Kids and guns.

[brboyer]

I have been having a problem with armadillos and opossums tearing up stuff in the yard recently. So last night I happened to be awake and heard something trying to knock over the trash can, so I grabbed my .22 rifle...no luck he scurried of before I got outside.

Anyway, I just propped the rifle by the back door instead of locking it back up in case he came back.

So my grandkids came over this morning to spend the day, the 22 month old saw the rifle as he was running into the kitchen and stopped dead in his tracks and pointed it out to me. Smart kid! Both his father and I have been talking to him and his brother about not touching guns and getting an adult.

It's seems to be working, now to get the Eddie the Eagle videos to reinforce the message.

 

[ChileRelleno]

Every child should be thoroughly schooled in firearm safety and know what they are capable of.
Taboos kill kids, knowledge saves lives!

My six yr'ol boy received his first rifle at Christmas, a Crickett .22lr.
He has proven himself fully cognizant of all firearms safety and responsible enough to handle a firearm safely under moderate adult supervision.
He is quite the little range safety/etiquette nazi, and I'll not correct that for the near foreseeable future.

Some of my past postings on this subject...

My youngest boy (4yrs'ol) is begging to go to the range with me.
I told him 6 yrs'ol, but I may do it for his 5th bday, if he learns/memorizes the Golden Rules and shows me more maturity/awareness.

We both shoot BB & pellet rifles in the yard, he is doing well with those.

I'll start him on my Marlin Model 60 .22lr.

Golden Rules (alot for a 4yr'ol to remember & practice)
1. All guns are considered loaded, especially empty guns.
2. No fingers on triggers until ready to shoot
3. Never point a gun at anyone/anything you don't want to shoot.
4. Know what is behind your target.

Just last weekend I finally took my 5 yr'ol son to the range with me for the first time, as a shooter.
He has the Golden Rules memorized, and can tell you the 'how & why' each one is important.

We sat down on the firing line and went over everything, the Golden Rules, Handling/Loading, Range Rules & Etiquette, sight picture and the six steps to firing a shot.
If he had shown any level of immaturity, of being unaware of self/surroundings or broken any rule in the slightest, he would've sat out the day five yards behind the line in a chair... But he didn't... Thats my boy!

He got to devirginize his Grandpa's newest 10/22, which is nicely decked out as a M1 carbine. I think Grandpa will likely give it to him for his sixth birthday.

I set him up at 10 yards with a 8" Shoot-n-C target and he peppered the hell out of it.
It is framed/dated and hanging in his room, he is immensely proud of that target.
.................................................. .


As for kids going to the range...
Every kid is different, maturity and being able to understand the reasoning behind the rules and being able to explain them is a must.

 

[mortablunt]

Get the 10/22 or some similar rifle with a youth stock (and be prepared to upgrade to an adult stock in a few years).

My 11yo grew 6 inches this winter and is now way, way too big for the Cricket we got him when he was 7. He had to hand it down to the 6yo.

My older son was considerably taller than I am by the time he was 14 and handled his father's .22 without trouble.

My one problem with making and purchasing small size guns dedicated for kids is that they'll often outgrow it in a few years. This partially depends on when you start. If you start an 11 year old on a Cricket, he'll probably be out out it by the time he's through Middle School. However, starting younger children under the age of 10 on dedicated child guns is a better investment because they'll won't rapidly outgrow it altogether.