Hunter Age Requirements?

[cjanak]

1) In theory, youths should, on average, make weaker hunting safety judgments than adults because they generally possess less experience and they do not yet posses a fully developed prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain that is critical for judgment and suppression of impulses (the prefrontal cortex takes at least 20 years to fully develop).

2) In practice, statistics show that youth hunters (ages 10-19) have significantly higher hunting accident rates than other age groupings;

Given those facts, perhaps mandatory hunter education should be supplemented with stricter hunting regulations for minors? For example, perhaps States should raise the age at which a minor must no longer be accompanied by an adult for certain types of hunting?

I understand many folks want to make it easier for kids to hunt in order to keep the hunting tradition alive and strong in this country. But consider that a few high profile poor judgments by young hunters will do a lot of damage to this cause.

PS: My point is not that kids can’t be responsible hunters or that adults are always responsible hunters. Of course, some kids are very responsible and some adults are complete idiots. Rather, my point is that statistics show kids are not as responsible as adults (on average) and therefore we might consider supplementing hunter education programs to further address that fact, not just for public safety reasons but also for the benefit of the sport/tradition of hunting.

 

[rjohnson4405]

Why ask the government to fix it?

Why can't parents make the decision whether or not their kids are mature enough and suffer consequences if they're wrong?

(Not trying to be confrontational, I just was very mature when I was younger, but my Dad would not hunt so I could see this limiting a youth like me.)

 

[22-rimfire]

Sounds like something parents or other adult hunters should take care of, not more "requirements or restrictions". Why do some people expect the government or the game deparment to take the responsibility. The states want more hunters and it's up to other hunters, hopefully parents, to teach, observe and fix any safety issues as they develop. If the young person exhibts unsafe practices and refuses to learn, then you don't allow them to hunt or carry any kind of firearm.

 

[hdrk1955]

I don't think I want the government in my life anymore than they already are. Personal Responsibility should be the order of the day

 

[cjanak]

rjohnson4405: I nearly proposed a similar solution in my original post (ie making parents crimininaly liable for their children’s actions).

My understanding is that most States make parents financially liable in civil suits with respect to damages caused by their children, though I think it depends on the type of damage and liability limits may also apply. Though some states have recently tried to make parents criminally liable for the children’s actions in certain cases, I think this is fairly limited and Constitutionally problematic.

So while I think your proposed solution should be “on the table” so to speak, I’m not sure how well it can work in practice.

PS: I'll bet that most people think there kid has better than average judgment... which of course can't be true in reality!

PPS: Believe it or not, I have very libertarian tendencies. That being said, I think it’s impractical not to have any regulations and rules governing our conduct. Therefore, the tricky part is finding the level of regulation that optimizes personal responsibility and freedom relative to public safety.

 

[Old Grump]

Parents responsibility

Parents have to teach hunting and shooting ethics above and beyond what is learned in hunter safety class and be a good example. If the child does wrong than the person responsible has to be held accountable. I know 11 year olds I would let behind me with a loaded gun and I know 40 year olds I wouldn't. One guess which one had been taught correctly.

 

[joop]

I think this is a case where people should be held fully accountable for their actions and we won't need regulations. A 14yrold boy killed a woman, mistaking her for a bear. He was without an adult, but I think the main point is that he didn't follow the rule of POSITIVELY ID YOUR TARGET. At the very least, I'd say charge him for manslaughter 2 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9A.32.070 for definition). I believe if the govt prosecuted such cases we'd have a lot fewer hick grandpas dropping off their hick kids into the woods by themselves. NB: This is actually the 1st time in 25 years that a nonhunter was killed by a hunter--WA is pretty safe.

 

[cjanak]

Joop: Are you suggesting the child go to jail for 25 years or the responsible Adult (the Grandfather that dropped them off or maybe the kid’s parents)? Just making sure I understand your point of view.

I'm all for personal responsibility and I detest laws designed to protect people from themselves. Heck, I’m the kind of wacko libertarian that can get worked up arguing against seat-belt laws, helmet laws etc. (even though I always wear my seatbelt, I resent the government trying to make me do it). That being said, I do recognize the occasional need for laws to protect me from the bad decisions of others. In some cases, laws that make people sufficiently liable for their actions may act as an effective deterrent. But in other cases, it’s not so clear… especially when dealing with folks that are biologically predisposed to not think clearly, like teenagers. Teenager’s brains make them less able to resist impulses. This doesn't mean we should let teenagers of the hook, but it does mean we should be a little skeptical of their ability to exercise good judgment in crucial situations.

So I’m sort of wondering out loud if this is a case in which a law might be warranted. Granted, your statement touches on a fair point. Though kids having much higher accident rates than adults, the fact is that hunting is a pretty safe sport relative to many other common activities (boating, for example). So maybe the infringement of freedom caused by forcing more kids to be accompanied by an adult would out weight the benefits (if any) of doing so.

On the other hand, I think people listen to anecdotes a heck of a lot more than they listen to statistics. So I’m concerned that, even were hunting the safest sport in the world on paper, a few high-profile hunting accidents could really sway public opinion in wrong direction.