Age to introduce guns to your kids

[Little Dutch]

[ChickNorris]

[beast556]

That is hilarious

[Gman]

He'll eventually learn to take care of his equipment.

[jenznat0r]

The same could be said for spouses/significant others who haven't shot before. I get she's an adult, but the same concept applies. Overcoming anxiety about firearms is the biggest thing

I got my wife a single shot 22 to start out on. She loved it and her success rate on it was high. Now she's moved onto other guns. But getting her started on something simple was what got her into the hobby and easing her into it.

[CS1983]

My oldest just turned 5. For his bday I got him a “toy” double barrel shotgun. It makes noise when the hammers are cocked and when the triggers are pulled. Each day we go over the “4 rules”. He is not allowed to touch it until he has successfully recited the rules 3 times in a row. We treat it like a real firearm. Muzzle control, trigger finger off until ready to “shoot”, etc. he is not allowed to walk around with it. We also do ad hoc training on target selection and knowing what’s behind it in “shoot/no shoot” scenarios.

Once he is solid on what we have done, we will move to more advanced things (walking with it, etc.). He will not touch a real firearm until he has demonstrated competence in safety and handling.

We are also going over reacting to the unsafe practices of others, using the toy. Things like if someone points a gun at him or is playing with one, what to do, say, etc.