Georgia Gunner
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I have been hunting with a .22 rifle by myself since I was 7. I was a well trusted kid.
Were you an armed child?
- Thread starter blkbrd666
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Been carrying stockman knife since I was in grade school or Jr. High, can't remember for sure. Got a BB gun so long ago I forget how old I was, 6 or 7 probably. First 22 at 11 that was 1960, was turned loose with it on my own within a year or so. That my friends was in Southern California only 60 miles from LA city hall, it ain't like that there now days. I can just imagine what the outcome would be if a kid 13 walked down that same street now carrying a 22 rifle. I left there long ago.
I never thought of any of it as being armed and would have never dreamed of using a knife or gun an another person. It just didn't happen nor did I hear about it happening. We had fist fights plenty but weapns just for the most part not used. Wish we could go back to that kinda crime rate.
Places I would have or did stand on the corner at midnight with my girl I in HS I drove around with the doors locked in the day time last time I was there and avoided completely at night last time I was in that area. I moved to where I feel rather safe now just got home and didn't lock the house, whoops, LOL no biggie we forget that a lot. or keys in the car sometimes overnight not good really but oh well.
Life is far to short for so much of all that.
I never thought of any of it as being armed and would have never dreamed of using a knife or gun an another person. It just didn't happen nor did I hear about it happening. We had fist fights plenty but weapns just for the most part not used. Wish we could go back to that kinda crime rate.
Places I would have or did stand on the corner at midnight with my girl I in HS I drove around with the doors locked in the day time last time I was there and avoided completely at night last time I was in that area. I moved to where I feel rather safe now just got home and didn't lock the house, whoops, LOL no biggie we forget that a lot. or keys in the car sometimes overnight not good really but oh well.
Life is far to short for so much of all that.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
One of my favorites. I grew up on a farm actively engaged in agriculture so there was no legal reason not to have a firearm at a very young age.
In fact Texas law exempts folks from the 17 year old limit in such cases.
46.13 exempts if:
So, yes I was armed from about age 12 on. Perfectly legal.
And driving a tractor down the highway too, also legal
Shockingly enough no one ever got hurt either.
That whole "personal responsibility" thing that isn't allowed to be taught anymore.
In fact Texas law exempts folks from the 17 year old limit in such cases.
46.13 exempts if:
So, yes I was armed from about age 12 on. Perfectly legal.
And driving a tractor down the highway too, also legal
Shockingly enough no one ever got hurt either.
That whole "personal responsibility" thing that isn't allowed to be taught anymore.
arctictom
Member
I was shooting bolt action center fire at 10 and hunting on my own,
(with a 22 and 410 ) at 11, And it was some what common here, I don't remember it being that big of an issue.
Paranoids and big city liberals seem to have a lot in common, IMHO.
(with a 22 and 410 ) at 11, And it was some what common here, I don't remember it being that big of an issue.
Paranoids and big city liberals seem to have a lot in common, IMHO.
bill.l.johnson
Member
BB gun at about 8.
.22 rifle at 12, after firearms training with Scouts.
.410 for pheasants, in season hunted everyday after school.
At 17, got my M14,M79,M60 for a few years in the 60's.
Got away from owning guns after the Military for awhile, but always shot my friends guns for target practice.
But, five years ago I got BIT by the gun bug and have been adding to the inventory since.
SA XD40, S&W 22A, S&W 642, S&W 66-2, MN 91/30, Ruger 10/22, and my newest a fine Romanian SKS.
Think I am trying to make up for lost time. I forgot how much fun it was to shoot.
Also the infor from these boards has been a continuing education and a chance to meet some great and knowledgible gun enthsiasts.
Bill
.22 rifle at 12, after firearms training with Scouts.
.410 for pheasants, in season hunted everyday after school.
At 17, got my M14,M79,M60 for a few years in the 60's.
Got away from owning guns after the Military for awhile, but always shot my friends guns for target practice.
But, five years ago I got BIT by the gun bug and have been adding to the inventory since.
SA XD40, S&W 22A, S&W 642, S&W 66-2, MN 91/30, Ruger 10/22, and my newest a fine Romanian SKS.
