Anxiety Over 6 Year Old Learning Handguns...

[danez71]

danez71, Yep, you did come across just as a bit "snarky"

I was a very open-minded educator and do listen to other folks' point-of-view, but having worked with people as long as I have, I know that folks don't change their opinions all that much,especially if that have a "passion" for what they believe. Indeed, most gun owners do have a "passion" for their guns and who should have them.

The OP was referring to his six-year-old daughter shooting a 9mm or .45 semi-auto. Yep, I'm pretty close-minded to that being OK. She simply is too young to handle a "real" center-fire semi-auto. Gun safety is something that should be taught to any child that lives where there are guns in the home (outside of the home too) Guns are a "fact-of-life" in our country and I'm fine with that. For a six-year-old, a bb gun under careful supervision...sure. Work from that to a .22 rifle. Work into handguns in the pre-teens...maybe. My daughter was shooting a single shot .22 rifle at about age ten...under my careful supervision.

This has been quite thread, hasn't it? Lots of "passion" seems to have come out and needless to say my opinion is in the minority. So be it.

I truely didnt mean it to be snarky. I have 3 relatives that are teachers and 1 more thats retired after 40+ yrs.

I sincerely didnt intend it to be and tried not to be.

When you word it the way you did just now, I tend to agree with you. I suspect a lot more people will to.

I had a BB gun at about 7 and a 22 bolt rifle at 8. I didnt get a 22 semi auto rifle until about 13 or 14.

 

[tguil]

We're good. Thanks

 

[Sam1911]

The OP was referring to his six-year-old daughter shooting a 9mm or .45 semi-auto. Yep, I'm pretty close-minded to that being OK. She simply is too young to handle a "real" center-fire semi-auto.

However, this all hinges on your definition of "handle." I've described elsewhere my procedures for teaching my own children to shoot. At young ages, this is not asking or allowing them to truly "handle" either the power or the responsibility of the weapon. Merely allowing them to sit in my lap, have their hands on the gun under mine, and press the trigger themselves to experience the sensation of the shot. (And maybe even the joy of an accurate hit, if I can do my part right.) FWIW, my daughter was very interested in shooting when she was quite young, and her second experience with this was ripping through a full mag of .45ACP, as fast as she could pull the trigger, when she was THREE. Obviously, I was doing all the work, and had all the control, but she sure had a huge grin on her face!

That evolves very slowly as they mature until maybe by 6 or 8 they can fully support the weapon themselves and develop their own sight picture and break the shot on their own -- with my hands mere inches from theirs and me maintaining control of muzzle direction and all other gun-handling functions. .22s are great for this, as many of them are made smaller and fit little hands well. But there's no hard and fast rule that says all kids must stick with .22s. Just as with big people, noise and blast, and the jump of recoil, bother some and just entertain others.

Work into handguns in the pre-teens...maybe.

Ironically, my kids were interested in "shooting" (at whatever level of participation) long before they had the stature to handle even a kids-sized rifle. The smaller size of handguns can make them an easier teaching platform that a longer, bulkier long gun.

 

[NG VI]

I don't believe anyone suggested that he give his daughter total unsupervised access to any weapon, but that appears to be what you're opposed to.

What does it matter what design of weapon she uses at (insert arbitrary age here)?

A bow can kill a human.

A centerfire rifle of any type can kill a human.

A rimfire rifle of any type can kill a human.

A centerfire pistol can kill a human.

A rimfire pistol can kill a human.

A shotgun can kill a human.

An air gun above a certain threshold can kill a human.

None of these objects require any more care than the others, they are all in the same class, that is, dangerous weapons. All of them need to be treated properly, all of them require adult supervision until the child has proven through years of getting it right that they can be trusted to shoot alone once in awhile, none of them do anything but send projectiles towards targets.

Whether it's a self-loader, revolver, or single shot gun, it makes absolutely no difference, they must all be treated with the exact same level of care and respect.

So why do you single out the guns the OP happens to own as being totally unsuitable for a kid to learn on? Yes a .22 rifle would be easier to start with on everybody, but he doesn't have to load his pistol with .45 Super, there are literally dozens of companies making low-power target loads for both of those calibers, and neither is all that difficult to begin with.

