At what age do you teach your children to shoot a gun?

[holmux]

I live in a suburban area with neighbors all around, I have to Girls age 8 and 10, and there is always kids in the house, so gun safety is a big issue in my house, where the guns are always looked down, no room for errors.

My kids are not really interested in our guns, but there are guns in the house, so I believe they need to know how to handle a firearm, and have the basics training in using them.
I took them to the range for the first time around a year ago, mainly to teach the basic knowledge in gun handling, they have been shooting some .22 automatics, going thru loading, unloading, basic gun safety and did some target practicing.

Is common to see kids at our range shooting with there parents, so I don’t get any funny looks, and I hope to get them to do some trap shooting later this summer.

What are Your thought, am I to early ??

 

[TexasRifleman]

My son started with a .22 single shot rifle at 7 or 8.

It's not really common at the range I go to but I've never seen anyone even give us a second look when we shoot.

8 might be a bit young for trap. My son is 11 now but at 8 he couldn't swing the shotgun fast enough.

 

[robert garner]

Not too early no,Education is far more effective as accident prevention than
DeNile
robert

 

[DesertDawg]

If you do a search, this has been addressed "at length" in the past.

It's up to YOU, for YOU are the only one that knows the maturity level of your children. I was 5 years old when my dad started me out, and I was given a brand-new .22 rifle when I was 6....but I was (from what my dad told me) very mature for my age, and handled the responsibility quite nicely. My own son was 6 when he was mature enough.

It's good that you have "familiarized" your daughters with at least a .22. They now KNOW that they make very loud noises and could injure or kill someone. All too often, the television and movies do not convey the true reality of guns. Just don't push your kids, for they often rebel against the parents wishes when they're young.

 

[TallPine]

FWIW, I started our twin girls shooting at age 10. I felt like at the time that I was late getting them started but it just worked out that way because of other things going on (like going back to school for a degree in my mid-30's).

Our girls were very mature and responsible at the time, though they didn't take to it right away. But at least one of them now is an excellent shot - I believe that she could compete if she had the inclination.

One problem is finding something with a short enough stock to fit their bodies.

 

[Son35]

I started shooting at 6 or so and thats the same age my daughter (10) now and son (8) started as well. We also have informal lessons on different types of gun as to how they work, how they can be safely checked to see if they're loaded.

In my opinion its never to soon to start...

Son

 

[tmajors]

Age has less to do with it for me. As soon as they are able to safely lift the gun and bear the recoil is when I'll teach mine to shoot. That's when I was taught. Was also taught to drive as soon as I could reach the pedals and see over the steering wheel at the same time.

 

[sansone]

some kids can start earlier than others. my boys started 6-7yrs. I have no daughters.. wheww..

 

[pax]

Nope, your thinking is about the same as mine. But I started my kids about the time they were old enough to hold a gun reasonably steady, and able to recite the safety rules to me and explain what the rules meant. Circa 4 to 6 years old.

There's an extensive section about kids & guns on my website, which is linked in my sig line (sigh, yet another shameless plug from yours truly).

pax

 

[holmux]

Thanks

Nice to know that I am on the right track, and I hope they get more interested when they get a little older.

Thanks

 

[Imaginos]

Hearts and Minds

While we have to fight the current battle, the war will be won by our ability to reach future generations. I have started with my own daughter.

She has never seen me leave the house without strapping on a pistol.
As soon as she was old enough to ask (age 4), we started on the 4 Rules and learning how to check to see if a revolver is loaded by checking the cylinder on both SA and DA pistols.

We have read almost the entire "Little House" series and we talk about the guns that appear in those books and how/why they are used. We also watch a lot of Westerns and talk about the black and while moral values presented therein. We also talk about why it is necessary to carry a gun.

The other day I was preparing to go out for a business meeting and my girl asked me if I had my gun. When I said yes, she said "Don't forget to take some bullets." (That really warmed my heart.)

My daughter has not yet fired a gun of any sort. I don't allow toy guns in the house because I agree with Elmer Keith that it creates the wrong mental attitude of guns as playthings. She has a child's bow with suction cup arrows, and we practice the 4 Rules with it for now. When she is a little bigger physically, she will start with a BB gun and move to a .22 shortly after.

I'm sharing this to show how easy it is to show our children to be safe, and to regard guns as a normal part of everyday life. This is something that will stay with her in the face of the whining ninnies she will face later in life.

The perception and belief that guns are normal is key to winning the war. The main weapon of the Anti is the creation of fear of the strange and unfamiliar. This is simplified because most urban children do not see guns on a daily basis. Country kids have probably had a shotgun leaning behind the back door of their house for as long as they can remember. They don't regard it as anything unusual. We really need to create that sense of normalcy in the urban generation.

I am not suggesting a casual attitude on gun safety. I am talking about treating a serious responsiblity in a calm repsectful way with no extra drama to make it exciting. The excitement will come when you take your kid shooting for the first time.

My $0.02

 

[Chad]

I think you've done it just right.

I started my 2 girls at 8 & 10 with pellet guns in the back yard, teaching them the basics.
They were 12 & 14 before they shot anything else, but from then until now(they are 18 & 20) I give them every opportunity to shoot and learn.

They love .22, .38 and 9mm...hate 10mm and .357.
They love .22 rifles but hate the sks and MAK90.

But they know how and I'm confident in their knowledge of safety.