Thread: How young is to young?

Originally Posted by Tahr

This whole thread is based on a floored assumption. That assumption being that all parents who hold a firearms license are rational and sensible human beings, and that all children can reason, and act on instructions.

Because of this, there can be no "standard" for when and how children are introduced to firearms. Clearly, for some the answer should be never.

Sadly, the dilemma is that those who shouldn't be teaching their kids this stuff, or parents who's kids just aren't ready for it, probably lack the self awareness to know not to.

That's why I'm so cautious about generalized advice on this topic.

Agreed. In saying that, I should think about getting someone else to give THAT talk you are supposed to have with your kids around 11 or 12. Coz I have no friggin idea and am the last person that should talk to them about it

Is that the talk that discusses the differences between an aviary and an apiary?

Originally Posted by Tahr

This whole thread is based on a floored assumption. That assumption being that all parents who hold a firearms license are rational and sensible human beings, and that all children can reason, and act on instructions.

Because of this, there can be no "standard" for when and how children are introduced to firearms. Clearly, for some the answer should be never.

Sadly, the dilemma is that those who shouldn't be teaching their kids this stuff, or parents who's kids just aren't ready for it, probably lack the self awareness to know not to.

That's why I'm so cautious about generalized advice on this topic.

Ummmm....thats a flawed assumption, not a floored assumption.

Damn and here I was thinking that someone had knocked the assumption out.

bring back the pus bucket air rifles that can barely put a hole in a aluminium can. The one I grew up using (under supervision) was like tits on a bull but I loved it, then I moved onto my dads Diana mod 45 which is almost as deadly as a .22, still got it.

Both my kids started coming out on trips at around 4yrs. I remember my daughter's first time spot lighting possums, the last one for the night was a hang up. anyway she had just started school, on monday at school she drew a very detailed picture (She loves art) with the possum stuck in the tree and me bellow it holding a gun. Then got the teacher to write "My Dad shot a possum. The blood went tap tap tap on the ground"

3 year old learning to shoot - YouTube

You can make your own caption for this clip???

Originally Posted by big_foot

3 year old learning to shoot - YouTube

You can make your own caption for this clip???

Wow!

"ok look where your shooting" what a fuckin joke aye.

Clearly no foundation of safe firearm use installed before handing the poor kid a gun.

That kid had no interest

A couple of things from me ... you will know when ...
Like Rushy said - make if fun. With my son I wanted him to see the damage that even the .22lr could cause. I wanted him to appreciate the danger involved in shooting. We shot all sorts of things, fruit, veges, cans of VB, water melons, all sorts of stuff ... after the hooting, he pretty quickly realised the dangers to shooting the message sunk in. Then we did it with a shotgun ... OMG he got it.
As he got a little older he became more confident and as boys sometimes do - they stop listening to their dads. I sent him off with a friend for a rabbit shoot and he drilled him nicely in safety and rules and general stuff. I returned the favour and took his boy. NZDA hunt program's would also help as would gun clubs with their etiquette & rules. ATB ... Gunzrrr

Great discussion here, I really like Tahr's comments. It really is up to the individual. I do think we need to remember that age might not mean maturity, even further down the end of the scale...I certainly have ticked a few people as "never go shooting with this person again" and they weren't four years old.

Something i have seen over the years is fathers wanting there kids to hunt, more so than the kids wanting to hunt, so i dont push it at all, i only take mine out when they ask
The teenagers get there pig fix now and then but would much rather go fishing
The 2 younger ones, its an adventure more than a hunt, we have food,drinks and a cup of tea and most importantly mummy comes too, we play with sticks and stones, look at birds and trees and if the dogs find a pig i deal with that and mum and kids keep on playing
Its never been about the guns or shooting, just an outing/adventure

Classic

Not sure what happened there, someone please delete a photo