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Perhaps I am harsh, perhaps not; but I lovingly and gently explained the safety rules to my 6 year old son the first time I ever took him to the range; and then I looked him in the eye and made sure I had his full attention before firmly explaining to him that if he ever broke any of these rules even just once, I would never take him to the range again.

I then walked him through each step of how to safely inspect, load, aim, fire, and put down his little single shot .22 rifle I had bought him. I hovered a bit and repeated to him a number times to just take his time, not to hurry, and to think about what the next step should be. I pretty much got no shooting done myself that day, but I still had a ball, and so did he. He pretty much got it all down that day as far as safety, and he was able to get off a couple of hundred rounds of .22LR.

We've gone to the range countless times ever since that first trip, and he is my primary shooting buddy. He was so proud of the little .22 when he first got it, and he was a very determined little boy - determined to never do anything that would lose him the privilege of shooting it. I'm very proud of how he turned out. When he was 14, I gave him my Ruger M77 MkII in .308, and that became his primary shooter. He's 18 years old now, and an amazing shot with his own 1911. He also owns a heavy barreled Savage 10FP-HS Precision bolt rifle in .308 now which he shoots very well too.

Teach 'em right, and it will give them a lifelong passion, and it will give you and your kid something around which to continue to forge your relationship - which is what shooting with kids is all about.