Introducing your kids to firearms and firearm safety

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N1vram

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I'm a new parent and I've often wondered how those of you with kids of your own have done this?
 
I was very up front with my kids. I showed them my guns and made sure to show them that they are empty. And I told them that whenever they wanted to see them to tell me and I'd get one or two out and we'd look at them. This takes all the mystery out of it. Every time we look at one I emphasize verifying its empty and keeping it pointed in a safe direction.

And when I've taken them shooting, safety is first and we take everything really slow. And right now it is about fun. So, if they shoot 100 rounds and don't hit anything but still have a smile on their face it has been a good trip.
 
Think of the kitchen stove/range. Useful, but needs to be treated with respect. Don't touch hot pots and pans, or open the oven with your face too close. Things coming off the range-top are hot and dangerous. We teach our kids this stuff from the toddler stage on. Guns are no different. In the "Old days" we also had kerosene lanterns to teach the lessons of responsibility. Boys are different than girls (imagine that!) Girls will not show much interest, but should be shown how guns work should they ever have the need to use one. Boys on the other hand will usually be VERY interested and need a bit more "security controls." Never believe anyone who tells you that his boys would never touch his guns when he is not at home. Unsupervised adolescent boys will find and play with your guns when you are not around. Believe it! Prepare accordingly. Safes, lock boxes, and padlocked closets work to keep their hands off guns when you are not home. Keep ammunition separate and also locked up. Don't make it the "forbidden fruit" by providing regular and routine gun safety training and shooting so they can learn to handle guns properly and safely. Be a good example yourself by always following the rules of safe gun handling. At 16 or so give them a gun of their own to show your confidence in their maturity and trustworthiness, but control the access to ammo for another 2 years.

Kids who have access to safe,organized shooting sports grow up to be safe gun owners and won't have "accidents."
 
My response....

I don't have kids, but my nephew is 10 & wants to go target shooting. ;)

For gun safety & firearm training, Id look for the book about gun safe kids by Massad Ayoob. Ayoob is a sworn LE officer, tactics trainer & legal use of force expert. He's also a parent & knows the concerns about safety/storage.
See the Police Bookshelf website or www.MassadAyoobgroup.com .
Ayoob, is also a THR member but I'm not sure how often he goes on the forum.

The NRA, www.NRA.org has the Eddie Eagle program. They teach young kids gun safety & what to do around firearms.

RS
 
Thanks for the responses. I will definitely look into the gun safety book.
 
First, I started off with a BB Rifle in the back yard. Teach the 4 rules, gain an understanding of the sight picture. Moved up to pellets. Once he was hitting the target consistently and was able to be responsible during every moment of the range session, it was time.

He's 8 years old and had a Cricket .22 Rifle. He loves to shoot it. Then he shot a Henry .22 Lever and a Marlin Bolt action .22. I let this all sink in. He loved it and he respects guns even more now.

A week later, my family went to a friend's farm land for a day of shooting. Tannerite was involved. Unfortunately, the .22 does not have the velocity to set it off. He tried an AR, but couldn't get the sight picture right. I let him try the .17HMR, but wasn't too sure...it has a scope. He hasn't shot them very much, but knows the idea. First shot <BOOM!!>. BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE :D

To cap it off, he got to shoot a Walther p22, and Beretta NEOS, and an H&R 929 revolver. What a great day.

Point is, start small. Teach patience. It took him almost a year to fully understand the 4 rules and to gain a proper sight picture. You could see the frustration from not hitting the target build up before giving away to pure joy. First, from hitting the target, then from hitting it consistently.

He makes sure kids older than him are maintaining the 4 rules. Safety First. Always. He knows that if there is no safety, there is no fun. We pack up and go home.
 
I only have nieces and nephews, but with my father's words echoing in my head: "There are 3 things you need to know - A gun is always loaded, The barrel is always pointed in a safe direction, and Know what's BEHIND your target. Reinforce these 3 things ever 30 seconds (no kidding...EVERY 30 seconds) until your student instinctively tells you those 3 things before doing anything.

I've personally developed the habit of having them narrate every action they make. Example: Clip in! Loading! Firing!

God Bless the next generation of shooters! Keep'em safe, and have the time of your life.
 
montgomery381 nailed it but I'll add Eddie Eagle.

I was very up front with my kids. I showed them my guns and made sure to show them that they are empty. And I told them that whenever they wanted to see them to tell me and I'd get one or two out and we'd look at them. This takes all the mystery out of it. Every time we look at one I emphasize verifying its empty and keeping it pointed in a safe direction.
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Mystery feeds curiosity which feeds kids sneaking a peek at things.

