How young is too young?

[CNYCacher]

A stigma is attached to the rifle? You speak of a stigma as if it is an object that exists. Like the kid got some stigma on him and that's just horrible, horrible, horrible.

If "stigma" is your main objection to this video, I don't know what to say. . .

Also, no one "handed" the kid a rifle. There was an adult controlling the rifle the entire time. The adult kept the safety on until the kid was ready to fire, and all he did was pull the trigger while having the stock in his shouldeYou're a nut.r.

You are talking about "handing" a rifle to a child, which is not what happened here. You have restated the situation in a skewed and false way.

 

[Dustinthewind]

WaltonS

The Ingram or AR or Nylon 66? What is the difference? Why should it be alright for the kid to shoot a Nylon 66 and not an AR in 9mm? The age of the kid shooting guns might upset some people, but the gun itself? I don't understand your reasoning. Would you have been upset seeing me shoot a .357 mag at that age?

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

First teach a kid about the finality of death, then about firearms. Without a healthy appreciation for the first, one cannot truly learn about the second.

 

[American_Pit_Bull]

Posted by Dustinthewind:
I don't understand your reasoning.

I believe that was the problem...
Reasoning wasn't involved; just a knee-jerk reaction which was groomed by the anti-gun bias in the media.

This usually doesn't surprise me, but when it comes from a fellow gun owner it definitely raises an eyebrow.

 

[pax]

If you wanna teach your kid how to shoot, fine, but you DON'T put an AR-15 in a child's hands!

Some articles about kids and firearms can be found at www.corneredcat.com

I would especially recommend the one found at www.corneredcat.com/Kids/1932.aspx as it may help you put things back in perspective.

pax

 

[Don Lu]

I didnt see anything wrong w/the video or conduct of the parents..Im a father and I will teach my children how to shoot if they are interested. I might not have done it at age 3, but thats just me. The video, once I saw it was not as bad as the OP described. The adult female had full control of the barrel.

 

[BridgeWalker]

In my home there is no stigma attached to an AR-15.

My daughter is 19 months old. She said "gun" for the first time a couple weeks ago when I was in the basement, putting my 12 gauge back together after cleaning.

It will be a while until I put a 12 gauge in her hands, but a .22 is probably in her future. My choice would probably be a bolt action for her first shooting experience, and for the first couple years. I'll stay very, very close the first couple of times. And, yeah, I'll probably wait a little longer than three. Probably not very much longer.

She is already learning safe handling, by watching me and my husband.

If someone thinks a particular weapon is too evil for a child to handle, then I recommend they not allow their child to handle it.

 

[Ed Ames]

I have a minor concern about 9mm actually.

I don't remember much about being three, but I remember enough to know that relatively minor things hurt. A cotton towel that today would seem soft to me was torture. A wound that I might not even notice today was a big deal. A loud noise that today might just bother me a bit really hurt my ears... and a thump on the shoulder that today I might consider "virtually nothing" was a real thump. Now, if I was excited or happy I might get back up and go on but it still hurt a lot more than similar things hurt when I was 12.

I have never fired a 9mm rifle. I've fired a .223 carbine and a .44mag carbine. I'm going to assume that a 9mm carbine is significantly lower recoil than either of those. It still seemed to give the kid a bit of a shove. A .22LR would've given less of a shove.

Why does it matter? A .22LR may have kept the kid shooting which to me is a good thing.

 

[Das1]

Letting a child "pull the trigger" when they don't know/care what is going on is just saying something about dad.

My opinion - (GENERALLY SPEAKING)

7 - Red Rider BB gun
10 - .22 (under supervision)
12 - .22 alone , Centerfire rifle under supervision
14 - any rifle , pistols under supervision
16 - Turn 'em loose

How many of you shot something you "weren't supposed to" with your first BB gun? (Street light , window , little sister etc.) Think if you had a "real" gun your judgement would have been better? I doubt it.

Aside from the judgement issue I think it takes a certain amount of size and strength to REALLY control a firearm.

I have friends who tend to over - estimate the abilities of their kids with guns. Makes me nervous as hell.

