How old were you when you first shot a gun...

34 and I now own a lovely Gamo (air pistol, I'm in the UK, plus my aim is nowhere good enough to get my shot gun licence yet, I'd be deadly lol)

Love going to the range, even if I do shriek and close my eyes... :-)

michaela_g09 wrote: »

hamlet1222 wrote: »

Am I the only one here scratching my head at how everyone else seems to think children firing guns is a good thing?

Probably not the only one but you would probably be surprised on how many people believe it IS a good thing. Educating children on the proper use of a firearm is something I believe every kid should be taught regardless of their parents, where they live, etc.. That doesn't mean they have to go out and use one, own one, or even be pro-gun. Teaching them how to use one safely, if nothing else, means they won't pick one up and accidentally shoot someone and they will know how to be disciplined with one.

They are extremely unlikely to pick one up and accidentally shoot someone if they have no guns around for them to do so.
Such accidental gun shootings by children are unheard of in most countries.
So, no, every kid does not need to be taught how to use a firearm wherever they live.

I never was and nor did I need to. Nor were my children or any other children I know. Nor would anyone I know agree to that premise.

I was 8. .22. Before that BB. Born and raised around guns.
My dad was 4 and his 7 year old uncle took him out shooting.
My brother took his oldest shoot when he turned 5. He loved it.

5 or 6. We always had guns around the house...

I think I was about 12 and it was a big deal. Here in Canada we don't generally hand our kids guns for their 5th birthdays

4, 17MM that I still shoot today. I live in the American Wild west and have continued to teach firearm safety to my children and others. All of my children all have their own weapons also, and have been taught to respect them as weapons. First thing I ever shot ended up as dinner for my family. We had rabbit stew. We continue to hunt as a family and I love the adventure of bringing in a freezer full of meat where I know what the meat processing looks like. Nothing better than a large moose roast in the crockpot.

I was 16, it was a .22.

My son was 6 and my daughter was 4. Both have shot BB guns and my .380 with my assistance.

glassyo wrote: »

My late 20s at a shooting range...where we quickly learned if I have to shoot someone, everything that's not the target will get hurt the most.

Haha I was recently at the outdoor range and the sight on my .40 was off, I knew it was. Boy, I hit everything on the box except the target.

_John_ wrote: »

Most countries don't trust their citizens...

Meaning???

My dad was a gun safety instructor, I never touched a gun until after I took the course at age 11. After that I shot a .410, a .22, .30-30, 20ga, 12ga, and .30-06.
Have always had a healthy respect for firearms though. I see too many people treat them lightly and not emphasize the fact that a gun is not a toy. I actually think that is more common in people that come to guns later in life than those that have families with a history of gun ownership. Most people I know that grew up with guns can be pretty strict about how they are handled. (As it should be)