Many parents wouldn't understand...

[iratollah]

...how I let my 17 year old leave the house this morning with an AR-15 and about 150 rounds of ammo.

This was her first time going by herself to the range. She was meeting her shooting coach for some much needed practice.

I'm sure some parents would howl that this was grossly irresponsible on my part. They figure teenager+EBR=

I felt a sense of pride, similar to when they first go off to school.

I need to find out if ASC will let her shoot there without me, she wants to take a boy shooting for their first date, even though she's not willing to admit that it's a date.

[ProudNativeTexican]

Sounds fine with me. I never had a EBR as a teenager but after getting a truck at 16 I pretty much always had atleast a 22, most of the my M1 carbine and my hunting rifle anytime I might have a chance to shoot a hog or deer. I might not of had that much ammo.

If I had a young lady want to take me on a first date that a gun range I would be happy. It might be strange when I was 17 but still been a good time. I think she just wants to get the word out not to do anything she didn't like cause she knows how to shoot.

[tboesche]

Proud Papa!

[htxred]

ASC will card them/

[DoubleActionCHL]

Wow! I wish I could get my daughter interested in shooting. She was very interested up until she turned 15; then she discovered... BOYS! I think she's safer with guns.

[dukalmighty]

My gun range requires you be 18 or have somebody 18 or over to sponsor you,A few times when I was leaving some kids around 16 and 17 showed up and I told them I would sponsor them,before they shot we went over safe gun handling rules and made sure they understood range rules ,then they took turns shooting,I even let them shoot my SA 1911 45 acp and they got a kick out of it.I am always ready to try to expand the shooting sports and teach responsible gun handling and shooting.

[Skiprr]

I'm thrilled to see women take up firearms and learn about them...particularly young women. It helps make them self-reliant, and it means the younger generations will have RKBA champions.

I can't resist posting this one of an 11-year-old at a combat shooting class:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=bDlodGEp_9o[/youtube]

[ProudNativeTexican]

Great to see young people shooting. My family have never been big pistol shooters but I have shot rifles from a young age.

[iratollah]

ASC will card them

I called ASC. Asked if my 17 y.o. could bring her AR out there by herself and quickly mentioned that she's shot there a few times and that the manager and a few of the employees may know of her. I got put on hold and about 30 seconds later the gentleman got back on the phone and said, "Yes, we remember your daughter, she's more than welcome to come out here by herself." They went on to suggest that I furnish her with a letter saying she has my permission to have the weapon just in case a policeman stopped her, and I appreciate their thoughtfulness. As I understand the state law, a 17 y.o. can legally possess a long gun.

While in the past I've had some concerns/issues with ASC, I'll happily admit that they've made my daughter feel welcome at their range and have been very accommodating to her practice requirements.

I guess I shouldn't find it odd that virtually every range we've been to remembers her, likely there aren't many teenage girls in H-town showing up with their own ARs and shooting jackets. I know of only two others in the state, and their skills are amazing.

[lunchbox]

wish i could have gotton a girl to go to the range with me when i was 17 i would like it now they are a rare breed

[nedmoore]

I think that little girl on "you tube" could shoot better that me!

[Kalrog]

I think that little girl on "you tube" could shoot better that me!

[Keith B]

I think that little girl on "you tube" could shoot better that me!

Yeah, no bullies better try to take her milk money!!

[flintknapper]

wish i could have gotton a girl to go to the range with me when i was 17 i would like it now they are a rare breed

This is quite true.

Unfortunately, even "boys" are less likely to take up the shooting sports than in days past.

It has been nearly 40 yrs. since I was in High School...but it was common back then for an equal number of girls (as boys) to be present on a weekend dove hunt. Many of them were accomplished shot gunners even at age 15-18.

Everyone was safety conscious and parents were not overly concerned about letting them hunt unsupervised.

My own Daughter has been shooting/hunting since age 9-10. I would wager that she is more proficient with a weapon than most of the boys her age now (22 yrs. old). Although she doesn't shoot very often anymore...she does know how to. I think this makes her a more well rounded person.

There seem to be fewer and fewer young folks these days trying the shooting sports.

One notable exception is "JBirds" daughter (not yet a year old). She has already been to the shooting range with Dad!

[DParker]

I think that little girl on "you tube" could shoot better that me!

As many CHL instructors will tell you, women (and girls) tend to do better than males when it comes to benefitting from training. Why? Because they'll actually listen to and follow instructions, owing to the fact that they don't have that built-in "I'm a man and I know what I'm doing" attitude that most of us suffer from, even if only subconsciously.

Shoot...I've heard that, if lost, many women will even pull over and ask for directions