When is someone old enough to shoot a firearm on their own?
- Thread starter Mosin-Marauder
- Start date
Mosin-Marauder
New member
My dad is going to let me shoot in my own this month. And don't worry I didn't show them the responses. I didn't really tell them either. I just told them, Can I shoot on my own now? Do you think I'm safe enough etc. So I'm happy. It worked 
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.Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
Mosin-Marauder said:
Congratulations!
Asking in a respectful, fact-based, non-emotional way is actually (a large) part of the evidence that you may indeed be ready for such a responsibility.
Spats McGee
Administrator
Congratulations!
The next step, obviously, is for you to live up to the trust that he's shown in you by being safe.
The next step, obviously, is for you to live up to the trust that he's shown in you by being safe.
My Dad and Mom let me go afield alone with the 22 rifle when I was 9, and with the 300 Savage when I was 12. I was 12 when I got my own handgun, a 51 Colt Navy.
However I grew up without many playmates of my own age, so my friends were my dad's friends, all adults, all WW2 vets and all very safe in their gun handling. It was a treat for me when his friends would come over. Most of the time I was alone except for my dog.
We were outside of a town of only 3,800 people about 9 miles, so the whole mountain range was my shooting range and play-ground. Our nearest neighbor was about 200 yards away, but our second-nearest neighbor was about 2 miles away.
I am now 58. Just last week I had to deal with a man in one of my classes who is now 74 years old, and he was still not “old enough" to have a gun in his hands without supervision.
So I am of the opinion that it depends on the individual, and the level of training he or she has.
Allowing kids to play with toy guns like they are toys means you have to train them to NOT do things later.
Only allowing kids to play with toy guns as if they were real means you never have to teach them a different way to handle a gun.
My dad was a vey wise man.
However I grew up without many playmates of my own age, so my friends were my dad's friends, all adults, all WW2 vets and all very safe in their gun handling. It was a treat for me when his friends would come over. Most of the time I was alone except for my dog.
We were outside of a town of only 3,800 people about 9 miles, so the whole mountain range was my shooting range and play-ground. Our nearest neighbor was about 200 yards away, but our second-nearest neighbor was about 2 miles away.
I am now 58. Just last week I had to deal with a man in one of my classes who is now 74 years old, and he was still not “old enough" to have a gun in his hands without supervision.
So I am of the opinion that it depends on the individual, and the level of training he or she has.
Allowing kids to play with toy guns like they are toys means you have to train them to NOT do things later.
Only allowing kids to play with toy guns as if they were real means you never have to teach them a different way to handle a gun.
My dad was a vey wise man.
As a farther of a 10yr. Old daughter I personally ask her to go shooting with me every time I go. She is now asking me to go and I will take her when she ask without question. I'll drop what I'm doing and take her. By the time she is 18 the way she is going I will trust that she can teach 21yr.old how to shoot. Until than she will not go without an adult.
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