If you are a gun owner, at what age do you think your children should be taught gun safety and how to use a gun?
by 
supersizeme
ANSWERS: 11
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It depends on your circumstances. New York City might play a little differently than South Carolina. It's probably never to early to teach about gun safety, ie "don't touch and call an adult if you see one" In terms of practical, hands-on safety and use I started with a BB gun at about the first grade. But this was a long time ago, in Louisiana, surrounded by WWII infantry veterans.
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I agree with Possum. Never to early to teach gun safety and i started with a bb gun when I was 8 or 9 but that was a long time ago in west Texas
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If they are taught early on they loose the curiousity that causes the majority of gun fatalities in small children. It's when they don't know what kind of danger a gun presents and not knowing how to handle the situation that little kids get shot. I have guns, and my oldest has been taught about them. Not to shot as he is six, but what they look like, how to treat them, to come tell me if he sees anyone with one.
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I learned early, I think around 7-8. I never have had a negligent gun handling issue from day one. I'm 36..
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I think it depends on the child and maturity factor. You have to make sure you child is ready to actually learn what your trying to teach before they can actually know whats going on.
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I think you can start children off early in both categories. I shot my first weapon when I was 5. I have been shooting ever since. And I have hunted since I was 15. It depends on how responsible the parents are. If the parents are not responsible, I wouldnt recommend it at all.
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depends on their maturity... but it is never too eaerly to learn to leave them alone
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Thats something they should learn at a young age, and be continued to education until they can safely hit a target, and not hurt themselves.
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I was taught at the age of 6 with a .22 rifle. But it all depends on the parents. If you teach them at an early age it will greatly reduce accidents, and will teach them to repect the firearm.
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Birth. Seriously, though there is no age where you should start to teach, gun safety and respect should be taught and modeled from day one. As the child matures and grows so does instruction. For example, I started teaching my son by not allowing him to point toy guns at targets he was not really willing to shoot. I did not just forbid the activity though I explained why and showed him examples of what can happen with a real gun. A hole from a .22 in a pop can is a great object lesson for a young child. As he grew and matured he was allowed to shoot soft air guns, then BB guns, then .22's and now at 12 he regularly hunts and shoots with me. He just took the hunters safety class for the umpteenth time (His grandfather teaches it). In fact, this year he had to officially take it so he can deer hunt with me this season. Instead of just taking the class his gramps taught he actually taught the class while gramps observed. FYI, he got 100%. It is never to early to start and you need to keep it up continuously throughout his life. If you do he will grow up to be a responsible gun owner.
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NEVER! I heard in the news a kid shot his babysitter or mother with a shotgun. Its better to never show them.
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