A question we’re asked quite often is, what is the right age to begin teaching children about firearms? Our friend Xavier (from Xavier Thoughts) just wrote an outstanding piece about how, when, and why to teach your children to handle firearms. Here is one part of that article:
There are those who say that if there are going to be guns in the home, they should be locked away from children. Guns should be secured when not in use or under adult control. Children do not all have equal levels of maturity, and parents will often be surprised at what a child does when the child is alone with friends. Teaching the child to shoot removes the lure of the taboo from the gun in the home. If anything, the gun safety that the child learns will serve them well when they are at a friend’s home, and the friend want to show off the unsecured gun in the house.
Read the whole article at XavierThoughts.blogspot.com.
The biggest mistake parents can make is to keep firearms in the home and fail to teach them how to handle them safely, safeguard them, and what the rules of the house are.
Taking a child out to shoot can be one of the most powerful things you do for that child. Kids will always want to be older, bigger, and more mature than they are. It’s nature. Providing your child an opportunity to learn to shoot a firearm safely is a very positive experience for them and their personal growth, as they see that their Dad (or Mom) is placing a special trust and confidence in them that they know is a privilege. Moreover, the time a parent takes to talk and teach their child to shoot or handle a firearm is a worthy investment in the relationship.
Just like teaching a child how to be safe around silverware, household appliances, lawn tools, or any other household hazard, passing on the good practices and traditions of safe gun-handling pays life-long dividends.
My daughter knows where the firearms are in my house. She knows which ones are loaded, too. She also knows that anytime she ever wants to see or handle one she only needs to come to me and ask permission and we’ll do it together. She does this periodically, and absolutely loves to demonstrate to her father that she knows how to check, operate, and safe handle my pistols. Once she has satisfied her curiosity it’s back to being a kid. I rarely ever say “no,” in fact I can’t think of an instance that I ever have. It is important to say “yes” and show that you care and that they are important.
I have had great success with this, and it is how my dad raised me. It works.
Tim Slemp
Xavier links to Randy Pausch’s last lecture at Carnegie Mellon on achieving your childhood dreams. If you have never seen it, you should take the opportunity.
great article, thanks for posting the link Todd.
Prior to me teaching my son to shoot, we spent a day going over safety prior to going to the range. He listened, and practiced safe habits. Each and ever time thereafter, safety was discussed prior to him handling the weapon.
The guys at the range love to see my nine year old daughter carry in her Marlin 22.
She also likes to fire my Kahr P9.
She knows that she can shoot ANY of my weapons as long as we are together. She more likes bonding with me than shooting I think. Good for her, and me!