Demystify firearms to satisfy their curiosity,,,
It will lessen the chances they will sneak a peek.

Also go the NRA website and check out the Eddie Eagle stuff,,,
I have first hand evidence that it does work.

Aarond

.
 
Both my kids (grown now) started with pellet guns in a basement range.
Graduated to 22 at about 6-7 yrs. At all times, safety and the knowledge that
the intent of the shooter was what made the difference. Graduated to center fire rifles at about 12 yrs old. About that time, tag along on deer/elk trips started. Did required hunter safety courses were done.
Mountain camping trips were several times yearly. I constantly supervised
safety...to a point it became automatic. Glad to say that there was never a problem. Also, we did a lot of range trips.
Dan
;)
 
I started early (REAL EARLY), with safety instruction. By the time my kids were learning to walk and talk, they were learning not to touch guns and ammunition. "Tell mommy if you see this", or "Tell daddy if you see this"...

By the time they were 4 or 5 they were brought to the range to see guns being fired, and to illustrate graphically what bullets do to things. They didn't understand the concept of death yet, but they did understand "THESE MAKE REALLY BIG OWIES, Don't touch!"

Stop, leave the area, tell an adult were reinforced countless times.

I start teaching them (individually) when I feel they are ready, and I start them on 22's HOVERING close, and progressively move them up to larger calibers as they mature.

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There's also a few kid-oriented programs you can check the kids in to -

NRA Youth camps
J.A.K.E.S days
Boy Scouts (many clubs have firearms programs and events)
Etc.
 
When my daughter was a "young three", she got a basic introduction. The following was my thread-opener on it.

She's asked me a couple of times lately to teach her "how to shoot a gun." However, all she "knew" about them is that "fire" and noise comes from them. So, after a brief couple of lines about the fact that something other than that does come out and can be deadly, I let her see a couple of tame YouTube videos of people shooting pumpkins so she could see the holes that are made. I made sure each of the two videos was short (less than one minute each), and that they lacked any "yahoo" element.

Then, she watched the NRA Eddie Eagle video on what to do when one comes across a gun. She enjoyed echoing the character's rhythmical chant of "Stop! Don't touch! Leave the area! Tell an adult!"

After that, not as a test, but as a practice exercise, I placed a non-functional replica handgun on the bed in our master bedroom, and told her to go there to see if the cat was in there. As she headed down the hall, I also told her to see if there was anything there that should not be.

Moments later, the call came: "Daddy! I found a gun!" Though she did not run out to tell me, she did not touch it at all, and made sure I came quickly to the scene. I told her she had done well, and rewarded her (with a sweet.)

I wanted to keep her first lesson brief, well within her attention span (and that of her interest, which she seemed to hold quite well.)

I reminded her that there will be more lessons, and that I will soon let her handle one and see how one actually works. I have to work that out, as there are no ranges here that host such young shooters. But there are always airguns to start out with..

Aside from actual live-fire, I'd be interested in some of the techniques for "first orientation lessons" you all have used for very young children.

Oh, incidentally, her mother called me just as we were about to start the videos. My daughter asked me to let her speak to her, and when I put mom on speaker, my daughter began shouting "Mama, I'm having my first lesson on shooting a gun!"
I'm still waiting to hear about that from her mom...
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Later, I did aquire a small-framed Airsoft gun and she got some experience with that. More will come with time (she's still not six yet.)
 
Taking them hunting is a good way to get them to understand what happens when things get shot. Plus they make fine bird picker-upers.
 
Lots of good advice so far. Eddie Eagle, for sure, very early on. Take away the mystery, for sure. Anytime they want to look my guns we'll open up the safe and discuss. They can fondle (safely) and ask questions. And/or we can set up a range date if "right now" isn't a feasible time to go shooting.

Don't push. Let them learn at their own pace. I may have pushed my son to shoot, not before he was ready, but more than he was ready to at the time. Kids have short attention spans, so be ready to get all the gear out, get all set up, then shoot for 10-15 minutes before boredom ensues. Reactive targets help with this. "Pepper poppers", clay pigeons (sitting on the berm, not flying), oreo cookies, balloons (especially filled from the welding tanks at about dusk), etc. My son, now 16, likes to shoot but depending on his mood he'd rather dink around with his bow and arrow, or skateboard, or whatever. Hunting season rolls around and he wished he'd shot more over the summer but not enough to get a little more range time in the next summer (you know, typical teenager).