Think I am trying to make up for lost time. I forgot how much fun it was to shoot.
Also the infor from these boards has been a continuing education and a chance to meet some great and knowledgible gun enthsiasts.
Bill
Stevie-Ray
Member
Strange, both my BB and pellet rifles came after my first .22 rifle. Got my .22 at 12, the BB gun at 13, and the Sheridan at 14. The BB and pellet shooters were better for the tramping around up north and in the back yard. The .22 was serious medicine.
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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Nope. Guns were for adults, only to be shot when handed to you and under direct supervision of the adult, and only on very rare occasions. Until I started buying guns on my own at age 15. Even then I didn't carry it. Of course, I didn't live on a farm either, but in the city.
Officers'Wife
Member
Let me see, when I was 11 Dad gave me 'the talk.' To wit: girl, you are going to living around these things and for your own safety you need to learn how to handle them properly!
XD-40 Shooter
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Yes, I was an armed child. I learned to shoot on a single shot 22 rifle when I was 9 years old. Prior to that, I had the usually bb guns and pellet pistols. During this time frame, I also got to shoot my dad's bigger guns, like 38 special and 9mm. I didn't actually carry a gun, but I was a shooter at a very young age.
I learned to shoot on a single shot 22 rifle when I was 9 years old. Prior to that, I had the usually bb guns and pellet pistols. During this time frame, I also got to shoot my dad's bigger guns, like 38 special and 9mm. I didn't actually carry a gun, but I was a shooter at a very young age.
fearless leader
Member
At the age of 12, I was sent to a military academy where I was issued an M-14.
At the end of that year, I went to another and issued a 1903 Springfield at 13.
At 16 I was givin a 22 Marlin, which went everywhere my car did.
At 18, I was given a 12 ga. Sears version of a Winchester 140, which went everywhere my car did.
In 1982, I bought my first handgun. I would be one of a long list.
At the end of that year, I went to another and issued a 1903 Springfield at 13.
At 16 I was givin a 22 Marlin, which went everywhere my car did.
At 18, I was given a 12 ga. Sears version of a Winchester 140, which went everywhere my car did.
In 1982, I bought my first handgun. I would be one of a long list.
arflattop
Member
I grew up 8 miles outside of Washington DC on the Virginia side. My parents gave me a .22 rifle for Christmas when I was 12 and enrolled me in the NRA safety course. I then took up target shooting in an NRA sponsored club. At age 13 my Grandmother gave me my Grandfathers WWI Colt .45acp. Both of these weapons and ammunition were under my control in a gunsafe in my bedroom. It was an act of faith by my parents, as no one in my family has any interest in firearms. I believe it's the maturity of the child, not the age.
frankcostanza
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my mom wouldnt even let me have toy guns. when i was a kid and we would have neighborhood water gun fights, she would send me out with one of those plastic syrup bottles filled with water. 
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hunterSthompson
Member
i got my first .22 cal Remington viper when i was 8-9 yrs old
junk gun but i love it all the same
junk gun but i love it all the same
moooose102
Member
bb gun @ about 8, pellet gun @ around 12, got to shoot dad's 22 4 - 5 times a year till i was 14 or 15. then i bought my own gun, but i was not allowed to have the ammo until i was 16 or 17. once i turned 18, everything changed (for the better).
W.E.G.
Member
Remember the first time you let the lever of one of these spring back on your fingers?
Age 9
Wish I still had my original "Grandaddy" BARLOW knife. I think I traded that knife for cigarettes or some such silly thing. There may have been some firecrackers as part of that deal too. I just can't remember for sure.
Age 9
Wish I still had my original "Grandaddy" BARLOW knife. I think I traded that knife for cigarettes or some such silly thing. There may have been some firecrackers as part of that deal too. I just can't remember for sure.
FourNineFoxtrot
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Parents were anti-gun, but when I was ten they bought me a BB gun, probably because all my friends had them. I owned a swiss army knife from 8 years old, but didn't carry a knife until I was ten or so. I usually carried a cheap folder of some sort, and if it was cold enough for a coat, I'd carry a sheath knife in my inside coat pocket. Probably illegal, but living in a rural-ish area, I didn't much care.
