Hi German Guy. I'm one of those idiots that gives kids guns. :mrgreen:
To be precise, though, the question is far more complex than you've framed it.
It is actually several questions...
1. When is a child old enough to handle firearms in the presence of/under the tutelage of a responsible adult? (not on the own you see)
2. When is a child old enough to be allowed access to firearms unsupervised on private property? (ie in the home, on the farm)
3. When is a person old enough to buy or possess firearms unrestricted as an adult?
4. When is a person old enough to carry a firearm in public places, as in concealed carry?
I've never simply handed a child a gun and said "here, go play", or had them open a present on Christmas that was a .44 magnum and said "here's the bullets, keep it in your sock drawer..."
No. That WOULD be irresponsible and insane.
However, I
taught my son (indeed, quite a number of children over the years), firearms safety and marksmanship beginning from age 4,
under close and careful supervision.
It is not unusual locally for children to learn to use firearms between the age of 6 and 10 under adult supervision. Many begin hunting between 6 and 12, under adult supervision.
I've known many young fellows in that age range who were already pretty good marksmen, and sufficiently meticulous in their gunhandling that I did not feel they were in any way unsafe...
under proper adult supervision.
My son could recite the Three Rules of Safe Gunhandling in his sleep long before he ever needed to shave.
Numbers 1 and 2 are the parent's responsibility to decide. There HAVE been children (of other people) I have been asked to teach basic safety and marksmanship to, and after talking with the child I declined and told the parent "he is not ready; let's talk again in a year or two". I will NOT teach them unless I see three things: 1. They will take the matter seriously and can be made to understand that guns are dangerous.... 2. They will OBEY my commands when we are shooting at targets... and 3. That they have been taught the fundamentals of moral and ethical behavior by their parents and understand that it is wrong to harm others absent necessity.
Some children may be suitable to be taught (under careful supervision) at 4 or 5, some at 6 or 8.... some not until they are older, and some IMHO will be waiting for a cold day in Hades before I teach them squat.
Depends. Driving a car is also dangerous. So is operating a skid-loader (Bobcat) which I taught my son to run at age 9, or cutting down trees with a chainsaw which he was allowed to do at 12.
OTOH hand I've met 12yo's I would not trust with a pointy screwdriver. Depends.
As a society, we allow purchase and unsupervised access to long arms at 18, and pistols at 21, by matter of law. As to being allowed access on private property (at home for instance).... that's a family matter and one to be determined with great care.
I realize, GG, that this is a very alien thing to you.... I wonder if you can open up your mind well enough to see that we've been doing it in parts of America for literally centuries and in 99.99% of cases no tragedy or disaster occurs?
The tragedies and disasters are rarities. Indeed, usually when a child accidentally shoots another child it is in a home where guns were kept but the child was NOT taught gun safety or allowed to shoot... it is well established that ignorance is a killer.