With my daughter, I totally let her set the agenda. The fact that we now have a backyard range helps a lot. If she wants to go shoot, we can easily and quickly make it happen. The first few times I expected her to shoot for 15 minutes and mom had to come and hunt us down for dinner -- several hours later! She's more about the type of target, let's go look at the target, lining up the spent brass, etc but she's having fun.

For the safety, when the boy was little I was very anal about following Cooper's rules with anything gun-like --toy guns, fake guns, etc. This didn't really work out (what fun is a super-soaker if you can't , you know, soak somebody?). With the daughter we stressed the Eddie Eagle and told her if you are not 100% sure it's a toy gun, come and get me. I've tested both kids by leaving out guns and secretly observing their actions. Both passed the tests. I've also shown both kids real guns that almost seem like toys (A friend Keltec 3AT or whatever) and warned them that they don't get to decide what is a toy and what is not, I need to decide. After looking at another friends Ruger Mark III Lite the other day, I may head back the other way on this with the daughter. That thing seems like a toy (and also seems like a lot of fun, but I digress).
 
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Police Bookshelf....

I checked www.Ayoob.com , the "Gun Safe Kids" book is listed as $6.95 USD.
To my knowledge, Massad Ayoob is no longer affiliated or owns LFI or the Police Bookshelf website(sales).
Check the website first before you order. The book is older(1980s era if I recall) but many of the points apply today too. ;)

Rusty
 
I have been instructing my daughter since she could understand not to touch a stove. She just turned 4.

She knows that she shouldn't touch or play with anything that can hurt her. If she sees a gun or a knife, she is not to touch it and come get me or her mother pronto. I never leave my guns accessible to her, but I do keep my pocket knives in my night stand or sometimes on the counter. She's never had any real interest in them other than only daddy gets to use them, and she shouldn't touch them because they could hurt her.

I keep all of my guns that are not for carry or HD locked up in a case unloaded with no magazines in them. I keep all ammo and magazines locked in a separate locker high up in my "man cave" closet. My HD and carry guns are left loaded in a finger safe on my night stand. If it's not on my hip, it's locked in that vault.

When she was three, I left a disabled and obviously unloaded black powder revolver on the floor and told her to go around the corner to find a toy or something. She came upon the revolver and came flying back to me telling me that she found a gun. I thanked her and told her that she did a great job being safe and that she should do that anytime she finds a gun.

I will say, I need to probably take a little extra time this fall/winter to reinforce it. She's older now and plays with the little boys at her daycare. She told me the other day that guns are for shooting bad guys...which is true, but right now I just want her to know how to be safe and not touch them without me there. We'll get into the function and uses of the guns when she's a tad older and maybe shows a little more interest.
 
Talk to them tell them what a gun is and what it isn't. Be extra responsible when handling firearms with them around. remember they are sponges they see you do it so they think that is how its done. And EDDIE THE EAGLE
 
my kids got to learn the rules with air rifles (pellet guns) from the age of 10.
two of them shoot 'real' rifles from 16 (the minimal legal age in our country)

as they started to shoot the pellet guns, all toy guns resembling real ones (bb-guns etc) were considered real and were not ment to be aimed at someone.

super-soakers were and are still allowed (no confusion possible sofar)
 
Some thoughts I wrote in other threads, just offered as points to ponder:

First off -- congrats on being a concerned and responsible parent! This is a very important question.

My principles on the matter are these:

1) Never, ever hide your guns or your shooting habits/hobbies/activities from your children. Always be completely open with them and answer any question and allow access any time they show interest -- no matter how young. Every time a kid wants to know something -- tell them. Every time they want to touch a gun, help them to do so (safely). Hiding things just screws up what should be a wonderful part of your relationship, and sets the stage for confusion, mistrust, and sneaking around as they get older.

2) Every opportunity to answer a question and help them to touch and explore your guns is a critical teaching moment to instill the four safety rules. Show them your own rigorous safety practices, teach them to follow the same, and GUN-proof your kids, rather than trying to KID-proof your guns.

3) Shooting can start as soon as the kid shows interest. My daughter and oldest son were both pulling triggers at age 3. I say "pulling triggers" as they were sitting in my lap, with my arms around them and my hands over theirs, controlling the firearms. But they wanted to, they were not scared (and certainly were not PUSHED into it), and making the guns go bang was always a reward for being able to recite a safety rule or two. FIND SAFETY GEAR THAT'S KID-SIZED! It is available, pretty easily these days, and must fit them well to do its job.

