** Child Autism/ADHD & Shooting **

[readysetgo]

I've been to a WoT class at Burro Canyon, I enjoyed it & that's a idea to explore for my daughter. One on one would be best since too much background stuff would be distracting for her.

Excellent. Some of those same instructors should be available for private lessons.

You likely met dannytheman? Talk to him and see if he can't point you in the right direction. Also, the Forward Assist Training guys are involved there and run there own WOT. I believe they are close by you. Try them too, good guys. http://www.forwardassistt.com/

eta: I forgot, this member might be a good resource to contact too: meyerlemony, she is involved with WOT and A Girl and a Gun (FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/AGAGBurbank/).

[SkyHawk]

Adam Lanza

and Chris Harper-Mercer



were both "high functioning" autistics too. Adam's mother Nancy Lanza and Chris's mother Laurel Harper were both gun enthusiasts


and both mothers thought it was a really great idea to get their high functioning autistic sons involved with shooting, and took great pride in their sons' knowledge of shooting and firearms.

Adam Lanza killed his mother with one her guns, then took some of her guns to Sandy Hook Elementary School and murdered 26 people, 20 of them young children, before shooting himself.

Laurel Harper moved from California to Oregon with her high functioning autistic son. Chris Harper-Mercer went to Umpqua Community College and shot 16 people, nine fatally, before shooting himself. Laurel Harper who once posted on internet forums prolifically has vanished from internet forums and apparently has moved back to California.

Are you equating all Austic people with these two murderers?

[wipaho]

In general,
A BB gun is a great way to start out, then as me (when I was a kid), move up to the 22.

Yeah I was projecting a bit with the meds thought.
Might not even apply to your original questions.

But I would take the time to personally instruct the basics first, then go with an advanced instructor in a public setting if the interest is there.

I feel firearm safety is important to teach your child (at a reasonable age), if you have and keep firearms in your home.

[Capt.Dunsel]

While referencing your list of famous, high-functioning autistic people, you left one out: Adam Lanza...whose mother thought shooting was an ideal hobby for her autistic son.

And, before you call anyone a "nit wit," "nincompoop" or "idiot," learn 2nd grade spelling. It's you're all a bunch of, not your.

First , Adam Lanza was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome , different part of the HF Autism spectrum ( try researching before you open YOUR keyboard).

And for the "your" and "you're" , take that up with the voice recognition software I use , hey you seem to be smarter than a program ! I won't explain to YOU why I need to use it .

People should not speak/type before they get all the facts on a subject , just show how close minded ( nit-wit , nincompoop and idiots ) the 95% are.

And to those that are too young to remember , Eddie Eagle was the NRAs gun safety program for youth. Did I just show my age again ?

To the OP , teach her or have any of the noteworthy group of people help you . Bet you she will get a big kick out of learning.

[Capt.Dunsel]

Are you equating all Austic people with these two murderers?

Yep , just like the anti gun folks do to the law abiding citizens .
He sounds like a Hillary supporter to me .

[dozer wright]

Ok

The fact you feel the need to have "the talk" every time you go shooting indicates either there have been past incidents or you at some level feel the the need to repeat the ground rules. Either way, not good.

Wow
I would have the same talk with you or any other person I took shooting .
I do the same thing with all adults I take shooting . My boys are also probably some of the most safe firearm handlers I have ever had the chance to be around . To the point that the R.o. at the local range has complemented them on the way they handle themselves . Training is training everytime you go to the range they go over the same rules over and over for a reason .

[Stumpfenhammer]

If ADHD was a disqualifying condition for firearms use we'd face a serious challenge finding qualified recruits for most special operations billets. I'm much more worried about dummies who speak and react without understanding, and/or people I see at the public range who think they are safe but don't have the first clue, than I am a kid who happens to not be exactly in the middle of the bell curve.

Anti-Social Personality Disorder (which you should be worried about) is something unrelated to and completely different than ADHD or Autism. ASPD and NPD are two conditions you should do some reading on, as chances are you'll run into one or the other eventually, and unlike ADHD or Autism, they are inherently destructive conditions.

The fact that Adam Lanza (may have been) autistic or had Asperger Syndrome doesn't mean that either of those conditions are what motivated him to kill. Most killers, even mass killers, are not autistic by the way. Might as well blame it on his race, as I'm sure mass killers have a higher incidence of whiteness than autism.

I also know someone with Asperger Syndrome who I'm betting has made an order of magnitude larger contribution to the safety and effectiveness of U.S. peacekeepers and warfighters than anyone on this thread, and likely calguns as a whole. He carries a gun every day, wouldn't commit a crime even if he knew he could get away with it, is happily married. He just has a hard time relating to whining, gossiping, or any of those other illogical things "normal" humans engage in.


Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.

[Stumpfenhammer]

Ok
Wow
I would have the same talk with you or any other person I took shooting .
I do the same thing with all adults I take shooting . My boys are also probably some of the most safe firearm handlers I have ever had the chance to be around . To the point that the R.o. at the local range has complemented them on the way they handle themselves . Training is training everytime you go to the range they go over the same rules over and over for a reason .

And I thank you for it. You cannot be too safe, and discussing it on a regular basis is a good way to get safer. Anyone who doesn't get that is themselves unsafe. They just don't know it, which makes them that much more dangerous.

[RedBluff]

My 14 year old falls in the spectrum. She's also been in the Young Marine program for 5 years. She's super attentive, and very much conscious of the responsibility and severity. She and her sister enjoy range days but I also don't push it. Now that they both have their range participation ribbons it's totally their call if they want to go or skip it. So far they haven't skipped one yet.

Temper your desire for her to get into it and please keep in mind that if and when it goes south........IT WILL BE YOUR FAULT.

[Red-Osier]

I have a 9 year old daughter who has Autism & ADHD. She's on the higher end of the spectrum with her Autism, and her Rx for ADHD is pretty effective. Since I bought my first handgun in 2013, I've sooo wanted her to become familiar with firearms and learn to shoot. When I have a firearm out to clean & such, I casually show it to her. She listens for the most part, not overly interested or curious to "play" with it.

I'm not the most patient person, and I don't want her to have any anxious or uncomfortable feelings when learning. Besides I'd rather a more advanced/experienced individual teach her. Does anybody know of any Instructors, ranges, classes that would be suitable for her?? Any info would be appreciated, thanks!! =)

Well, I knew more members would see this thread here junbug.

[faris1984]

I would not let my son , daughter shoot gun if they have any kind of mental disability , guys find them something else to play with plz , I understand how much love you have for your kids but give them something else but not guns , you may control them now but you never sure in the future if the feel depressed what they will do.

[Kestryll]

Trying to make normal what which is not. Please don't shoot anywhere near me or other people. Find her/them another interest. You are projecting your own needs onto one who is probably better off not getting into shooting and firearms, whether prohibited person or not.

You sir are a loon.

Let me give you a heads up on why.

When I was a child, back before 'ADD/ADHD' and all that kids like me were called 'hyperactive' and some of us were the test bed for things like Ritalin.

My Dad took me shooting, taught me gun safety and respect, taught me to hunt upland game birds and took me hunting pheasant and other things.
I am now an NRA Certified RSO/Instructor.

I have a friend who is a Danzen Ryu Sensei and a fellow shooter, he has been diagnosed from a young age with Tourettes and Aspergers.
I would trust him to cover my back any day of the week except Saturday.
He is an Orthodox Jew so on Saturday's I'd watch his back as the token Gentile.

You have no clue what you are speaking of.

[Kestryll]

She's also been in the Young Marine program for 5 years. She's super attentive, and very much conscious of the responsibility and severity.

This tends to be a hallmark of hyperactivity/ ADD/ADHD.

I know quite a few adults that share this issue and we all have a tendency to 'super-focus' on a task or interest at times.

When I read and get in to a book the world ceases to exist, you could fire off a .338 Lapua next to me and I'd never know.

When I clean my guns or go to the range that is the focus.

It's all about managing their focus and teaching them to manage it as they grow.

[Kestryll]

The fact you feel the need to have "the talk" every time you go shooting indicates either there have been past incidents or you at some level feel the the need to repeat the ground rules. Either way, not good.

Repetition ingrains things in to the mind, more so if you have a mind that moves at 90mph and deals with seven things at once.

[vliberatore]

You sir are a loon.

Let me give you a heads up on why.

When I was a child, back before 'ADD/ADHD' and all that kids like me were called 'hyperactive' and some of us were the test bed for things like Ritalin.

My Dad took me shooting, taught me gun safety and respect, taught me to hunt upland game birds and took me hunting pheasant and other things.
I am now an NRA Certified RSO/Instructor.

I have a friend who is a Danzen Ryu Sensei and a fellow shooter, he has been diagnosed from a young age with Tourettes and Aspergers.
I would trust him to cover my back any day of the week except Saturday.
He is an Orthodox Jew so on Saturday's I'd watch his back as the token Gentile.

You have no clue what you are speaking of.

A schooling and a joke?

I'm really getting my money's worth here