BB Guns, and Kids.

[10mm-man]

So, a friend of mine gave his son a BB gun. Said son has had the BB gun for several years, and is always responsible. Treats it like it is a real gun, finger off the trigger, etc. This kid is excellent with real Ar-15's also, been to the range many a times, and can honestly say; I would rather have him back me up (if need be), and trust him more than most adults.

So anyway, I get a call; I was told this kid was able to keep his BB gun in his room, kinda as a reward for being so mature. After about two days, the kid fires the BB gun in his room! It was empty, and the kid said he made sure it was clear, before he "Dry Fired" it towards the bed. Even though it wasn't completely dry, because it was pumped with air.

Looking for advice here, I wasn't sure what to tell him. Kid is going to lose his BB gun for sure, but he also has a couple Ar-15's. Think he should lose those too??


I really don't know what to tell him; I mean we have all made mistakes, and prob have done some stupid shit with a BB gun! How do you reprimand a kid for this? Kid is 11 Y.o.


One side says punish him like if it was a real gun (not that a BB gun isn't), and ban him from guns. Another side says the punishment needs to fit the crime.

Thoughts?

J

[Great-Kazoo]

Who as a kid never dry fired their bb gun, OR opened the window late night and took out a few bottles mysteriously located about 10yds away?

[10mm-man]

Who as a kid never dry fired their bb gun, OR opened the window late night and took out a few bottles mysteriously located about 10yds away?

I know right! But at the same time; kid has several AR-15's! Gotta kind of set the punishment a higher level maybe; so the kid is less likely to screw up later, when he get's them at 18?? Or does it even matter at that point. I say make the punishment "memorable" so he doesn't screw up again.... Or is that overboard?

[clublights]

Depending on the air rifle it may not be able to be cocked with out at least some air pumped in. So the air dry fire to nothing but the click of the hammer is debatable in my opinion.

I Dunno the kid but from your description I'd hold the punishment more like this

BB gun taken away for X amount of time added chores / loss of allowance for chores ( if that is how he is handled)

No "real" rifle range time for X amount of time.
( X= 6months? rest of the summer? .. losing gun fun time for the rest of the summer seems pretty in line to me .. )

To me this seems a relatively harmless mistake that requires corrective action but is not a huge deal.

[10mm-man]

Depending on the air rifle it may not be able to be cocked with out at least some air pumped in. So the air dry fire to nothing but the click of the hammer is debatable in my opinion.

I Dunno the kid but from your description I'd hold the punishment more like this

BB gun taken away for X amount of time added chores / loss of allowance for chores ( if that is how he is handled)

No "real" rifle range time for X amount of time.
( X= 6months? rest of the summer? .. losing gun fun time for the rest of the summer seems pretty in line to me .. )

To me this seems a relatively harmless mistake that requires corrective action but is not a huge deal.

I think your more on point than I am. I might be a little overboard in what I might suggest.

[Lars]

I say this is a teachable moment for both kid and parent. He sounds like a responsible kid and know how to handle the guns as they should be handled. We teach our kids that even BB guns are real and not toys so in my opinion should the BB gun be stored just like a real gun. Maybe not in a gun safe but in the gun room or closest with the rest. I can't say much though because mine is leaning up against the wall in the garage ready for yard varmints. But I'm also not currently teaching a kid about gun safety. You can't take the guns away permanently from the kid though that is for sure. We have all shot things we shouldn't have or done some other stupid thing with a gun when we were younger. I personally got my ass whipped, learned from it and why I shouldn't do what I did, and became a better gun guy for it. Punish him for the crime committed, which was having a duh moment, teach him and move on. Take they guns away for a few weeks, then after the next range trip make him clean everyone's guns.

[10mm-man]

I say this is a teachable moment for both kid and parent. He sounds like a responsible kid and know how to handle the guns as they should be handled. We teach our kids that even BB guns are real and not toys so in my opinion should the BB gun be stored just like a real gun. Maybe not in a gun safe but in the gun room or closest with the rest. I can't say much though because mine is leaning up against the wall in the garage ready for yard varmints. But I'm also not currently teaching a kid about gun safety. You can't take the guns away permanently from the kid though that is for sure. We have all shot things we shouldn't have or done some other stupid thing with a gun when we were younger. I personally got my ass whipped, learned from it and why I shouldn't do what I did, and became a better gun guy for it. Punish him for the crime committed, which was having a duh moment, teach him and move on. Take they guns away for a few weeks, then after the next range trip make him clean everyone's guns.

Definitely on point! Excellent suggestions, and def a learning moment for both. Thanks!

[Grant H.]

Take they guns away for a few weeks, then after the next range trip make him clean everyone's guns.

This.

Take the BB gun away for 2 weeks, and no real firearms for the same 2 weeks. On day 15, take the kid shooting, but before letting him press a trigger, make him give a self prepared "speech"/lesson on the 10 Gun safety rules.

I understand wanting to make an example of this situation, but don't go overboard. The point here is to teach him.

You didn't say hold old said kid is, but I wouldn't be surprised if a whole summer sans gun privileges would be more of a detriment to his future behavior.

[BigNick73]

It was empty, and the kid said he made sure it was clear, before he "Dry Fired" it towards the bed. Even though it wasn't completely dry, because it was pumped with air.

So he made sure it was clear and pointed in a safe direction (mattress sounds like a descent backstop for a bb)? I don't see much of a issue there. He probably should have gone outside, but and knows what'd happen if a neighbor saw/heard it. Plus it's not good on the seals to leave them cocked/pumped.

[10mm-man]

So he made sure it was clear and pointed in a safe direction (mattress sounds like a descent backstop for a bb)? I don't see much of a issue there. He probably should have gone outside, but and knows what'd happen if a neighbor saw/heard it. Plus it's not good on the seals to leave them cocked/pumped.

Very da'ang GOOD point sir!

This.

Take the BB gun away for 2 weeks, and no real firearms for the same 2 weeks. On day 15, take the kid shooting, but before letting him press a trigger, make him give a self prepared "speech"/lesson on the 10 Gun safety rules.

I understand wanting to make an example of this situation, but don't go overboard. The point here is to teach him.

You didn't say hold old said kid is, but I wouldn't be surprised if a whole summer sans gun privileges would be more of a detriment to his future behavior.

11y.o - Good suggestions, thanks!