Gun education for kids

Cherish - posted on 06/09/2010

My sister and I were taught the basics at around 5. You know, never touch if our folks weren't right there, how to check the safety, keep fingers away from trigger, never point it at anyone, and most important, never pick up a gun if we are not prepared to use it. My mom was adamant that we learn the basics because she was accidently shot at age 9, by a friend, when they found my granddad's revolver. She was not shy about showing the scar (thru and thru her right breast!) to us or our friends and describing-in detail-how it happened.

My husand and I have also taught our son the basics (he's 7) but have not allowed him to use one yet. He does not display enough impulse control or listen carefully enough in our opinion. When he does get a 1st gun, we've decided on a .22 rifle, single shot. We want him to have to stop and think about every single round he puts thru it. Last year, he got his 1st compund bow...deadly enough, but without the range of a firearm. He is doing much better with listening and thinking about what he is doing, and his accuracy has greatly improved at the bowshoots we compete in most weekends.

Lisa - posted on 09/11/2009

I have a 5yo and a 8mo. I've taught my 5yo to NEVER EVER EVER touch a gun (or a knife) and to tell an adult if she sees one. At this age, that's all that's really needed, and as she gets older I intend to instruct her more. I recently showed her what the difference between a revolver and a semi-automatic was and reinforced the rule that she's to never handle a gun, even though she knows the differences now.

A little story: My daughter wanted to color, so I told her she could clean off the coffee table. She got it all cleaned off except for one thing, and she came over to me and said "there's something else still on the table" so I looked and it was Daddy's lock-back knife. She hadn't moved it at all, just left it lay there. I was so proud of her, and I told her so. He had just the night before told me about leaving my knife on top of the dryer ("what if Alex got a hold of it?"), and said he never left his lay around, so I took a picture on my camera phone and sent it to him saying "I thought you said you never leave it laying around." I told him the story and he, too, said how proud he was of his little girl, and apologized to me because I had told him she knows better and would tell me. I still don't make a habit of leaving my knives lay around, but if I'm doing laundry and take it out of my pocket and accidentally leave it on the dryer, at least I know that my daughter isn't going to hurt herself with it.

Lacey - posted on 04/28/2009

well my dad always taught me to handle my toy guns as if they were real. don't point them at people, always put them away. my uncle david demonstrated how dangerous they were by shooting a full gallon of milk and watching it explode and told us that could be our heads if we miss handled the gun. At six i had a plastic bb gun that dad would help me aim and shoot buy 9 i had a daisy air rifle and was on my own shooting squirrel frogs and black birds.at 11 i got a 4' 10 and at 12 could use it on squirrels alone, got my 243 at 14 and shot a huge buck with a really ugly 6 point rack. I think it was easier because he only had me. I haven't done as much with my kids because they don't listen or pay attention to what they are doing and while i help one the other is doing something dangerous. My oldest is 10 and i plan to enroll her in hunters education course this year.

Amy - posted on 04/18/2009

The NRA has wonderful information that you can get to help. I have two daughters that are in Youth Hunter Education Challenge, for 10 years old and up, I know that does not help you right now. I think 3 is a little young, maybe 5 is a good age to start with a little 22 rifle. I know that you have been told this before, gun locks and safes are the way to go even when your kids are as old as mine. SAFETY,SAFETY, SAFETY. I really didn't introduce my girls to any type of firearms till they were 4 or 5, they love shooting now and have a really good time when we go out. I

Angela - posted on 04/06/2009

It definitely needs to be ingrained in their minds that guns are not toys and should never, ever, ever be touched without you or dad right there. With my daughter, we had her start learning about the 22 rifle when she was 5. It started before with the safety aspects, never touch without us right there. But at five she took her first target shots and loved it. I think proper gun safety education is paramount, how to hold the gun safely, to always make sure you know where the gun is pointing, etc etc etc. Your kiddos are very young yet- for me that would definitely still be the age of no touching at all.