When do you teach kids about guns?

[1KPerDay]

As soon as they can understand what you're saying. I open my safe and let my kids handle my guns whenever they want. It's kind of "special time with dad." They know they have but to ask. I teach them the 4 rules, with particular emphasis on trigger discipline and muzzle discipline. I always check that the gun is unloaded every time, re-emphasize what they should do if they come across a gun at someone else's house, etc. If they slip up and come close to sweeping me or anyone else with the muzzle, they know the session is over, no arguments. I just taught my 8-year-old how to make sure a handgun is unloaded (the ones I hand him), but also reminded him that if he finds one elsewhere to leave it alone and tell an adult.

 

[Rugerlvr]

We just began basic gun safety with our daughter, age 2.5.

You know, Stop, don't touch, come get an adult, etc.

 

[nicademus]

Started with mine, at 3. The new airsoft guns are a great begining. He did not go to the range till that was handled correctly. He made me proud when he corrected some other kids in a store pointing guns at each other...

 

[Pat-inCO]

When do you teach children about guns?
When do you start teaching safety rules?
When do you start teaching them to shoot?

First question: As soon as they can understand what you say.

Second question: As soon as they can understand what you say.

Third question: Once they show a good understanding of safe gun handling.
a) Pointed in a safe direction (and why it is a safe direction)
b) Finger off the trigger until........
etc.

All of these are dependent on the individual child.

Please understand that I'm not saying there are differences in the way individual children learn, it's just that there are differences in the way individual children learn. You as the parent are in the best position to evaluate - your - child and begin teaching - any - subject once the child is capable of really understanding the subject. Not just when you want them to.

In fewer words: some are ready at five, some are not ready at fifty.

 

[Mr White]

I used to shout Cooper's 4 rules into my wife's belly when she was pregnant.

 

[gladi8tr]

i started at almost two years

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Maybe I did it wrong but there were no toy guns for my daughter or her friends while at my home. My reasoning is guns are never toys and toys are never guns.... and yes I had them.

I taught her handling practices with a bb gun as soon as she was interested, never rushed her.

 

[GRB]

While in the womb man, in the womb!

 

[Ash]

In the absence of toy guns, kids make up toy guns. I have seen it too many times to believe otherwise. My son has toy guns. He plays with them. My friend's boys have no access to toy guns. So, they use sticks, water sprayers, pens, you name it for guns.

Ash

 

[3KillerBs]

My 2yo boy builds guns out of his Duplo blocks. We have a target taped to the wall and insist that he only shoot targets and never people.

The Crickett rifle for the 8yo boy is on order. He can recite all the rules of gun safety. But, because he is a clever child who occasionally gets "good ideas" (today's was to let the cockatiels out to fly in the fresh air because he thought it would make them happy -- fortunately this time he asked first), we are using every redundant safety measure we can think of.

The 14yo girl had no great interest in airsofts or air rifles but got to shoot a .22 revolver recently and fell in love with "cowboy" style guns. We're finagling her into an NRA Basic Pistol course (she's underage but the instructors are going to work it out -- probably DH will have to be there with her), to make sure she learns right.

The 16yo boy, whose interest is shotguns and rifles, will be doing hunter's ed this summer.

Educating the kids is a lot easier since we've moved to a place where we have access to a range nearer than an hour's drive.

 

[cornman]

Come on. Under 5?? Kids should not even know that they exist under 5 imho.

 

[Ash]

You're serious?

Ash

 

[theotherwaldo]

By the age of five I had already found three operable & loaded firearms, the first when I was three. I found that S&W .38 special in a box of home movies in the closet of Grandma's guest bedroom. Brought it to Dad and immediately got my first gun handling lecture.
First, bring dad to gun, not gun to dad.
Second, don't pick up "toy" guns until an adult says it's okay.
Third, don't point guns that have moving parts at people unless it's a squirt gun.

That set of rules held sway for quite a while.

 

[1KPerDay]

Come on. Under 5?? Kids should not even know that they exist under 5 imho.

Please.

 

[jimbob86]

Come on. Under 5?? Kids should not even know that they exist under 5 imho.

As soon as they can understand the words. "No don't touch. Those are dad's (bullets/guns/fishing tackle/insert whatever dangerous thing you want to). It can BITE you." is EVERY bit as important as "NO, don't touch. The stove is HOT. It can BURN you."

My kids may have been born in the era of the "bubble wrap generation", but they are NOT part of it. Not one of the five has ever been burned by the stove, or been shot, or ingested anything harmful to them. They have known better. Each of my 3 older daughters has their OWN .22 rifle, and have taken at least one class/course in gun safety......... Eldest has taken up trap shooting, and she's but 11.......

 

[csmkersh]

Come on. Under 5?? Kids should not even know that they exist under 5 imho.

Not only did my sons know about guns before they were 5, they saw the damage that guns could do. And they weren't under the mistaken belief that hamburgers grew on a tree and venison mysteriously showed up on the dinner table.
​

 

[Hot brass]

I put 3yrs old, but I started my kids at a very young age and continue to talk guns today.