An entry for the Safety & Gun Education forum

[SilentSquirrel]

The quote below is a copy & paste from Member Classifieds



"i would be interested in a trade too depending, one thing I was looking for a small pcp that my 6 yr old could shoot like a marauder pistol carbine, but let me know what you have to offer."

 

[Guest]

And?

 

[SilentSquirrel]

And?

John_in_Ma

IMO handing someone who is not yet responsible enough to cross the street on his own a gun such as a P-Rod is an injury waiting to happen

Better to start with the basics & work up in caliber (pun intended)

It is my considered belief (and the way I grew up) to take a gradual, parental guidance, approach

• Sink toilet paper in the bowl. If you miss, only your feet get wet
• Shoot a light weight, low power, BB gun to develop safe usage & aiming skills. When (not if) you break a window the BB won't even pass through
• Then if a real interest in shooting develops and as skills and awareness increase, by all means continue keep moving up the line

That's my "and"

and I'm stickin' to it

Best for the holidays

Ed





Of course I assume that no prev hs taken place such sinking toilet paper

 

[cea1960]

My grandson will be 7 next month and he shot a Red Ryder for about a year, then a 1377, and now he's shooting an HW 30. He cocks and loads it himself and handles the rifle quite well. He can identify any type of scat in their woods and "guided" me this past September on a Montana squirrel hunt. He shot 1 and I shot 2. That being said, he's the size of most 10 year olds. This person's son may be just as capable. 

 

[kkarmical]

Also very easy to tune the power down in a Prod to child friendly power / fps, it's not like they are trying to pick up a Texan or something.

 

[boscoebrea]

I say better safe than sorry ..so there you go a simple thought that involves safe gun handling and it is up to the Adult to figure out if it is safe..and if the child has been taught right and supervised....guns ain't toys....hopefully he or she has..

 

[lenweber2]

All depends on how they were raised even at that age. At 9 my son was shooting 48/50 at trap. Got his first deer with a bow at 9. Daughter beat the boys at 10 in field in rifle and trap for her hunter ed. Class and shot her first deer that year with a 243. Seems like a life time sgo. Dang almost is.

 

[TiredRooster]

I'm of the belief that you start them early. Only the parent knows their child and it's the parents responsibility to teach the child proper gun handing and respect for the the power that they wield with a gun. Be it a fire arm or air rifle...doesn't matter. I know that where I live, children are hunting with fire arms at an early age. With their father or other trusted men of course for a good period of time. Until they gain their trust and are allowed to venture alone. This instills a maturity in them that is often lost, unfortunately, on many young people today.......my 2 cents.

 

[SilentSquirrel]

Fellas

Thanks for the great stories and anecdotes.

Very glad to hear your personal experiences have been so positive; & imparted with pride & joy

You have made it a pleasure to be corrected

Hopefully all parents/guardians will be a conscientious as you

Happy Holdays

Ed

 

[Guest]

A quick question before leaving this behind. Did you bother the contact the person who placed the ad? Did you ask if their child has already been shooting? Was he allowed to shoot alone or under supervision only? Also who the hell are you to decide what another person does in any aspect of thier lives? So maybe next time you get upset about what another person May be doing check yourself and ask how it affects your life, if it really matters in the long run and if your post will contribute to the forum. If complaining and pointing out what others are doing wrong is what you enjoy there's social media for that.

 

[SilentSquirrel]

A quick question before leaving this behind. Did you bother the contact the person who placed the ad? Did you ask if their child has already been shooting? Was he allowed to shoot alone or under supervision only? Also who the hell are you to decide what another person does in any aspect of thier lives? So maybe next time you get upset about what another person May be doing check yourself and ask how it affects your life, if it really matters in the long run and if your post will contribute to the forum. If complaining and pointing out what others are doing wrong is what you enjoy there's social media for that.

Good morning John

Your point of view acknowledged & respected.

