When did you buy your kid their first gun?

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I got my girst BB gun at age 8 but wasnt allowed free range with it until i was about 10. My first .22 (a hand me down from my father) came shortly after my parents were sure that I could be trusted running aroun with the BB gun and never caused any problems with it. My .22 was also a single shot that had to be twisted open to eject the shell and chamber a new one.
 
I never had children so I did not get to buy a child a firearm. My dogs couldn't get the firearm to stay in their paws! Grin.

I think that children should be taught ALL kinds of gun matters and be exposed to firearms at a young age. Same as with any other subject matter.

I think that it DEPENDS on the individual child. NOT always the age of the child. Perhaps a Red Ryder and a 22LR rifle when the child understands what you have already shown/taught him or her.

I think that a child (Adults too!) should be EXPOSED to understand the SECOND Amendment at a young age including other Constitutional issues. Unfortunately you have SOME people who claim that they are PRO GUN, PRO LIBERTY, PRO CONSTITUTION but they always have ifs and buts when it comes to understanding what the Second means. Geesh. It is NOT complicated!

That goes when it comes to teaching children and adults about gun issues, gun safety factors, eye and hearing protection, cleaning up the gun range or your yard after plinking.

The parents/mentors have to tell the NEWBIE that their RKBA is NOT about 'hunting'. They can hunt using their tools aka firearms and EAT the delicious deer, elk, etc. after the HUNT.

Respectfully yours,

Catherine
 
My older daughter turned 5 last month--I got her a Cricket .22 w/ a pink stock. She hasn't shot it yet--we'll start training when weather is a little better here and we have quiet time.
No rush. She KNOWS it's her rifle. BB guns MAY come later. I don't favor them for 'starter' guns, and don't like toy (replica) guns either; I think they confuse safety training at a young age.
I'd sooner have my kid 'graduate' to bb guns on her own FROM actual powder guns and 1 on 1 experience with me. Makes sense to me. And with small kids, toy guns just confuse and are bad news. Now, Replicas that are subject to 'real' gun rules for training, different thing of course.

She (my 5 yr old) hasn't shot a firearm yet, but she and her younger sister (age 3) own some serious hardware. They each have an M-1 Garand, an SKS, a 12ga shotgun, and an SA .45 acp 1911a1 (5 yr old) and Colt 1903 .32 acp (3 yr old).

They, not me, have title to the weapons that matter most--at least on paper. They obviously don't have physical control of them owing to their age. A court might argue whether they CAN hold title--but I bet they would provided they in no way have custody prior to their majority.

The Mos. 500 and 10/22 I'll keep for me. The other odds and ends well, whatever.

When I was a kid, I worried that by the time I was grown guns would be banned--especially the ones I desired to own. My kids will suffer no such neurosis on my watch.

And my position, as a father having daughters, is when young men come round in years hence talking like they have a clue about anything, my daughters will already have mastered the their M-1's and 12 bores; boys that can't handle that need not apply.
 
I got my oldest daughter a Red Ryder BB gun from Walmart back in December.

She had to have surgery and I be in the hospital for a week so I thought she would like a pink bb gun as a welcome home present.

She has completely grasped the concept of "bad people" in the world and is quickly grasping the safety aspect of gun ownership.

When I finally brought the safe home from the layaway, she went into the living room where the bb gun had found a home and brought it to me to put in the safe so bad people can't get it.

She's getting upgraded to a .177 this summer, but I'm not sure which one yet. I'm looking for something that would be a bolt action co2 powered pellet rifle, but haven't been looking too hard.
 
My son got his first gun when my grandfather handed it down to my father before I was born.

He got his first gun from me when he was 8 (BB), and 12 (.22LR). I'll give him his great grandfathers gun when he is responsible enough to never sell it and will give it to his son/daughter.
 
When I was nine, I remember having the revelation that I was now old enough to be responsible for what I did. My mother let me go to the local swimming hole by myself. I swam across the small lake alone. I spent hours in the woods alone and with brothers and friends. I climbed tall trees without a thought of falling. I was lucky.

My mother refused to buy me a BB gun for my tenth birthday - she said "You could put an eye out with one of those." She opted instead for a bow and arrow set. One of my first experiments was to shoot an arrow straight up into the air. Watching it descend toward my brother and myself was quite another revelation.

Three or four years later...My best friend and I were shooting BB guns one day. These were both illicit weapons borrowed from friends. We enthusiastically convinced each other that a BB gun fight would be a fun thing to do. We would of course wear padded clothing, helmets, and goggles.

Suddenly my friend shot me with his BB pistol! I shot him with my BB rifle! We instinctively took cover behind low hillocks and commenced firing in earnest. It ended when my best friend shouted, "My eye!...My eye!...I can't see!

His eye was filled with blood, but it didn’t appear to have been penetrated. The BB had bounced off his eye. I took him back to my house. On the way we conspired to tell our parents that we had been shooting at a target on the garage wall and a ricochet had hit him in the eye. We called his mom and she rushed him to the hospital.

I had a high draft lottery number during the Viet Nam War...I didn't volunteer. I knew I could shoot at someone who was shooting at me, but I was convinced violence was "Never the answer." I believed guns equaled violence.

My friend was ineligible for the draft during the war because of his compromised eyesight. Who knows what would have happened there?

Teach your children well…

Start as early as they express an interest.
 
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I bought my son a Iver Johnson .22 when he was 5 and my daughter a Chipmunk with she was 6.
 