Sorry if I got off topic.

 

[MDHunter]

Whoops - I Failed the Age Requirements...

My opinion - (GENERALLY SPEAKING)

7 - Red Rider BB gun
10 - .22 (under supervision)
12 - .22 alone , Centerfire rifle under supervision
14 - any rifle , pistols under supervision
16 - Turn 'em loose

DAS1 - I would fail under these standards! Here was my progression:

4 - get single-shot .22lr for xmas
4, 5 - carry toy gun in field for 2 seasons to show dad I understand firearms safety; get to shoot my rifle at the end of our hunts
6 - start carrying .22lr loaded in the field
9 - start carrying .44 magnum rifle loaded in the field
11 - shoot my first caribou

I think a kid is ready to learn about guns when they show interest and show that they can retain and exhibit the training you give them. For me, that was very early. It will differ for each child based on their level of interest in that activity and the ability to listen, retain, and exhibit.

 

[andrewdl007]

One problem I saw with the video is that the trigger was so dificult for the boy to pull, it appears he stoped paying attention when the trigger finally was pulled. I think they shouldnt have let the boy shoot it untill he was capable of pulling the trigger in one attempt. Go ahead and call me and Anti if you want...

 

[Constantine-p89]

The mom had her hand on the gun, he was just pulling the trigger was all. At most he was getting a feel for the rifle.

 

[Chris B]

you DON'T put an AR-15 in a child's hands!

I think an AR-15 is a great rifle to start a noob (or child) with. Virtually zero felt recoil. Hell, it was the first centerfire I ever shot; it was the first GUN my girlfriend ever shot too. Letting a noob (or child) shoot an AR actually de-stigmatizes it after they realize that it's not all that intimidating.

There's another video floating around of guy with his younger than 3 yr old child shooting a semiauto .22 pistol. The kid is too young to even pull the trigger (dad is the one that is actually handling the weapon, kids hands are under his) and I don't see anything wrong with it. As long as the four rules are followed then what's the problem?

 

[snow92686]

What I said is my opinion, yours may differ and I respect that. I think most of our current issues with crime etc can be traced to parents that shouldnt be parents in the first place. If you want to call me an anti thats fine but look where I am posting, on a pro gun site. So if you want to use a logical fallacey to distract from the issue at hand (letting a child incapable of deciding what is proper gun etiquette even touch a firearm) that is also your right. On a side note I think children should be exposed to firearms and safety, however 3 years old still poos their pants, is it really responsible?

 

[mike6161]

Well I started when I was 15 I wish I had started earlier then I did but I would not have liked it vary much if I had started when I was 3.know the video to me looks like the dad went shooting and brought the kid with him to watch and let him shoot A round. if it was me maybe I would not have let him shoot. but
It was just one round and the kid had eye and ear protection and the woman there was right by him
So I see nothing wrong with it

 

[pax]

snow92686,

How many children do you have, and how old are they?

pax

 

[OAKVILLE SHOOTER]

+1 to NIGHTWING

I started my son with a Henry Mini-Bolt when he was two years old under VERY close supervision. Had my hand on the rifle at ALL times. He is now five, has his own shooting bench made to his size. He still shoots the Mini-Bolt, but has taken a liking to my 10/22, Nylon 66, and model 63 Winchester. He also shoots my Ruger MarkII and a Blackhawk that has been converted to 38 S&W. He may be just learning to read, but he knows the four rules by heart and is very safe. Although I still stand close by and observe, I no longer hold the gun with him. He is perfectly capable of doing it himself. I don't think that age has so much to do with it as attitude, interest, and listening/obeying. He might not listen so well at home sometimes, but he listens very well when we are shooting, as he knows that dad doesn't mess around when it comes to guns. By the way, we have our own private range at home. I don't think I would take him to a public range, even if we had one around here. As Nightwing said, all of the curiosity is gone if you take them shooting and show them what a gun is capable of destroying. He knows that the guns stay locked up in the safe when not in use, but he also will not touch a gun without asking me, or my wife first. I feel safer shooting with him than a lot of adults that I know!