Once again

Thanks to each of you for teaching me something based on your personal, positive,experience; therefore allaying my concerns.

I'm a stubborn old beast; & changing my attitude is a significant accomplishment

Keep those constructive replies cards & letters coming,, if you wish

Ed

 

[whyzee]

SilentSquirrel, there was nothing at all wrong in your thinking as conveyed in your original post. I am new here and have enjoyed the help I have received from others more knowledgeable than I, so with that said, I’m going to bite my tongue after reading Johns’ response

 

[Willie14228]

Your heart's in the right place being concerned and ensuring that the parent understands that these pcps can be pretty dangerous there's nothing wrong with that I know that if I had someone who sent me a message and said they were going to buy one of these guns for their child that I would ensure that they understand that they should be treated in the same manner as a firearm even if they're tuned down.

That being said I live in an area that has a lot of young hunters and from my experience teaching a child to shoot and by extension gun safety and responsibility reduces the risk of that child playing with guns, and as harsh as this sounds taking them out to hunt and seeing a life taken with a gun and instilling into them the fact that these are not toys and what they can do further ingrains that respect for guns.

I know I may offend some by saying this but the idea or concept of buying a red rider or the like of "safe" BB gun is asking for trouble! THERE IS NO SAFE GUN only safe handlers.

My nephew's don't play with toy guns because I never want them to handle a gun as a toy be it Air or Powder 

And when they are old enough in responsibility to hunt and if they choose to pull the trigger on an animal they will help dress it for eating. I want them to see the blood and feel the remorse of taking a life. 

 

[Greenarrow]

these boys can handle guns... supervised by dad

 

[Willie14228]

these boys can handle guns... supervised by dad

It's a very unfortunate fact that we now live in a world that things are not like they used to be. I am 50 years old and when I was a kid it was not a big deal for us 15 year olds to go ask pop if we could use his shot guns and .22 to go rabbit/squirrel hunting in the back 40 of his place 

Today, there are kids (and more than a few adults) who I wouldn't trust with a dull butter knife little on a gun of any type 

That being said just how far are we willing to take this, we speak of our freedom and then we turn around and talk about taking other's freedom. The rights written into the declaration of Independence it's for all. We speak of having the right to raise our children the way we feel proper fit and then attempt to tell others that they are doing it wrong when we do this we start getting into some very murky water. 

Being ambassadors of The Airgun Nation it is our responsibility to ensure that there is a proper understanding and level of safety precautions are being taken through communication and education however once that is done we do not have the right to stick our nose into other people's family matters unless their actions directly affect us or at their actions are by law illegal. We do if course had the right and decide whether or not we personally as an individual will sell to someone else if I feel that an individual is not going to handle the gun that I'm going to sell them safely and ethically I won't sell it to him it's a simple as that my ethics are more important to me then money.

The very short snippet taken from the classifieds does not give us any idea of the situation at hand yes it can be a scary situation but once again when placed in the situation as that I would want to personally talk to the individual and decide for myself whether or not I felt comfortable selling them my air rifle.

I believe that most States now have hunter's education course and that many of those States it is required that anyone born after a certain date has to take that education course before they can go hunting. 

For those of you who are members of air gun clubs this is a productive step that you can take is to create an air gun safety course that can be offered to the public be proactive you'd be amazed at just how much law enforcement and game enforcement will be willing to be involved and assist.

 

[SilentSquirrel]

SilentSquirrel, there was nothing at all wrong in your thinking as conveyed in your original post. I am new here and have enjoyed the help I have received from others more knowledgeable than I, so with that said, I’m going to bite my tongue after reading Johns’ response

Hey whyzee

Thanks for making contact.

Agreed

There is no point or value in intentionally ruffling another member's feathers

Take care

Ed

 

[SilentSquirrel]

gun safety & usage.

Great picture Greenarrow!

I assume it is current; but with the exception of the mini bi-pods & plastic boxes could have come right out of your youth, or even earlier (back to the 1950's)

Ed