She'll do fine if he can drop his anxiety and treat her like a young person, someone who depends on him to teach her the right way to do things, and trusts her to get it right herself.

I know you think people cling to their preconceived notions, but you haven't made a single actual attempt to explain why you feel the way you do on the subject.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Sam, didn't your daughter come to my 1st Inaugural Flag Raising Ceremony at the O'Donnell Homestead last September and fire off her muzzle-loader with the rest of those assembled for the salute?


As I recall, she was more anxious over "standing there with the MEN" and looking bad than actually raising the smoke-pole to her shoulder and squeezing off a round in salute.

 

[Sam1911]

Heh, yeah, she fired the .58 flintlock. Next to John H, I think.

In 18th century period costume, no less.

She's a little unusual in some ways. Wish more kids were unusual like her (in some ways ).

 

[CAVHOOAH]

My boys both got their first rifles (.22) at the age of four. Before that they learned basic safety with a daisy. If they can retain safety with a daisy,....they are ready.

Just recently a 14 year old shot an intruder at his home as he hurried his siblings up a flight of stairs. He ran in his fathers room, and grapped a pistoll he knew was loaded...and dispatched the intruder with one shot. His accomplice (a woman, who initiallly knocked on the door) fled. Without that boy KNOWING what that firearm was for, and that it was ready to go, the situation would have been much worse I suspect. Its your duty, although yours are a little young for that scenerio, to tech your children to handle firearms safely AND effectively. To understand that these firearms are not only fun, but represent safety from wrongdoers if need be.

My boys are welcome to drag out any of my firearms and handle them if they feel inquisitive....as long as I am around to ensure proper clearing of said firearm. I clear it....then make them clear it again. No matter what, if they ask..... I allow them. Same with taking the out to the range (back 40). I NEVER turn them down....as it would only lead to them feeling the need to do these things when Im not around....wich is not what you want.

All but one of my firearms are secured in a safe...and they know where it is and what its for. Same as our old school gunnies with a rifle above the threshold of the home... its there for varmints of all sizes and wouldnt be effective locked up and unfamiliar to them.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Next to John H, I think.

Yep, John Holschen from Insights Training was right there on the line with her.



Everyone present counted there remembered that a Special Day. I very much appreciate her being there. Coming in period garb made it even more special to me, and everyone there who saw it.



I'm giving much thought to do it again this Semptember. For rememberance and all.

 

[Pointshoot]

"So, my daughter is saying she wants to shoot, "a real gun. Not a bb gun." I can follow her logic."

Your daughter is six. She doesnt have mature logic, that's up to you to have.

I've been around firearms since I was a kid. (Father was career US Army). As a kid we took an NRA course in marksmanship and gun safety. We shot .22 rifles for the course at an outdoor range. I would look around for such a course in your area. I doubt a 6 year old can take such a course. I would use the BB gun to teach her basic safety and marksmanship skills & let her know she needs to earn the right to shoot a firearm, maybe in a couple years. I think there are also BB gun based gun safety courses for younger kids. I wouldnt let a 6 year old shoot a handgun - - need to learn marksmanship fundamentals on a rifle first. (And thats with iron sights . . . not red dots or scopes.)

BTW - - there are also is some excellent BB gun based training for learning to shoot rifles and shotguns well. (Its been awhile since Ive done this - websearch what might be out there now). So maybe more of us adults need to get back to using BB guns for training to build up skills !

 

[ritepath]

Time to buy a single shot 22 rifle.

I just started teaching my kids (10yo girl and 7yo boy) on the pistol a few weeks ago. Both have shot rifles and shotguns for several years but I've waited to introduce them to the pistol.

 

[One_Jackal]

I would pass on the 22 for a few years. I would get a daisy bb gun and let her go at it. In a few months she might find shooting boring. My niece would shoot my 10/22 until I told her to stop. She is a good shot for her experience level. One day she came over and wasn't interested in shooting. Apparently her friends at school didn't think weapons were cool. She is 14 now. Instead of curiosity she acts like she is frightened of weapons, despite the fact she knows I have seen her fire 1000s of 22 rounds. I guess that is part of growing up for a little girl.

 

[jdub3]

This might be a helpful video series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrorxilPMFo