when to start training your children

[woodrow7777]

well i was watching a video ( here is the video http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5854686068870249151
found off of a mustang board

I got to thinkin' and wanted to know what some of the trainers ect on this board think.

When should you start training your children to handle and use firearms. i was thinking i would start taking my daughter to the range when she turns 8 years old. Do you guys/gals think this is too young. i thought maybe start with a 22 revolver and move up to the 9mm when she turns 9 and so forth..

just fishin for some advise here. both my girls are very young but you know how it is, I always think about this stuff.

later aaron

ps. in the video i think they shoot more ammo in 5 min than i have shot my whole life!! anyone know if this is a public thing. would be interesting to check out.

[liliysdad]

Its time to start now. Maybe the actual handling of, but the seeds should be planted. Its never too early to start teaching the four rules, and other common sense things. My 4 year old already knows the four rules, and she can name nearly all of my guns. She has even reached the point that she knows when I get a new one.

BTW, I got my first gun when I was five.

[woodrow7777]

i really think my wife might freak out if i start letting our 2 year old see the guns!!

she already has a hard enough time letting me leave 1 weapon loaded in the house.

so any suggestions on how to handle this situation. i have thought seriously about getting a few of them out and letting her hold them and start explaining the important points about them. i dont know though :(

[liliysdad]

Im not even sure I would go as far as to let her actually handle them, especially if the wife has such issues. I do think, however, that you need to work on your wife before the work with the baby even starts. It does no good to teach the girl anything if the mother undermines it. Get your wife to the range. Even once will do a LOT to alay her fears and misunderstanding. My wife has gone from basically anti-gun to getting her CCW in about 5 years of marriage.

My baby girl is four, and I dont believe she has ever touched a gun, but she knows what they are, and what respect they deserve. The handling will come later.

[skyydiver]

My 2 year old gets to touch (and I mean for 30 seconds or so) a gun if he asks, and only after watching the clearing and checking ritual while I verbalize what I'm doing, and why I'm pointing the gun away and at the floor. He rarely asks, but I figure I need to keep the "wondering eye" from getting too curious for when I'm not around. My dad only had .22s, but I always managed to be the kid unloading all the other kids' dad's "hidden" guns after school while they were playing "point the 'unloaded' gun at your buddy". I can remember this happening quite often as a teen, and am VERY thankful that my father stressed, "always check the chamber, the mag being out means nothing." I know a kid that shot his best frind in the neck in Jr. high. I just want to be sure my kids know 1) how stupid games with guns are, and 2) how to handle one safely. I truly believe that in Oklahoma, they'll be around some when they aren't supposed to, and hopefully they'll leave, but you just never know.

The guy at Sportsmans Warehouse got a chuckle Saturday when my son ran to the case and said he wanted "that one" about the stainless Springfield 1911. I just said "not a bad pick, boy".

[woodrow7777]

thats what i am thinking exactly.. i think when i clean the guns i will let her look at it. and ask questions ect... i also had a friend get shot while playing with guns... i just dont want my kids to be one of those stats that you always here about.

I would like to think that they would not be handling guns without me around but i know thats not true. i was around when kids got their dads guns out. i try to keep all but one locked up.. but still i am sure they will find it.

its like the "locked" alcohol cabinet... good idea that never really worked... jsut seemed to put it all in an easily accesible nice looking glass case (if you know what i mean lol)

[Blinocac200sx]

If they're old enough to carry on an intelligable conversation, they are old enough to learn about guns.

[761mph]

my dad started me at 6, had my own shotgun at 7

[J.P.]

*I'm going to copy this thread to the training section for more responses*