shooting ranges - where's the kids ?

[bender]

I go shooting 3 or 4 times every month at various local ranges. I take my kid (9 yrs old) most times I go. I very rarely see any other dads at the ranges with any kids. Seems that gun people would enjoy going shooting with their kids at ranges.

It would only be good for the gun hobby if parents would let their kids be involved with shooting sports. Teach them responsibility and all that, blah blah...

My kid likes going. I like it too... it's a father/son thing. Better than him sitting around the house every weekend and playing video games.

was just curious about why I rarely see any other kids at local ranges. Usually my son is the only one there.

by the way, my son the other night told me he was lucky. I said "why?". He said 'cause you let me shoot guns and stuff'.

 

[taliv]

i see lots of kids at my local range.

edit: mostly <12. i assume >12 are playing video games, chasing girls

edit again: see the THR get together thread for pics of THR kids at the range

 

[xds&gsps]

I almost always have at least one of my kids with me (both <12). There is usually at least one or 2 other kids there. Not many really though. Honestly I think that there are just less people getting out & shooting anymore. My Dad didn't take me shooting... well never really. I took him after I started getting more into guns, now we go together whenever possible.

 

[Justin]

FWIW, 4H has an extremely active shooting program. There are also the programs put on by the Boy Scouts, and USA shooting has a junior development program.

The CMP also run junior-oriented clinics for High Power rifle competition.

 

[Lashlarue]

Last time I went, school was in session ,so no kids seen at 1:00pm on a Wednesday

 

[snorko]

My local range will be having our third annual Youth Fest this coming weekend. Through funding by the Friends of NRA Foundation we will be hosting between 100 and 200 kids age 9-17. Last year we had 180 participants. We run through basics of handgun, rifle and shotgun with hands on range time for all three.

What will not be surprising to the members here is how well behaved and polite the participants are. Seems to be a theme with "young guns"

We have heard several local T.V. crewsa will be there and possible some national coverage. Check out www.redbrush.org for details and pics of last year's event.

 

[bender]

I work M-F, so I only go on weekends, when other kids should be there. That's why I was wondering how come I never see any other kids around, or very few...

edit: I'd like to get my kid in a program, but don't know what's out there. Does TSRA do anything with kids? My kid's a Webelos scout, but all they do is archery or BB guns.

 

[Justin]

Bender-

TSRA has some youth info here.

You might also check the list of CMP-affiliated clubs in Texas here.

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

I am probably the youngest (solitary) member at my range. I try to take my friends shooting all the time. I have gotten several hooked.

I shoot at my liking, but I wish my father would go shooting with me more often.

 

[scurtis_34471]

I take my 9 year-old daughter almost every time I go, but she is the only child I've seen at my club. I've seen a few younger teenagers at the public range, but that's about it.

 

[thegriz]

I take my boys during the week when the range is mostly empty. I figure they only need 1 guy instructing them at a time. It's also more fun when we have the range to ourselves. It's definitely worth the time off from work.

 

[Notch]

Henry and I get to the range as often as financialy possible. He is a great shot and really serious when it comes to the handling of firearms. We have never seen another young'n at the range. He always atracts attention from the range staff or other shooters who are pleasantly surprised to see a youngster at the range with the skills he is showing and the maturity he displays. I wish more of the adults I end up being around at the ranges excercised the same muzzle control Hank does

 

[longtooth]

Our range is very kid friendly. My "kids" are 37 & 34 but I take other teens on occasion. We have several that shoot our monthly .22 rimfire 50yd match. One young lady does very well.
We are presently starting work on a youth only range.

bender,
where in Texas are you located???

 

[bender]

san antonio. Go to 3 ranges, but rarely see anybody under "early 20s". It's just that I expected that dads would like to take their 8 yr olds, 9... 12...teens shooting. Maybe it's since I go early in the morning, and kids don't like to get up early... (mine doesn't either...)

 

[Rumble]

Ask and ye shall...

That's my son (he's 6) on his second time shooting, and his first with an appropriately sized .22 (a Rogue Rifle "Chipmunk"). He was very safe and conscientious (did his father proud) and a pretty good shot for a first-timer. His sister goes out next time (one at a time, so I can focus on 'em). With luck, they'll be better shooters than me in no time.

However, I've only ever seen one other kid at the range--usually, it's been youngish guys (around my age) who want to blast away. Occasionally, there's someone doing some CCW training-type stuff (holster draws, etc.). Usually, that person is me, but that's only because there's usually nobody else there when I go.

 

[Babarsac]

I saw two kids this weekend under 13 at Hite Hollow. One was firing off his Dad's Saiga .308

Lucky booger

 

[evilelvis]

I've only been shooting for a few months and I've seen plenty of kids, women, young guys, old guys. And this is in MD, land of the insane.

 

[PennsyPlinker]

My 14 year old daughter goes with me on a regular basis, and I often see other men with their children or grandchildren at our club. This past week I took my new step grandson and granddaughter shooting while they were up for a visit.

A group of us at church are preparing to get the youth group out shooting, boys first, and then the girls. We figure if we keep them separate, the boys won't have to do stupid stuff to try and impress the girls.

 

[Titan6]

I take my kids at least once a month. More if we have time but between scouting (both of us are leaders), football, baseball, soccer, swim team, work (for me), taking care of the house, yard and garden it is hard sometimes. Sometimes we go out in the backyard and plink a little with the .22s and air rifles instead of going to the range.

Cub Scouts are not allowed to do rifle only BBs and archery. Even then there are a lot of strictures. Boy Scouts can do .22s so I would stick with it so long as the kids want to do it. But the shooting is not a focus of the activity, just another event.

Seems like these days kids either do everything or nothing. BTW my youngest is six.

 

[SentWest]

I usually see one or two kids (7-12) every time I go (Sunday afternoon typically).


Incidentially, I've noticed that the shooting range has one of the most diverse crowds of all the places I go, second only to the airport.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

rumble can you tell me more about the chipmunk? got a 5 year old wants to learn to shoot big kids gun and shes got a birthday in sept. shes a small kid gun looked good for her shes getting a pink cricket too soon but i like the pic i saw

 

[texgunner]

I see kids at American Shooting Center west of Houston all the time when school isn't in session. In fact I'm taking my 10 year old niece tommorow. It's not our first time, she likes to shoot my M4. I collapse the stock all the way and it fits her perfectly.

Tex

 

[RancidSumo]

I go all the time (I'm 15 so I don't know if that counts as a kid or not) My sister goes sometimes (she is 12) and all my friends go. Every time I go to the range I see several people younger than me.

 

[Plumber576]

My father would not take me to the indoor range as a growing child due to lead concerns. He was a doctor, so I trusted him. We just shot outside, and I think that helped.

Inside it is an enclosed area to make mistakes with, where a parent cannot controll the other shooters. Outdoors, it was just my father and I on a range, nobody but him and I. He kept his eyes on me and me alone, and could force safety into me.

Hopefully I will be able to do the same when I have children someday.

 

[Mantua]

I'd love to bring my niece (7 years old) to the range with me, but her mother would kill me. She's one of those mothers who won't let her kids play with squirt guns for fear they might grow up to pull a Columbine.

I think we're in for one of those "Don't tell your mother we we're doing this!" conversations, like my uncles gave me.