4) Everything is at the child's pace. No reason to rush or push them into shooting, or to make them continue at it for one second longer than their interest and enthusiasm holds out. Better to leave 'em wanting more than to tire them out, bore them, or (heaven forbid) make them frightened or hurt by the guns.
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My two school-aged kids both started sitting in my lap, with my hands over theirs, shooting .22 pistols at 3 years. Then AKs. Now that my daughter is 8 she prefers my 629.

Every step has to be REQUESTED by the kid -- I won't push them an inch farther than they're comfortable going -- and they aren't shooting the guns on their own. At that age they aren't in control of anything but the trigger itself. Even in later years my teaching style is VERY physically close. Kids can't be completely in control and responsible for the safety issues. They need to learn them and understand them, but the adult has to be in absolute control of the weapon at all times. It just isn't fair to place a child in a position of responsibility for life and death events.
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(Yay, another excuse to post my favorite picture! :)) This is my daughter and I when she was seven. She'd been shooting occasionally for several years at this point and has a little experience and confidence, but my position here in the safety/supervisory role is still very close and focused. Also note her solid, weight-forward stance and proper grip form. If you can teach those to your kids they will go a long way to meeting with success.


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Good luck!
 
Children are drawn to mystery especially "forbidden adult" mysteries. So if you hide your guns away and never let them near them the kids will want to see them and do what they can to find them. Then you get tragedy.

I took the approach that I sat my kids down with a few guns on the table which were cleared and safed. I first showed them the guns, explained what guns did, and went over the Four Rules. I explained that guns were not magic items but tools, like a hammer or a knife or a chain saw. Then after the kids understood these things I showed them the guns and let them hold them. I made them understand that it was no secret that our family owned guns, that I would let them see the guns when they wanted, and that we would be going to the gun range and shooting them. I keep all but the home defense battery locked up in a secure safe, the home defense guns are put away from little fingers but accessible and the kids know not to mess with them or guns at other people's houses.

I bought a Henry Mini-Bolt 22 single shot rifle for the kids to use with adult supervision. We also got a BB gun (Red Ryder) for the kids to use. My kids are responsible gun people now, and when we go to the range we all get compliments from other shooters and the RSOs about how well behaved and safe our group behaves. It's a treat for the family to go out shooting, especially with a gun range less than 5 minutes away.
 
Teach the 10 commandments of firearms safety. Get them in a hunter education class. And, if possible take the child hunting. Shooting targets doesn't always yield respect for a firearm. When a youngster see's an animal killed by a firearm, that makes them think !!! I know a lot of people on here are not hunters and I'm not pushing anyone into hunting that doesn't want to do so. My kids and grand kids have all been exposed to the killing power of a firearm through hunting. Only one of them hunts now, but all the others still shoot and they have a commanding respect for a firearm. My daughter who is now 30, told me a few year's ago that the one and only squirrel she ever shot was a traumatic event for her that turned her against hunting. She believes hunting is good form of conservation but it's just not for her. She said looking back on the event, It was great learning experience, before that event, shooting was more of a game and that made it a reality. She said I realized pulling the trigger was serious business. And for those who read this and don't know what the 10 commandments of firearms safety is. Take the class yourself. It will be worth your time, I'm sure of it.
 
There are a number of "10 Commandments of Gun Safety" out there, and most of them include various secondary, questionable, and really off-topic "rules" which do more to distract and confuse kids than help them be universally safe with firearms.

Stuff like, "don't modify your gun," "don't trust your gun's trigger," "don't load your gun until you are ready to shoot," "don't use drugs before shooting" and other bits of wisdom which may be true, sometimes, but which take a lot of explanation and caveats -- and which are really outside of what a kid needs to know to be safe.

Stick to the universal four rules as codified by Jeff Cooper and you're in much better shape.

1) Treat all guns are as always loaded.
2) Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3) Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4) Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

Keep it simple and make them understand each of these, and the rest of the "Commandments" can be discussed on their merits much later down the line, if you find them applicable.
 
Some good thoughts here. I have a three-year-old who has just started asking "Daddy, what's that?" and pointing at my holstered gun while I'm sitting on the toilet.

The lesson about what "that" is went hand-in-hand with the lesson about Letting Other People Poop in Peace Without Barging In and the one about Knock Before You Just Walk Into the Bathroom.

I would like to start him shooting in another year or so. His hands and frame are just too small right now for anything I have, and I am not confident in his ability to understand my instruction at this point.
 
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