Introducing a child to firearms...have you?

[MissionaryMike 1]

If you have, how old was the child?  If you started young, do you regret it, and why?

 

I know that there are several intangibles that come into play here: biological age, maturity level at that age, sense of responsibility, how well they obey authority, etc...

 

But I ran across USPSA Area 8's facebook page, and saw that they held a junior camp.  20-30 kids maybe.  I've got 2 young kids.  Just got me thinking.  What do you guys think?

 

Thanks,

MM

[magnawing 5]

Your second paragraph says it all. It depends on the child. My son started shooting at 14 because that's when I felt he was mature enough to safely handle firearms responsibly with constant supervision...he still has to have an adult with him now, at 16, if he goes shooting. I started at 5 with supervision, by 10 I was going out to shoot on my own and at 16, I was out hunting on my own...different for everybody.

 

 

This signature is AWESOME!!!

[jackandjill 683]

More than obeying authority, you want them to learn (and realize) importance of safe handling and what weapons are capable of.   Unless there are specific issues, the sooner you start with kids, the better.  Ofcourse, you need them to be physically mature to be able to hold the firearm safely.

 

And ALWAYS supervise until they reach the legal age of owning one.  As someone once told me, Trust but Verify. 

[gleninjersey 2,141]

Do your children have any experience with firearms / shooting? I would have A LOT of questions / concerns before allowing a totally inexperienced child into a large group of potentially like wise inexperienced children to learn shooting fundamentals.

 

At the very least I would take my children shooting with me a few times for a few reasons. First, to teach them how to be safe around a firing range and then show them the fundamentals of proper firearm handeling and usage. Second, I would want them to know what to look for in others on the range that may place them, or others, in danger.

[dajonga 396]

My long winded story...

 

I grew up shooting bb guns everyday in the woods behind my house. I shot .22s and .410s unsupervised on the annual family trip to Oklahoma.

 

As an adult, I never thought to get my FID and own guns. 

 

Then my 10-year-old son started playing first person shooter video games with his friends and taking an interest in guns. His knowledge of guns was super warped because of the video games and my wife was getting concerned. She was bothered by the talk about AK's and SMG's. My biggest fear was him going to a friend's house and "discovering" a parent's gun and doing something stupid while playing with it. 

 

I talked with my wife about it, and I got my first FID in 2010 with the intention of buying a .22 rifle to teach the kid how a real gun works and how to be safe.

 

Now, he is 13 and I have a safe full of guns. He goes with me to the range and is very aware of the difference between real life and make believe. He has shot everything from a .22 up to a 12 gauge. He helps me clean the guns after a range trip. Unfortunately, he still plays his silly games, but at least he knows to steer clear of someone else's real gun, and he knows how to properly clear and make safe a gun.

 

My younger son is 8 and shows no interest in guns at all, to the point of walking right by me while I clean a gun next to the open safe.

 

I believe that, to a certain extent, I have de-mystified the gun. It is no longer a strange device that the kids only see on a screen. 

 

I have also taken a few of his friends with us to the range (one at a time). The parents that say yes seem grateful to have the kids learn some real life firearms lessons. Some parents have declined, but that is to be expected.

 

Good luck.

[Shawnmoore81 623]

I think 8 is when I started josh. It's more size and maturity and a number

[Smokin .50 1,907]

I started my 26 year old Eagle Scout when he was 4 years old.  So I have close to a quarter century of experience in teaching kids how to shoot.  Bought him a Marlin Little Buckeroo .22 Bolt Action single-shot Youth Model with a loading tray (no mags to load).  He learned to shoot from the bench rest position with a Caldwell sand bag.  ONE shot at a time.  As he grew, he was able to shoulder and carry the weight of the gun himself (with me next to him).  When we started together, I took a plastic milk jug (filled with red-colored water) to the range with us.  Fired a .22 HP into it from HIS rifle.  I explained how blood is needed for a human to survive.  He GOT THE IDEA, and the safety aspect and respect of proper gun handling has served him well his entire life.  At age 8 he was double-tapping a chopped-stock .410 SxS loaded with #4 Buckshot to knock-over aluminum coffee cans.  Growing-up with firearms all around the house, he has competed alongside me in several disciplines at multiple clubs and venues, often placing in the top three positions of the entire field of competitors.  As an avid shooter with published League scores to his credit, he applied for and won the top prize of the ANJRPC's Annual Cal Ellis Memorial Scholarship in 2007 ($1,500.00 and a handsome plaque to go with it).  Currently he holds a NRA Expert rating in Muzzleloading Rifle and one day may join me as a Distinguished Expert. 

 

As to the concern regarding USPSA training camp for kids, I believe most if not all of those offspring are child prodigy's, not simply kids grabbed "off the street".  Kids like Shyanne Roberts know more about gun safety than half of the shooting public that owns guns and has never had any formal training and/or shot in a League environment.  You know who those folks are?  Most of YOU, that's who!  I'd sooner shoot next to Shy with my back turned than shoot next to some of us "adults" who "forget" a little bit now and then because we get complacent.

 

To the OP:  If you ever need any help or advice, or would like a second adult to assist in safety training, just look me up.  I've remained active with the Boy Scouts now for over 15 years as a rifle and shotgun merit badge counselor, and have mentored dozens of kids of both sexes.  My local Club sponsors both a Youth Rifle and a Youth Hand Gun League and membership by a parent is NOT required for the child to participate in either League.

