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Appropriate Age for a Gun?

JazzGal

JazzGal

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My brother is a proud multi-gun owner and mentioned today he is thinking of getting his 5-year-old daughter a BB gun for Christmas. This seems too young to me. What's your experience/opinion?

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My brother has a gun safe built into a wall of his house, so it would be safe from the kids getting it out.

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I remember taking a BB gun out at 6 or 7 completely unsupervised. Lots of dead tweetie birds but no eyes lost.
 
We were not allowed to have our own guns until we went through gun safety and were 12. I did go shooting with my dad and brothers younger. I think whatever age they are physically able to handle a gun, are under parental supervision and understand what the gun is, how to use it and what it can do is the appropriate age. That age is different for all kids.
 
I took my older two boys (ages 9 and 5) out shooting a couple weeks ago. We had a 20 gauge shotgun, a .22 rifle, a 5.56 rifle, and a 9mm handgun, on top of a BB gun. The 9 year old shot all of them (not his first shooting outing ). The 5 year old shot them all (with assistance) except the shotgun (his first outing). We stressed the hell out of safety.
I'm planning on buying a BB gun for Christmas. As long as the kid(s) don't have access to it (it's kept under lock and key), I see no problem with it.
 
For toddlers no earlier than 3,nothing bigger than a .22, for an older kid go for a 9mm concealed carry around 9 years old. By 14 souks easily be open carrying at least a .45 acp compact. By 16 it is time to go fully auto depending on state laws.
 
Echo what others are saying; as long as it's locked up, then it's never too early to learn about firearms. When Sloan was 6, we shot the hell out of rotten fruit, cacti, and golf balls with my .45 just so she could see what a bullet could do. Both of my girls know and have felt the power of a gun, and know what it can do. So the first time one of their friends pulls out daddy's 9mm from under the bed, they'll know to bitchslap their friend and leave.

As in all things, idiot parents will ruin it for the ones that do it correctly.

Besides, a BB gun is no more dangerous than those g'damn plastic pellet guns that all the kids play with these days. Those things hurt.
 
bigb said:
I took my older two boys (ages 9 and 5) out shooting a couple weeks ago. We had a 20 gauge shotgun, a .22 rifle, a 5.56 rifle, and a 9mm handgun, on top of a BB gun. The 9 year old shot all of them (not his first shooting outing ). The 5 year old shot them all (with assistance) except the shotgun (his first outing). We stressed the hell out of safety.
I'm planning on buying a BB gun for Christmas. As long as the kid(s) don't have access to it (it's kept under lock and key), I see no problem with it.
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This right here.
 
It depends on the kid(and even more so the parents) but most seem to be ready for a BB gun when they are 5. I got my BB gun(still have it)when I was 5. My daughter got one when she was 5. Then again there are other kids that are 10 who I wouldn't even buy them a Nerf gun.
 
ONE LOVE said:
In NZ, apart from hunting, why would a child need to learn how to handle a gun?



And how many NZ parents currently do this?
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I think that proper gun training can teach a child responsibility, humility, respect, and awareness in a way that few other activities can match.
 
ONE LOVE said:
In NZ, apart from hunting, why would a child need to learn how to handle a gun?



And how many NZ parents currently do this?
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Well I grew up in a rural area, so I had mates that went hunting, particularly duck shooting, very frequently. And trap shooting was quite popular. Possum culls were another one. Obviously there is no absolute need to use a gun, but it is still a very enjoyable and safe leisure activity, and I don't have a problem with people of all ages to engage safely.

How many NZ parents I wouldn't have a clue. It is well regulated though I'm pretty sure.
 
fgcamel said:
Well I grew up in a rural area, so I had mates that went hunting, particularly duck shooting, very frequently. And trap shooting was quite popular. Possum culls were another one. Obviously there is no absolute need to use a gun, but it is still a very enjoyable and safe leisure activity, and I don't have a problem with people of all ages to engage safely.

How many NZ parents I wouldn't have a clue. It is well regulated though I'm pretty sure.
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Yah that's why I said 'apart from hunting'. I've always lived in the city and taking children to gun/rifle range isn't at all typical.


I'd be surprised if more than 5% of all NZ city dwellers have ever held a gun.
 
ONE LOVE said:
Infinity.



Sorry, just don't believe it in.
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There's a difference in not believing in it and not allowing someone else to do it. When you say "infinity", or comes across that you don't think anybody should ever have a gun of any kind. I personally don't believe in smoking, but I recognize others do and I support their right and ability to do so responsibly.
 
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