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I think I got my first BB gun when I was 13. For me, it was all about target shooting though. I thought it was cool as hell to be able to hit a target from far away, and that's all I cared about. It progressed to better BB guns, paintball guns, and eventually firearms.
My situation with my kids is a little different. I'm in a "blended family" and of the 4 parents, 3 of them are anti-gun and living in a state that is overwhelmingly anti-gun. I'll have to play it cool probably until the age of majority just to avoid any potential issues if we make it back to family court for some reason (hopefully not as everyone plays nice now)
I just let my 12 year old boy shoot for the first time a couple of weeks ago at my buddy's property up in New York. We started him with a single shot .22, and then moved him up to a semi-automatic .22 with a scope, and finally a 30 carbine. He didn't get to shoot the 12 gauge, because he was too small for it, as was my friend's son. He did pretty good. Shot the crap out of a 5" Buzz Light Year action figure from 60 yds away. Dead center and blew the hell out of it!
Checking to see if a gun is loaded is safety rule #1 and very important. Now... what have you taught him to do if he goes to a friend's house and his 11-year old friend comes out of his dad's bedroom carrying Dad's gun?
Why would your son "find" a gun at another person's house? Is he visiting houses where weapons are left where 11-year-old's can "find" them?
Well, I'll chime in and answer those questions. Yes I've taught him to assume every gun is loaded, and when handling check to make sure it's unloaded. Now given that he is still only 12, on his next time out, he will be reminded over and over, until he gets it right. He did pretty good though on his first time. And as for me checking the gun to make sure it's not loaded, I do so myself, even at places like Gander Mountain. Secondly, I've told my son that if he is EVER in the situation where he is at a friend's house and the friend says "do you want to see my dad's gun" my son is to vacate the premises IMMEDIATELY! I don't care what excuse he uses, just get the hell out! Currently, he is allowed to handle firearms in the presence of 2 people, and that is myself and my buddy who has a concealed carry, and is ex-military. The soon to be 3rd person will be my wife once we get her up to speed. Other than that, nobody else! If I catch wind of something like that scenario happening, then he loses the privilege shoot again indefinitely!
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