 

Dave

NRA Chief Range Safety Officer

Action Shooter, Hunter, Eagle Dad

[MidwestPX 172]

I have a three year old. I introduced her to firearms at about 18 months. We started with naming parts on an AR. She can now look at any rifle or shotgun and name the common parts such as the stock, grip, barrel, trigger, etc. We'll start on handguns soon. I can't bring a rifle into a room with her without her running over and demanding to point out parts. She'll now ask me where a part is and if I'm wrong, she'll correct me. My goal is to teach her anatomy first. Then I'll teach her function. If she understands what each part is and what it does, I'm hoping it will lay a solid foundation for her education in safe firearms handling and why she needs to respect firearms. As far as actual shooting, I plan to start her around four or five, depending on her maturity, with a Cricket .22LR. She'll move on to my manual action 10/22 and then graduate to a semi-auto 10/22. I don't have a timetable in mind for moving her from one rifle to another as I plan to move her up depending on her maturity and skill.

 

I'm honestly not worried about my kids and guns. I'm far more concerned with other people's children and the firearm education (or lack thereof) they have or have not received. If one day Emma comes to me and says, "So and so wanted to show me her/his dad's guns but I left because there wasn't an adult." I'll know I did right.

[Smokin .50 1,907]

I have a three year old. I introduced her to firearms at about 18 months. We started with naming parts on an AR. She can now look at any rifle or shotgun and name the common parts such as the stock, grip, barrel, trigger, etc. We'll start on handguns soon. I can't bring a rifle into a room with her without her running over and demanding to point out parts. She'll now ask me where a part is and if I'm wrong, she'll correct me. My goal is to teach her anatomy first. Then I'll teach her function. If she understands what each part is and what it does, I'm hoping it will lay a solid foundation for her education in safe firearms handling and why she needs to respect firearms. As far as actual shooting, I plan to start her around four or five, depending on her maturity, with a Cricket .22LR. She'll move on to my manual action 10/22 and then graduate to a semi-auto 10/22. I don't have a timetable in mind for moving her from one rifle to another as I plan to move her up depending on her maturity and skill.

 

I'm honestly not worried about my kids and guns. I'm far more concerned with other people's children and the firearm education (or lack thereof) they have or have not received. If one day Emma comes to me and says, "So and so wanted to show me her/his dad's guns but I left because there wasn't an adult." I'll know I did right.

WELL DONE SIR!  And a GREAT example you are to the entire shooting community!

 

God Bless those Crickets!  Friends of mine are a shooting family.  Tomorrow I have the honor of instructing a 10 yr old Boy on how to use his Cricket THAT HE HELPED TO MANUFACTURE at Keystone Sporting Arms in PA.   During a pre-arranged factory tour, they let kids select their rifles, push buttons on CNC equipment, metal baths, etc. while watching their rifle being made in front of their eyes!  How COOL is THAT!?  So he got to help make his own birthday present!

[mipafox 438]

If you have, how old was the child? If you started young, do you regret it, and why?

 

I regret it deeply, and the "why" is because of the children.

 

How much is Bloomberg paying you?

[Blacksmythe 71]

My son started at 8, my daughter at 13. No regret. 

[MissionaryMike 1]

I appreciate all you sharing your experiences.  It's a great encouragement.  

[mipafox 438]

Admins, check his IP addresses.

 

They better all be from within NJ and not from universities or Russia (proxies). Trace them and see if any are gov or state.

 

Congrats, NJGF has finally made enough noise that they have to worry about what every other gun forum in America has to worry about.

 

No offense, Missionarymike, I've been down this road many times over many years and I am just a little paranoid when I hear very strange questions about introducing guns to kids and regrets. I'm sure you understand. Bloomberg has spent at least $50,000,000 on efforts like this and has sent his cops around the country to break firearms laws and commit federal crimes for years on end for the greater purpose of trying to embarrass gun owners and gun shops and sue them civilly after committing federal crimes themselves.

[MidwestPX 172]

I think the only thing I'll regret is having to buy my kids more guns as they grow older and gain proficiency as well as love of the sport. Hopefully, one day, my kids and I can hunt as well as compete together.

[MissionaryMike 1]

Admins, check his IP addresses.

 

They better all be from within NJ and not from universities or Russia (proxies). Trace them and see if any are gov or state.

 

Congrats, NJGF has finally made enough noise that they have to worry about what every other gun forum in America has to worry about.

 

No offense, Missionarymike, I've been down this road many times over many years and I am just a little paranoid when I hear very strange questions about introducing guns to kids and regrets. I'm sure you understand. Bloomberg has spent at least $50,000,000 on efforts like this and has sent his cops around the country to break firearms laws and commit federal crimes for years on end for the greater purpose of trying to embarrass gun owners and gun shops and sue them civilly after committing federal crimes themselves.

 

No offense?  Ok, I guess not.  I actually don't know what to make of your accusation.  I don't even know what the big deal is asking what I asked.  I'm not a government or university employee.  I'm a small biz owner in Bergen county, and I live in Parsippany, NJ.  Oh, and though I'm no expert in any regards, I certainly enjoy learning about and shooting firearms.

[MissionaryMike 1]

I think the only thing I'll regret is having to buy my kids more guns as they grow older and gain proficiency as well as love of the sport. Hopefully, one day, my kids and I can hunt as well as compete together.

 

Hah!  If my kids follow suit, I'd be happy to buy theirs for them...at least the first few.  Then they're on their own.  We'll see though.  They're still little.