2 Comments

1. 

   5WarVeteran on July 14th, 2014 at 4:36 pm

   I have trained my children and grand children in weapons safety and use. My daughter was 4 as was her brother. Their first time on the range. They were not allowed to shoot on that day only witness what happens when a bullet hits a watermelon and a gallon of water.

   They both has adequate hearing protection which they held in place. This first step was to understand what actually happens when a weapon goes off. Why the age of 4? That was the time of my earliest memory. Seemed the right time to me.

   My children now grown have never played with weapons and unfortunately while I and my children have personally know friends and parents of children who died “playing” with weapons my children’s awareness prevented that happening. I received my first 22 rifle when I was 10 and I went hunting for rabbit from that age onward.

   My uncle was the one who provided me the most training when I was young, my father was always working. I attribute my ability as a military marksman to my uncle. 22 years medaled every year.

   As they grew they were exposed to multiple weapons ans shooting practices positions. My daughter got the Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys every year in competition turkey shoots. My son served 5 years and made it home safe. I take my grands now to the range and they get to shoot a variety from a 1945 Moisin Nagant to the WASR10 and my Remington 700 7mm Mag. I also have a fair selection of hand weapons as well. They learned breakdown and cleaning before shooting and then of course the clean up afterwards. No complaints about that responsibility. My children and their children have a healthy safety training background with no mishaps.

   Is there an age when they are too old? That would be based on their behavior, I would never take a child that acts like a douche shooting. I only take those who listen and respond respectfully.

   On the range I am the Alpha Male but everyone is responsible for range safety over everyone else. No complaints from adults admonished by children who catch a mistake being made. No sibling rivalries other than the appropriate who did a better job at hitting the target.

   Reply
2. 

   5WarVeteran on January 14th, 2020 at 3:29 pm

   I have trained my children and grand children in weapons safety and use. My daughter was 4 as was her brother. Their first time on the range. They were not allowed to shoot on that day only witness what happens when a bullet hits a watermelon and a gallon of water.

   They both has adequate hearing protection which they held in place. This first step was to understand what actually happens when a weapon goes off. Why the age of 4? That was the time of my earliest memory. Seemed the right time to me.

   My children now grown have never played with weapons and unfortunately while I and my children have personally know friends and parents of children who died “playing” with weapons my children’s awareness prevented that happening. I received my first 22 rifle when I was 10 and I went hunting for rabbit from that age onward.

   My uncle was the one who provided me the most training when I was young, my father was always working. I attribute my ability as a military marksman to my uncle. 22 years medaled every year.

   As they grew they were exposed to multiple weapons ans shooting practices positions. My daughter got the Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys every year in competition turkey shoots. My son served 5 years and made it home safe. I take my grands now to the range and they get to shoot a variety from a 1945 Moisin Nagant to the WASR10 and my Remington 700 7mm Mag. I also have a fair selection of hand weapons as well. They learned breakdown and cleaning before shooting and then of course the clean up afterwards. No complaints about that responsibility. My children and their children have a healthy safety training background with no mishaps.

   Is there an age when they are too old? That would be based on their behavior, I would never take a child that acts like a douche shooting. I only take those who listen and respond respectfully.

   On the range I am the Alpha Male but everyone is responsible for range safety over everyone else. No complaints from adults admonished by children who catch a mistake being made. No sibling rivalries other than the appropriate who did a better job at hitting the target.

   Reply