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I have a 12 year old that I want to take out and learn how to handle and fire a gun.

For those of you all who have kids...when did you take them out for the first time? Any advice?

If you can remember back to your first time, feel free to chime in with anything that you learned from mom or dad.

I was 7, and that's when I plan to start with my son & daughter.

My 3 younger brothers and I all went and took the very first Colorado Hunter Safety course back in the late 60's or early 70's. At that time we were told (as children) that the minimum age was simply "can you read the written test"?
We all passed, and by then were well-versed in firearms handling and safety.
The earlier you start your kids, the better.

I was 4 when I fired my first live round, after having shot arcade games. Both of my sons started handling guns at 4, but started live fire around 5ish. Because they could handle the guns anytime Dad was around, it was no big deal to them and the "lure of the forbidden fruit" element was gone.

Chas.

I'm definitely wanting to get rid of the "mystical aura" and the misconceptions that Hollywood has plastered all over the big screen.

I had my daughters start handling at various times between about 8 - 10. I first took them to the range about 12 or so.

No matter how well you try to prepare, the noise is hard to prepare them for. Not just when they are firing, but the constant concussions of the range environment. In hindsight, I probably should have done an outdoor range the first time.

I guess I was seven when my dad started teaching me. I got a .22 rifle for my 8th birthday, but we'd been working on firearm safety for a while before that.

I found a lot of information on "thecorneredcat.com". As Mr. Cotton said when you allow a child to handle firearms it takes a lot of the "cool because it's forbidden" factor out.

One tip I picked up is to allow your child to handle the gun anytime he or she asks to (in the appropriate setting). My 3 year old son has only asked once so far, he was more interested in learning how they work than handling them.

You might try using the search feature on this very forum as well.

Texas Size 11 wrote:I'm definitely wanting to get rid of the "mystical aura" and the misconceptions that Hollywood has plastered all over the big screen.

That is a large part of the reason my son (10-in-three-weeks) was introduced to the safety, responsibility, danger if misused, and "how it works" of firearms by yours truly...two weeks ago. I even made him read the owner's & safety manuals for his new .22 rifle on the way from the gun show to the range...and quizzed him on it before heading inside for the first time. Oh...and he can also tell me the "4 Rules" any time I ask and could do so before we even went to pick up his birthday present in Mesquite a couple weeks ago.

That being said, not all kids (or even grown-ups!) are ready at the same time, so it really is a judgment call and, IMHO, should be considered very carefully on a case-by-case basis.

My Dad took me target shooting in the woods when I was 10 yrs old. I still have the .22lr Ruger we used that day. When I was 13 my Grandma got me a Remington single shot/bolt action 22 rifle. I loaned that to a friend who went fishing and dropped it in the Mississippi river, so don't have that one any longer. (Guess he was going to shoot the fish instead of catch them with a line and pole.) I neglected to show my kids how to shoot as I lost interest in guns for a long time. My interest has been renewed recently but my children are now all grown, living in other states, so guess they will have to learn on their own then teach their kids.

terryg wrote:I had my daughters start handling at various times between about 8 - 10. I first took them to the range about 12 or so.

No matter how well you try to prepare, the noise is hard to prepare them for. Not just when they are firing, but the constant concussions of the range environment. In hindsight, I probably should have done an outdoor range the first time.

I have taken her to the range so she can get the feel for it. She did not shoot (broken arm). She's getting used to the noise. I was thinking of taking her to an outdoor range this weekend and letting her try it out. She wants to learn and I believe it will be a valuable skill for her to have and maybe even something her and the old man can do together (since she is getting to that point where Dad embarrasses her).

I think my daughter was 12 or 13. It's probably wrong but I pretty much waited until she started showing interest. You would have to know her but it just works better that way, if it's her idea she's more open to the safety sermons. I came in late too. I think I was about 17 before I ever fired a gun. My dad never took me shooting or hunting, he's not anti gun and he always had a few guns but he doesn't love guns like most of us do. I always thought it was because he was shot at too much in Korea.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:I was 4 when I fired my first live round, after having shot arcade games. Both of my sons started handling guns at 4, but started live fire around 5ish. Because they could handle the guns anytime Dad was around, it was no big deal to them and the "lure of the forbidden fruit" element was gone.

Chas.

pretty much my story as well. I stated out with a 10/22 and mkII at the age of 5. This was while growing up in sunny S.Ca.

I started my sons at age 5 and 8 as I started getting more involved with handguns and my CHL. Never too early to start drilling in "Safety First" and as some previously stated, demystifying guns, and weapons in general including edged weapons ( we have a few of those as well). The eight year old shoots the G19 on occasion, but the boys primarily shoot a Walther P22 with a laser sight at the range.

6 years old.

JLaw