What did you get her? An AR or a .22 Cricket?
.22 caliber single-shot LR Crickett
Bad but I don't see the point of getting a 3 year old a gun. It would be like getting a 3 year old a road bike. I was six when I got my first, a single shot 410.
Age limits are bad but I don't see the point of getting a 3 year old a gun. It would be like getting a 3 year old a road bike. I was six when I got my first, a single shot 410.
I suppose its fine if you live in a rural area. Of course in only well supervised situations.
Good or bad?
I bought my daughter a rifle for her third birthday and parents at the party went ape ****... why?
Good or bad?
I bought my daughter a rifle for her third birthday and parents at the party went ape ****... why?
I don't see why they're making such a huge deal out of a tiny .22
The problem in my opinion is that to a 3 year old everything is a toy.
If you want to give a gun to your 18 month old, its your business. I am just saying that as a parent myself, I think 3 is a couple of years too young.
Not gonna let her tote it around firing shots or anything... controlled circumstances under supervision.
I think kids should learn proper firearm safety and handling as early as possible. Many anti-2nd amendment nuts complain about accidental shootings.In this country well tell kids to not run with scissors so they don't stab themselves or others accidentally. We tell kids to not talk to strangers so that Chester the child molester doesn't snatch them from the street.Well tell our kids to look both ways before crossing the street so that they do not get turned into street pizza.We tell kids to not do drugs so that they do not grow up to be junkies.We have sex ed classes to warn kids about unplanned pregnancy and STDs. For adults we have don't drink and drive commercials so that they do not get drunk off their ass, drive a car and kill someone innocent people. I have even seen a commercial telling teens to not send nude picks to their boyfriend's phone because he might be a douche and show everyone the nude pic.. In this country we have at least 310 million firearms in the hands of private citizens and the constitutional right of citizens to keep and bear arms.So one would think if the anti-2nd amendment group had a genuine concern over accidental shootings then they would support instilling kids with proper firearm handling and safety and public service announcements and tv specials talking about firearm safety and handling.
The problem in my opinion is that to a 3 year old everything is a toy. They have yet to develop the necessary synapses to understand that a device can be a deadly weapon. In fact they don't even understand what death really is yet. I would imagine that if you did a poll of gun owning parents, 9 out of 10 of them would think that 3 years old is too young to really learn anything about firearm safety or usage. Its amazing how much more kids are capable of doing and understanding at age 5 or 6 versus 3. Until a child is old enough to understand that a device could kill someone, or for that matter even understands what death is, then I don't know if they need a device that could easily kill someone if not handled responsibly.
If you look at the few primitive hunter gatherer tribes left, toddlers go with their parents everywhere and thus are exposed to hunts at an early age, but even they don't have a 3 year old wielding a knife or spear yet.
That is not to say that I think there should be legal age limits. If you want to give a gun to your 18 month old, its your business. I am just saying that as a parent myself, I think 3 is a couple of years too young.
At 3 about the only thing I did with Son#1 was show him the results of shooting a jug of water with a 12 gauge shotgun, and explaining that I'd beat his ass if he touched a gun without permission. I let him shoot a little under CLOSE supervision (as in my hands on top of his hands) at 4, and let him observe me hunting and cleaning my kills, so he'd understand what happens when you shoot a living creature.
Didn't really get serious with it until he was more like 6.
That is the way it was when I was a kid too. My son was 8 before he shot a gun the first time, but then again it was a .270.
Because it can kill her, or somebody else. Really quite simple. :roll:
Yeah, it is well to be cautious. 6-8 is plenty young enough IMO, and even then only if they're ready. By 'ready' I mean they take it with appropriate seriousness, obey instructions well, and don't screw around while shooting.
And drill those Three Rules until they mumble them in their sleep!
Good or bad?
I bought my daughter a rifle for her third birthday and parents at the party went ape ****... why?
How would it kill people? You don't seriously think that he's going to let her keep it in her room do you? He bought it for her birthday but hes most likely only going to allow her to use it when he's around and supervising.