what age is the age
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When they start talking.
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Consider this:
From a very early age, kids learn that guns are versatile toys. They shoot foam, they shoot rubber bands, water, plastic pellets, and so on. At this stage, the brightly colored plastic in their hand is not the same as that dark steel on TV or in the movies, but the hand and mind remember that it was no more harmless than saying "Bang! You're dead! I shot you! No you didn't!"....if that makes sense.
They need to associate what they hold in their hand to the kind of damage it can do, or they need to dissociate "playing" with "guns".
If they absolutely must have a water gun, perhaps one that does not have a trigger would be better than one that does; there is less association with trigger finger muscle memory to "play".
Just my two cents. Heck, I could have it all backwards and upside down.
From a very early age, kids learn that guns are versatile toys. They shoot foam, they shoot rubber bands, water, plastic pellets, and so on. At this stage, the brightly colored plastic in their hand is not the same as that dark steel on TV or in the movies, but the hand and mind remember that it was no more harmless than saying "Bang! You're dead! I shot you! No you didn't!"....if that makes sense.
They need to associate what they hold in their hand to the kind of damage it can do, or they need to dissociate "playing" with "guns".
If they absolutely must have a water gun, perhaps one that does not have a trigger would be better than one that does; there is less association with trigger finger muscle memory to "play".
Just my two cents. Heck, I could have it all backwards and upside down.
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410 Posts
thats a cool pic, and yeah, just like a lot of things, its better you tell them than someone else. i often worried about my boy listening and watching him play his call of duty games on xbox live.i take him to the range and shoot with him and always run the fundamentals of gun safety with him. then i wonder about other kids whos parents dont have interest or time to do these things with there kids, and they grow up playing these video games and thinking its no big deal to pull the trigger. thats probably why you see all those crazies on youtube doing stupid crap with firearms all the time.
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I think you hit it on the head mister sniper! Thanks guys that's great advice.Happysniper1 said:Consider this:
From a very early age, kids learn that guns are versatile toys. They shoot foam, they shoot rubber bands, water, plastic pellets, and so on. At this stage, the brightly colored plastic in their hand is not the same as that dark steel on TV or in the movies, but the hand and mind remember that it was no more harmless than saying "Bang! You're dead! I shot you! No you didn't!"....if that makes sense.
They need to associate what they hold in their hand to the kind of damage it can do, or they need to dissociate "playing" with "guns".
If they absolutely must have a water gun, perhaps one that does not have a trigger would be better than one that does; there is less association with trigger finger muscle memory to "play".
Just my two cents. Heck, I could have it all backwards and upside down.
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275 Posts
I had my lil brother shooting a .44 Ruger carbine at 4 yrs old. He killed 1st deer at 8. Alway handled and cleaned every weapon in the house.
When I 1st bought my G22 I almost traded it within a week because of no safety. But a sport shop wouldn't work with me on a trade for a S&W. (thank God!). I tried him.
I left the pistol on my bed with a piece of thread over it. Told him I'd be back in a week and would show him everything about it and let him shoot it. When I returned home everything was exactly like I left it. That weekend we shot it and showed him how to strip it and clean it.
I believe if they are strong enough to pull the trigger, they should already have had some training.
When I 1st bought my G22 I almost traded it within a week because of no safety. But a sport shop wouldn't work with me on a trade for a S&W. (thank God!). I tried him.
I left the pistol on my bed with a piece of thread over it. Told him I'd be back in a week and would show him everything about it and let him shoot it. When I returned home everything was exactly like I left it. That weekend we shot it and showed him how to strip it and clean it.
I believe if they are strong enough to pull the trigger, they should already have had some training.
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14,103 Posts
My father taught me about firearms when he
figured I could digest the information presented.
Only you know your kid and how much he/she has
matured...if he/she has common sense...if he/she
has the capacity to make decisions and process
incoming stimuli on their own, and react accordingly.
The age of reason differs between children of the same age
and between the different genders...
figured I could digest the information presented.
Only you know your kid and how much he/she has
matured...if he/she has common sense...if he/she
has the capacity to make decisions and process
incoming stimuli on their own, and react accordingly.
The age of reason differs between children of the same age
and between the different genders...
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Because of gun restrictions, and knowing they'd never even become aware that there was a gun in the house, my kids did not really learn about guns until we came to the US. At that time, they were 7 and 11. A year later, they were shooting machineguns. Over a decade later, my youngest has excelled in rifle competitions (2-time Nevada State Champion!), and just yesterday fired her first IDPA match. Eldest was at work yesterday, and now wants to join the next match next month!
One thing that helped since it was both educational to them and a warning to them: take them to the range, load only one round in the gun, and have them shoot it with no hearing protection on. BANG! (ringgggggggggging ears for 20 minutes). Now they know for real what happens when they squeeze the trigger! Works for me!
One thing that helped since it was both educational to them and a warning to them: take them to the range, load only one round in the gun, and have them shoot it with no hearing protection on. BANG! (ringgggggggggging ears for 20 minutes). Now they know for real what happens when they squeeze the trigger! Works for me!
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365 Posts
Well they are only 3 yrs old and 14 months old lol so I still have awhile before I can.Happysniper1 said:Because of gun restrictions, and knowing they'd never even become aware that there was a gun in the house, my kids did not really learn about guns until we came to the US. At that time, they were 7 and 11. A year later, they were shooting machineguns. Over a decade later, my youngest has excelled in rifle competitions (2-time Nevada State Champion!), and just yesterday fired her first IDPA match. Eldest was at work yesterday, and now wants to join the next match next month!
One thing that helped since it was both educational to them and a warning to them: take them to the range, load only one round in the gun, and have them shoot it with no hearing protection on. BANG! (ringgggggggggging ears for 20 minutes). Now they know for real what happens when they squeeze the trigger! Works for me!
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Ah, might be a bit difficult indeed taking them to the range yet....plus, I wouldn't want your other half to be coming after me with murder on her mind! LOL!
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My 2 boys are 11 and 7 (also have a 4 year old daughter). As soon as I brought the gun home after buying it I showed it to them, showed them how it worked, and then had a very long talk with them explaining safety and what the gun could go do if they "played" with it. I've told them that any time they have questions or want to see it to just ask me. I will drop whatever it is I'm doing and bring it out. It's gotten to the point now where they are both with me at my workbench when I strip and clean it.
Here's the hairy part. They of course now want to shoot it but my wife doesn't think that's a great idea. I don't see why not? I told her that I'd only load one round and we can go from there. Heck, I'd probably even do it with my my father-in-laws p22 instead of my G19. We'll see if I end up winning this one...haha.
Here's the hairy part. They of course now want to shoot it but my wife doesn't think that's a great idea. I don't see why not? I told her that I'd only load one round and we can go from there. Heck, I'd probably even do it with my my father-in-laws p22 instead of my G19. We'll see if I end up winning this one...haha.
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