Guns and children....what age?

[roofeditor]

I learned guns and gun safety when I was 10 and do date I never carried a gun to school or shot anyone. My Daughter just turned 10 and one of her male friends is getting gun lessons from her granddad in Utah this summer. My daughter wants to start also. MY WIFE is not against it but is not really for it.

What do you all think? 10 too young, or just right?

[Texrob1]

I don't think 10 is too young to learn,especially about Gun safety.

[action4478]

I had my first gun by that age ,,,gun safety courses weren't available then ...just common sense lessons from my dad....

Along with making sure I understood how much responsibily comes with it ....

[montanafan]

I would think it all boils down to the parents' judgement about their child's judgement. I learned to shoot before I was 8, and got my first gun, a bolt action .22, when I was 10. I knew the 10 commandments of gun safety and NEVER shot a road sign, or did any vandalism with guns. My teacher instilled in me the fragility of the 2nd Amendment, and how easily people can be turned against guns. I believe that if your daughter is a responsible child, she's not too young to learn to shoot.

[chuckster57]

I am of the opinion that as soon as they can grasp the idea of what a weapon can do and what it's main purpose is that's when it's time to teach them SAFETY, respect and familiarity. My dad had numerous guns and rifles and I was taught at about 6 what they could do. I was allowed to shoot them under his supervision at about 12. Each child is unique in many ways and thier ability to grasp things differs. I believe that if you teach your children right, and the right way they will practice good habits in whatever they do. Just my $.02

[action4478]

I learned to shoot before I was 8, and got my first gun, a bolt action .22, when I was 10.

That is exactly what I had ...

A single shot...

Still have it ....

[roofeditor]

Also back then boy scouts actually had a gun program. I don't know if they do today.

I'm wondering if gun ranges have a age limit. I did go to a gun range with superdutyjohn and his boy when he was about 14 or 15!

[Packard8]

I bought my first J. C. Higgins .22 single shot at 10 years old (money saved from mowing lawns @ $.75 ea).

Dad and the Boy Scouts taught me gun respect & safety.

Always wish I would have bought that WWII .50 Cal single shot bolt action anti-tank rifle with the bipod in front and 2 recoil springs....you could mail order it from Outdoor Life (or was it Field & Stream?) for $69.00, but who had that kind of money back then......

[bugman]

I say go for it. I was given my first rifle when I was 5 years old, yes I said 5 and I still have it today 50 years later. It was a old Savage 30.06 and I remember shooting it. But I don't remember what happened next. Ever since that day I couldn't get enough of the shooting sports. I knew where my dad kept the rifles and ammo but I also knew what would happen to me if I ever touched one of them without him being around. As has been said you need to install some common sense into her until she knows what a firearm can do and to act responsible when she has one in here possession. The biggest problem that I could see is that she will love the sport and then it will get expensive for you.

Jim

[roofeditor]

Have you all followed ammo prices the last few years? 9mm and 7.62 is very expensive. I was told it was the Iraq war eating up a bunch?

[bosefes]

I think it's more of China and other countries using up so much copper and lead and other metals. I'm an electrician and the price of copper has gone through the roof in the last few years. Most ammunition has just about doubled in price it seems like also.

Dave

[LMJD]

I would think it all boils down to the parents' judgement about their child's judgement.

I'm with ya! Every kid and every parent's different. Some are responsible and mentally mature at an early age and some are not--it's a judgement call.
An ex-girlfriend of mine had the most uncontrollable, non-minding little monsters for grandsons I'd ever seen. One day she asked me where she could get them (8 and 6 years old) the good Wrist Rocket sling shots. I asked her if she still had the high-dollar kitchen supply catalog that had come in the mail. When she said yes, I said good, as long as you're getting "the boys" sling shots, why don't you also order a nice quality set of kitchen cutlery for O.J. Simpson?

My comment went over like a pregnant pole vaulter, but she did not buy the sling shots.

[JESSE 1]

Originally Posted by Packard8

I bought my first J. C. Higgins .22 single shot at 10 years old (money saved from mowing lawns @ $.75 ea).

Dad and the Boy Scouts taught me gun respect & safety.

Always wish I would have bought that WWII .50 Cal single shot bolt action anti-tank rifle with the bipod in front and 2 recoil springs....you could mail order it from Outdoor Life (or was it Field & Stream?) for $69.00, but who had that kind of money back then......

That must have been a Boys .50 anti-tank rifle.

[Packard8]

Originally Posted by JESSE 1

That must have been a Boys .50 anti-tank rifle.

Maybe so, but that was 50 years ago and all l remember is the photo and price, LOL. What would that sucker be worth today?

I still have an Argentine Mauser that Grandpa bought for $15 at Sears in Wichita KS in the 1950's (it is a VG cond, he could have got a "mint" for $5 bucks more.....lol), and a Belgian Browning Sweet Sixteen with 2 barrels that he paid $120 for new.

[Larry S.]

Also back then boy scouts actually had a gun program. I don't know if they do today.

Don't know about the Boy Scouts but I do know 4H still has a shooting sports program. I believe 4H can be started at 11 just as the Boy Scouts were when I joined many years ago. 4H encourages parents to be involved in the program as well. I found it was a good program for introducing my daughter to guns and shooting. She hunted with me for most of her teen years.