Teaching Children

[Pokey]

That is the exact reason that ANYONE that I take shooting that is using my weapons gets 'the safety lecture'. Adults or kids. Don't want to listen, you don't shoot.

[AxonGap]

Don't forget to teach them the consequences that a gun can cause if used improperly. Its one thing to teach them proper safety... but they must also know what happens if they fail to comply with those privisions. Kinda like drivers ed that show the "Red Pavement" videos

I remember this story a while back how a dad taught his son the consequences by getting his favorite toy and shooting it.

[The Soup Nazi]

My dad didn't really give me a lecture. "Don't point it at people". Pretty much it, but since I'm not a kid and am in high school, one would THINK common sense is on my side.

[Bishop]

Back when I was a wee lad, my dad had the talk with me; don't point it at anyone, etc,etc... And always said that I could touch the gun whenever I asked. One day I asked (as I had a few times before) and my dad left me with the gun to answer the phone, with ammunition nearby. I was playing with it, and then put the magazine in the gun, and pulled the trigger a few times, then worked the action (with much dificulty) and let one fly through the wall, and into the dividing cinder block wall.

No one was hurt, but I had just had a really negative experience with guns and was afraid of them.

NEVER leave your kid unattended with guns.
NEVER leave let your kid touch the gun with ammunition nearby, there is no reason for it.
ALWAYS help your kid to understand the power of a gun, they are too often desensitized by movies, and tv; MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND! (I like the coke can idea...)

[M. Sage]

A friend taught me a GREAT demonstration for kids (and some adults). When you go out shooting take them, a soda can (full), and a .22. After the safety talk you shake up the soda can then shoot it with the .22. Recover the can (which is usually blown to hell) and let them look it over. Then the important part, tell them to put it back together. They usually turn it over a couple times then imform you 'I can't', that is when you tell them "that's right, nothing you shoot can ever be put back together". The lesson works as young as 3 & 4 yr olds. Seems that when they see it and form the conclusion themselves it sinks in alot better.

That sounds VERY effective. I like it!

I was also raised with "don't touch the guns when we're not here, but if you want to, ask any time and we'll let you." Seemed to work ok for me and my brother (who was a total hellian.)

[radioactivelego]

My father got me a Red Ryder when I was 12 and I plan on doing the same when I feel the time is right. My father got me into guns at 18 with a 10/22, but that was solely because he didn't have the money/patience of 90's gun control hooplah while I was still young.

[NSR500]

A friend taught me a GREAT demonstration for kids (and some adults). When you go out shooting take them, a soda can (full), and a .22. After the safety talk you shake up the soda can then shoot it with the .22. Recover the can (which is usually blown to hell) and let them look it over. Then the important part, tell them to put it back together. They usually turn it over a couple times then imform you 'I can't', that is when you tell them "that's right, nothing you shoot can ever be put back together". The lesson works as young as 3 & 4 yr olds. Seems that when they see it and form the conclusion themselves it sinks in alot better.

Great teaching example! I may use that one day with her.

Right now she's got a good mind set and understands that firearms can be fatal. Her Uncle is also a Marine who served recently in Iraq, so she had lots of questions for him. So far she understands the 4 rules of firearms handling at a good level of comprehension and realizes that guns are not toys.
I'll see how she feels about the pellet gun and go from there.

BTW... Are there competetive youth air rifle competitions in the Northern California region? I may want to bring her around and see if it captures her interest. Right now all she wants to be is a ballerina! LOL

thx guys!

[50BMGBOB]

USI and Chabot have good youth programs. Both have loaner rifles if needed. Check the ranges near you. Even if the range doesn't have loaners a lot of time an aldult working with youth will. I got my son a pellet gun when he was 4 and both of his little sisters shot it to. He got his 22 rifle at age 8 but didn't lisen to his mom so he didn't get to shoot it until he was 9. My brother takes both of his girls shooting (8 & 10) and I just took my oldest girl (7) with them. They like shooting "boar" targets and call it "dead piggy" when they are done. They like to get ice cream afterwards (for hitting a bulls eye).

Not teaching gun safety to kids is irresponsiable. It is a kin to having a pool and not teaching them to swim.

[rkt88edmo]

You might want to be more specific. I know that in the SF bay area Richmond and USI in Concord have youth marksmanship programs.

ETA: (yeah - 50BMG beat me to it)

[NSR500]

By NorCal I mean to look around the Fremont area.