Never carried a knife at school, as by the time I was going through Jr. High and High school, that was a call-the-cops, expulsion-worthy offense.
Because I couldn't carry a knife at school, I generally stopped wearing one from the time I got my driver's license, until I was 20 or so. Now I carry a folder any time I leave my apartment.
As for guns, I didn't own anything more powerful than a BB gun until I was 19, and moved out on my own. It's all been downhill from there.
Honestly, I could wish I'd had more exposure to guns growing up. My firearm experiences as a minor are limited to a single summer at boy scout camp when I was 12, shooting bolt-action .22s. Didn't touch a gun again for seven years, which left me with a lot of catching up to do.
Never carried a knife at school, as by the time I was going through Jr. High and High school, that was a call-the-cops, expulsion-worthy offense.
Because I couldn't carry a knife at school, I generally stopped wearing one from the time I got my driver's license, until I was 20 or so. Now I carry a folder any time I leave my apartment.
As for guns, I didn't own anything more powerful than a BB gun until I was 19, and moved out on my own. It's all been downhill from there.
Honestly, I could wish I'd had more exposure to guns growing up. My firearm experiences as a minor are limited to a single summer at boy scout camp when I was 12, shooting bolt-action .22s. Didn't touch a gun again for seven years, which left me with a lot of catching up to do.
Horsesense
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I got a H&R Toper JR .410 when I was 6 and had access to it at all times, along with my dads Remington Speed master .22, he didn't let me shoot the others until I was older.
At 12 or 13 I bought a new H&R 9 shot revolver for running traps, the H&R was $89 NIB and I don't remember anything about paper work...it was an old school hardware store and I guess the guy didn't fool with paperwork back in the early eighty's. BTW I payed with money I made taping and coon hunting, you could get $5 for a possum hide and $25 for a coon. If you had a good dog and some traps, you could live like a king (or so it seemed)
At 12 or 13 I bought a new H&R 9 shot revolver for running traps, the H&R was $89 NIB and I don't remember anything about paper work...it was an old school hardware store and I guess the guy didn't fool with paperwork back in the early eighty's. BTW I payed with money I made taping and coon hunting, you could get $5 for a possum hide and $25 for a coon. If you had a good dog and some traps, you could live like a king (or so it seemed)
209
Member
I used a BB-gun from about age 7... without adult supervision. 
I started shooting rifle matches at about age 10. I had a 22 rifle. I was what is now called a "latch key kid". I used to go home to an empty house, grab the rifle and a brick of ammo and shoot targets almost daily. We had a nice little range in the back yard. Again no adult supervision.
I shot on a rifle team during most of my high school years. I hunted when I was old enough to do so.
I started trying to shoot handguns in competition at about age 18. I say try because I wasn't a great handgunner. I didn't start to hone those skills until later in life when it became necessary to do so.
I grew up watching John Wayne movies and shows like Combat. Lots of gun play in the programs I watched. We would play war, cowboys and Indians, Eliot Ness. I seemed to always know the difference between TV/movies and real life. I seemed to always know that real guns were not toys and you needed to know the difference (except for a few times when we misguided played war with BB-guns ).
I also grew up with a Dad that wasn't into sparing the rod, so I knew what evils would befall me should I mishandle a gun.
I started shooting rifle matches at about age 10. I had a 22 rifle. I was what is now called a "latch key kid". I used to go home to an empty house, grab the rifle and a brick of ammo and shoot targets almost daily. We had a nice little range in the back yard. Again no adult supervision.
I shot on a rifle team during most of my high school years. I hunted when I was old enough to do so.
I started trying to shoot handguns in competition at about age 18. I say try because I wasn't a great handgunner. I didn't start to hone those skills until later in life when it became necessary to do so.
I grew up watching John Wayne movies and shows like Combat. Lots of gun play in the programs I watched. We would play war, cowboys and Indians, Eliot Ness. I seemed to always know the difference between TV/movies and real life. I seemed to always know that real guns were not toys and you needed to know the difference (except for a few times when we misguided played war with BB-guns
).I also grew up with a Dad that wasn't into sparing the rod, so I knew what evils would befall me should I mishandle a gun.
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