt. A paintball mask is an excellent idea, but I heard in here about clear guns. Big no-no for the airsoft community. First, they all break very quickly. No big names company makes clear guns (99% of the time). But as long as you are responsible with them, there's no need to be forced to buy clear ones. I have a black M9, and I've only been confronted by cops once because of airsoft and he was really cool about it(no I didn't break any law). I guess this isn't totally the most appropriate place for airsoft talk, so if you're still interested, go to www.airsoftretreat.com a popular airsoft forum.
Feanaro
Member
Playing cops 'n' robbers ain't no fun if you can't "shoot" at each other. I think it's fine to allow the kid to play at shooting people if he can recognize the difference between fantasy and reality. If he can't, you have bigger problems than just gun safety. But you could still work in a little something. Would a cowboy(police officer/soldier/SEAL) point his firearm at someone who isn't part of the battle? Or at a friendly? After all, he is the good guy. He ain't 'spose to hurt those people, just the bad guys. The good guy would follow rule 2, 3, and 4. And all cowboys(police officers/soldiers/SEALs) know you aren't supposed to put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to fire, right?
Now Airsoft is another story. You can hurt someone who isn't wearing a mask/goggles. And they sting. That would require safety equipment and more supervision.
Now Airsoft is another story. You can hurt someone who isn't wearing a mask/goggles. And they sting. That would require safety equipment and more supervision.
bigun15
Member
We never have parent supervision at our airsoft wars. No need. What are they going to do for a bunch of 15 year olds? When you get hurt from a shot, you use your masculanity to get through it.
Well, I'm not sure I totally agree with Mauserguy, (the '06 was way too much for me at 12) but kids respond to instruction well. Playing was lots of fun, but while I had lots of toy guns as a child, it was always a totally different world from the genuine article. In some ways I preferred my plastic "Johnny Tarheel" SMG because I could run around the yard with it, and not have to be responsible, but there was a very clear distinction between play time and serious adult world responsible time, where I always had my father or a shooting coach standing over my shoulder, and felt the pressure to do everything as though I were a small adult. A toy gun was always a toy shaped like a gun, and much much more toy than gun. I think it's probably not so very hard to make most children understand that, especially given the difference between supervised range shooting with eyes and ears and running around the yard with the squirt gun.
In retrospect, NRA Junior Rifle was a big part of that, since safety rules were strictly enforced, and as a very young man I truly craved my instructor's approval. I was entirely capable of drenching my dad with the squirt gun and water baloons on weekends, while appreciating that actual fireams were a totally different animal. It's all about good teaching.
In retrospect, NRA Junior Rifle was a big part of that, since safety rules were strictly enforced, and as a very young man I truly craved my instructor's approval. I was entirely capable of drenching my dad with the squirt gun and water baloons on weekends, while appreciating that actual fireams were a totally different animal. It's all about good teaching.
Feanaro
Member
I got the impression we were not talking about teenagers but children. I'd think the rules operate a little differently. Though teens generally don't seem much more trustworthy. I have intimate and unbiased knowledge, being one myself.
My father took apart a 20 gauge shell when my brother and I were only a little more than knee-high to the proverbial grasshopper. Even lit the powder on fire for us. I made the connection and that knowledge(Plus a strong desire to continue eating solid foods. My father is/was a little like Bill Cosby's father in the comedy sketches
) made me shy away from touching the shotgun when I shouldn't have.
1911 guy
Member
"When I was your age..."
Actually, I'm only in my thirties now, buy as a kid, there were no toy guns. We played cowboys and indians and cops and robbers, buy with "improvised weapons". I never even owned a BB gun until the last year. As a kid, Dad said kids do dumb stuff with them they'd never do with the real thing. When I was 8 or 9 I got a 20 ga. H&R, paid for it by mowing grass. Penalties for pointing anything that closely resembled a firearm at anyone resulted in drastic measures from Dad and Grandpa. WWII and 'Nam, no funny business allowed.
Actually, I'm only in my thirties now, buy as a kid, there were no toy guns. We played cowboys and indians and cops and robbers, buy with "improvised weapons". I never even owned a BB gun until the last year. As a kid, Dad said kids do dumb stuff with them they'd never do with the real thing. When I was 8 or 9 I got a 20 ga. H&R, paid for it by mowing grass. Penalties for pointing anything that closely resembled a firearm at anyone resulted in drastic measures from Dad and Grandpa. WWII and 'Nam, no funny business allowed.
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