Now all you folks with your kids presently growing up...

Let me give you a few words of warning concerning passing your guns on to your children...

Before they turn 21 -- let them know that you will pass a gun on to them!

My father was really disappointed when I brought home my first handgun that I bought, a K-22, the exact same gun that he was going to give to me...

I feel pretty foolish about it, but it wasn't his fault. From about the age 14 to 21, I didn't have much interest in guns, then at 21 my internal martial clock went off with a vengeance and I just had to have my first gun. I felt it was something that I had to do on my own, my first truly big, responsible, adult purchase of my life. (Due to my hectic work schedule when it was time for me to buy my car, my father did most of the business when getting my car -- I just showed up with a check and drove away).

So you young fathers, don't let this happen to you. If you want it to be a surprise, "educate" your children on the necessity of the 30 day return policy.

But on the bright side, my father and I both have the same model revolver to go shooting with now. It turns out, when I was a young lad, that was the gun he taught me to shoot pistol with and I apparently loved the gun (I must have been very, very young because I don't remember it or him even having that gun); when the time came around, it must have been fate, because that was the gun my gut told me I had to have. Some kind of freudian thing there or something, lost memories bubbling up subconsciously.

Anyway, even if they seem to lose interest, pass the gun on before they can go out and come home grinning with a surprise for you!
 
My son had just turned two before christmas and kept asking for a 'bigga gun'. Where he got that I don't know because I wasn't into them then. He kept asking. My wife wasn't having anything to do with it so I got him a plastic star war thing that lit up and made noise. He was thrilled and that damn thing made noise and light for five years on the same batteries.

Since then he has an arsenal of nerf and airsoft. He just turned 11 and I officially made my SKS his gun. He had me take off the tapco stock and put back to wood and bayonet.

He is proud to be a shooter and is beginning to learn what it means in the 'big picture'. My next son is eight and too young but has already adopted the double barreled shotgun as his.

To me to understand guns is a rite of manhood and an exercise in power, responsibility and fear. Part of being sober and sound.
 
I think your parents are just ignorant. They should trust your judgement of your daughter's ability to handle the responsibility (with you there of course).
 
My son was given a BB gun before he was born.....it was a baby shower gift from two friends of mine....best ever. When he was 4 I let him start shooing it. He turn 8 in August and will get a Crikett .22LR for his birthday. BTW when he turned 7 I started teaching him the 4 firearms saftey rules. Now before he even touches a gun firearm he has to tell them to me verbatim. If he breaks any of them while shooting, he gets to call it a day. Good luck and more importantly HAVE FUN!
 
Two boys here.....both got their first air rifles at 7 years old.

Had .22 rifles at 9 years old. 10/22 Rugers.......big mistake, should have gotten bolt actions, keeping them supplied with ammo was a challenge.

Got their first shotguns at about 10. (870 and a Browning A5) Hunting and shooting trap and skeet.

Gave them their choice of .22 caliber handguns when they passed the Hunter Ed course (12 years old) One chose a S&W model 41 with comp and cocking indicator, the other picked out a Smith K-17 masterpiece, .22 caliber.

Interesting side note....when ever the boys were around firearms, their maturity level seemed to go up a couple of notches.
 
I just bought by 10yr old son his first new rifle, although Grandpa gave him one when he was 9. I started taking him shooting when he was 8, he knows the safety rules, and follows them very carefully.:)
 
My daughter- Walther PPK .380 18 years old at the time, working two jobs,
and making huge bank deposits; as well as being responsible for obtaining
warrants on "paper hangers" (bad check writers).

My grand-daughter- Ruger 10/22 (she hasn't received it yet), as she was
only 2-1/2" when I bought it for her. It will be her first firearm, at 'bout
age 7~! ;) :D
 
Short answer... as soon as they are ready.

Long answer... well, I have six kids and this would be a VERY long answer. Stick with the short answer. :)

p.s. - Please people, if you've only got dogs, you don't have kids. It's not the same thing. I know you like your dogs but they are not kids!
 
The Day She Was Born

I bought a Marlin single shot 22 the same day my daughter was born. As a matter of fact on the way home from the hospital that day I bought it. Kept the reciept, box and all together for nostalgia of it. Now both of my kids, Girl and little brother have shot that gun.
 
I bought my daughters first gun the year she was born. She is only 6 and wanting to learn BB gun first, which will give us a chance to get the 4 rules down pat before we start .22s.
 
I bought my son a cricket when he was 6, at 13 we traded it in for a Winchester 94. Now 18 he has several, a couple inherited from his Grandfather and one (12 Ga )he purchased himself.

Vince
 
My daughter turns 4 on April 16th. At 2,she asked me when she could have a gun. She has been drilled from that point in what to do if she sees a gun, which is to get myself or her mother before touching it. She has chores and an allowance already. She's already been told she is getting a Red Ryder bb gun for her birthday. She'll be allowed to shoot it only under supervision, once I am satisfied she knows the four rules. She has a very good grasp on the fact that dead is permanent. She's had two dogs and a cat die since she was 2. Lots of work to get over those.
As far as I am concerned, if the child shows responsibility and maturity, she's ready for a gun. For some, that might be 10, 12 or 25. It depends on the kid.
 
My oldest turns 5 in July. I've been informed that she must have something pink and has to have the earplugs to match. Looks like I may be doing my first custom paint job soon. :)
 
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