 

[blackhawk2000]

You are kidding right? It's a 9MM AR. Less recoil than .223, and very quiet. Not to mention Mom was holding the forearm. Oh wait it was an evil black assault weapon. I'm suprised it didn't go on one of those killing sprees they are always doing.

 

[MKEITH]

My personal feeling is that a child is not ready to shoot a gun untill said child can properly hold said gun CORRECTLY on their own. At that point, the only issue that really comes into play is if they can handle the recoil of the firearm. The AR would actualy be my first choice for a centerfire rifle because of the light recoil.

 

[brentn]

I think that kids who handle firearms under adult supervision MUST be able to understand firearm safety and the negative possible repercussions of firearms before they can handle one.
Thats how my kids, or any of my friends kids would have to fall into in order for them to use my firearms.

 

[tyesai]

I don't see the point in having someone that can't hold a rifle shoot it, I also think that the kid doesn't know what he is doing and could give two turds less that he is shooting and that it is more for the parents, probably the dads, jollies. But it isn't my kid or my buisness they can raise their youngin anyway they see fit. I just don't see the point in it, I don't see the point in video taping it, and I certainly don't see the point in doing the first two things and then posting it on youtube.

That said you can never get kids around guns young enough IMHO. I've always kept an unloaded rifle in the bedroom or out in the living room so the kids see them and don't care about them. My kids are 3 and 1 and don't even give a gun a second look.

I have been teaching the 3 old the if you are somewhere other than home and someone trys to show you a gun runaway and tell an adult.

 

[siglite]

If you wanna teach your kid how to shoot, fine, but you DON'T put an AR-15 in a child's hands!

Hahah, I did! And you know what? He's probably more safety conscious than most hunters with blued wood-stock 30-06's I see at the range.

Here was his progression.

4 - shot .22 rifle with very close supervision. Safety Safety Safety.

5 -- bbgun unsupervised. Safety Safety Safety.

5-9 Was allowed to shoot any centerfire firearm I own, if he chose to do so, under varying levels of supervision. OMG YES, EVUN INCLUDIN DA EVUL BLACK RIFLZ LIKE AKZ N ARZ. Safety Safety Safety.

9 After repeatedly, constantly demonstrating impeccable safety practices with everything from his bbgun on up to my ARs or any other firearm I own, he recieved his very own .22 boltgun. With it came the part admonition, part kudos, that "Son, I did not expect you to be ready for this until you were twelve. You are as responsible and safety conscious as any shooter I know, myself included. Your repeated and constant attention to firearms safety, as well as your impeccable grades in school have earned you this rifle. If you treat it well, it will last your entire life."

10 (now) He's still able and allowed to shoot any firearm I own. He stays away from many of them, being well aware that excessive recoil can cause a shooter to develop a flinch. As such, he's never asked to shoot my 12ga or my 300 win mag. He's begging for a .308 deer rifle for Christmas. He outshoots everyone in my family, and nearly all of my friends with my .308 boltgun. Last weekend, he shot a 2.5" 100yd TWENTY shot group with it. He can keep a 30 round mag on a paper plate @50 from the kneeling with my 16" AR. All 30 rounds. From the kneeling. NO BENCH. If I can afford it, the child will get his 308. And any time he wants to shoot my AR, he'll get to shoot it.

OMGZORZ, KIDZ WIF AAZZULT RIFLZ.

If you knew my kid, you'd realize that only Sarah Brady would have a problem with it.

 

[jakemccoy]

Whatever the child shoots with that gun, in Cali, the gun owner will bare some liability. I think that's a fair set of laws actually.

 

[blackhawk2000]

Did anyone see the berm? I didn't. How do you know the berm wasn't sufficient for the shot he took?

 

[Robert Hairless]

If you wanna teach your kid how to shoot, fine, but you DON'T put an AR-15 in a child's hands!

Is that because an AR-15 is a dirty, rotten assault weapon that's designed to kill people, has no sporting purpose, and should be banned? If so, don't forget to contribute to the Brady Campaign, Carolyn McCarthy, and other gun control activists. They appreciate all the help they can get from gun owners who share at least some of their attitudes.