Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It's also a good idea to look into the laws for your state, about this. While some states have no age limit for when a child can possess a rifle, some states do.
In Montana, that age is 14.
Alaska, Maine, Vermont, Minnesota, and New York, a person has to be 16 to have a rifle/shotgun.
A couple of other states even have it at 18 (not sure which ones though)
Anyway, I'd say age 11 or 12 would be reasonable under supervision, and if the gun is kept locked up and put away when not in use. Also, the absolute first thing you should do is to teach your children about gun safety. I'd recommend a .22 to start.
If it's a toy gun, any age.
Here is the actual MN statute:
Quote:
Firearms: Persons under
Age 16
No child under 16 years of age may possess a firearm
without being accompanied by a parent or guardian unless[emphasis mine] he
or she:
< is on the parent or guardian’s residential property;
< is participating in an adult-supervised target shooting
program;
< is participating in a firearms safety program or is
traveling to or from the program; or
< is 14 years old or older and has a firearms safety
certificate from the Department of Natural Resources.
Minn. Stat. § 97B.021
So many risks in allowing a child to be around guns, so easy to make a mistake and have an accident that could harm him or someone else. Why would parents expose the child to these risks? If practised as a sport, it should be done in a protected environment with direct specialised supervision, but I doubt that most children who handle guns become part of their school teams and go to competitions, instead they are simply allowed to learn a tricky dangerous skill.
So many risks in allowing a child to be around guns, so easy to make a mistake and have an accident that could harm him or someone else. Why would parents expose the child to these risks? If practised as a sport, it should be done in a protected environment with direct specialised supervision, but I doubt that most children who handle guns become part of their school teams and go to competitions, instead they are simply allowed to learn a tricky dangerous skill.
Yes, they are allowed to LEARN.
What's dangerous and shocking to ME is that you would ASSUME that the entire world thinks as you do, that "most children" would just be let loose with firearms. You only assume that because you don't like guns. The same things could happen with adults who use firearms.
If you don't like guns, your kids don't have to have/handle guns. That doesn't mean you should chide those who believe differently.
Our beliefs may contradict, but the truth that the world would be a safer place without guns or with gun control strictly applied still stands.
The Genie is already out of the bottle. Given the world we live in, it is MUCH better to properly train a child in firearm safety, than to simply hope that the child (and his/her friends) will never come across a firearm.
So many risks in allowing a child to be around guns, so easy to make a mistake and have an accident that could harm him or someone else. Why would parents expose the child to these risks? If practised as a sport, it should be done in a protected environment with direct specialised supervision, but I doubt that most children who handle guns become part of their school teams and go to competitions, instead they are simply allowed to learn a tricky dangerous skill.
Can't we say that about so many things?
So many risks in allowing a child to be around cars, tractors, baseball bats, scissors......
It's all about LEARNING how to use these TOOLS properly.
I learned how to shoot a rifle at a very early age. My own sons learned how to shoot a rifle at very early ages. They now hunt and target shoot and one has his CC.
Sadly, my kids' high school just started a trap shooting team 2 years ago, years after my kids had graduated. They all would have LOVED it. I would have supported them 100%.
The Genie is already out of the bottle. Given the world we live in, it is MUCH better to properly train a child in firearm safety, than to simply hope that the child (and his/her friends) will never come across a firearm.
This. Teach children how to handle a firearm. Once the mystery is removed, it's not a big deal.
So many risks in allowing a child to be around cars, tractors, baseball bats, scissors......
It is nearly impossible to kill yourself, or someone else, by placing your finger on the wrong part of a baseball bat while pointing it in a certain direction.
Quote:
It's all about LEARNING how to use these TOOLS properly.
A gun is not a tool, it is a weapon. A car, tractor, baseball bat, or scissors can be re-purposed as a weapon, but it's primary purpose is not to kill. It's probably a good idea to understand the difference between tools and weapons if you are going to keep both around.
You might ask, "when did you let your child start using a katana" or "when did you let your child start using spears".
Ninjas or Zulu Warriors might think it bizarre that other parents don't intend to introduce their children to their weapon of choice, but I doubt it.
At the B.A.R.E. minimum, kids need to be taught about gun safety, even if they don't practice shooting at an early age.
As for gun control, sadly, while it's been attempted to reduce gun violence, sadly, that really won't help. Criminals will always find a way to get a gun whether legally or illegally. Law abiding citizens are not criminals. So it's actually a good idea to teach them how to use a firearm, in terms of self defense. Or if you live in some desolated, rural place with many wild animals.
One solution to many of these problems would be to have armed guards in some places, maybe?
It is nearly impossible to kill yourself, or someone else, by placing your finger on the wrong part of a baseball bat while pointing it in a certain direction.
A gun is not a tool, it is a weapon. A car, tractor, baseball bat, or scissors can be re-purposed as a weapon, but it's primary purpose is not to kill. It's probably a good idea to understand the difference between tools and weapons if you are going to keep both around.
You might ask, "when did you let your child start using a katana" or "when did you let your child start using spears".
Ninjas or Zulu Warriors might think it bizarre that other parents don't intend to introduce their children to their weapon of choice, but I doubt it.
So no one has ever been attacked or killed with a baseball bat, eh?
A gun IS a tool. It is a hunting tool. It is a target shooting tool. It is a self defense tool.
My children took self defense classes. One of the classes I signed them up for was using various weapons, including swords, nunchucks, and a bo staff. They all earned their black belts as well.
One was quite interested in swords and knives for a time and has quite the collection.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
