**Child Autism/ADHD & Shooting**

[Win231]

Ok, so again...you're going to blame all ASD people for the act of a few...and you wonder why the anti-gun crowd is winning?

No surprise the anti-gun crowd is winning. They're winning because of militant, extremist enthusiasts who believe guns are for everyone.

[blkside]

There are 40 mothers & fathers of young children who likely wouldn't be comforted by the theories of psychiatrists. These are the same "Qualified Medical Professionals" who get it wrong so frequently...declaring inmates up for parole hearings to be "not a threat to society" and sending abused children back into their parents' homes where they are then murdered by those "non-threatening," parents, & declaring sex offenders "rehabilitated."

Your points are so biased with mainstream media nonsense. The fact that people like you seem to treat these conditions as a mental illness like psychiatric issues is alarming. Oh my god he has flat feet, oh so did the last 2 mass murderers.
I would suggest you spend some time doing some reaearch before you just post nonsense that belongs in your toilet.

[Whiterabbit]

She listens for the most part, not overly interested or curious to "play" with it.

I'm not the most patient person, ....
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I'd check myself right there. She's not ready. That's cool. Maybe later.

Personally, I wouldn't introduce firearms to anyone with Autism (or any mental disorder), I don't think it's worth the risk. There are other more-suitable hobbies that don't involve deadly weapons

Well, one of the guys in my club has autism, and he does pretty well. So......

(I think people without autism shoot and are shot and killed every day. Sometimes it is easy to forget that.)

I didn't say that she wasn't interested, I said she isn't overly interested. .

Kinda defensive, being defensive in that way, it does seem like you are eager to "push" your hobby on her. That statement I just made is overly strong and not exactly the case, but I don't have a gentler way of putting it. It's more like the statement I made, taken down 2-3 notches. That's how it comes off.

My advice - take your time, do it slow, and she'll let you know when she's ready. Try not to be disappointed if it takes longer than you'd like.

The man knows.

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This is my opinion and worth nothing.

[darkwater]

No surprise the anti-gun crowd is winning. They're winning because of militant, extremist enthusiasts who believe guns are for everyone.

I'm not saying guns should be forced on everyone...I'm saying you can't draw a blanket conclusion for a subset of people based on how a few acted. If we follow your logic, then technically we'd get better results banning certain races from owning guns rather than those with ASD...but, that would be racist, so apparently it's more acceptable to target a crowd that generally doesn't fight back. As with anything, you have to look at things on the individual level as everyone is different. That's why they call it a spectrum, not a one-size-fits-all bucket.

[Whiterabbit]

so apparently it's more acceptable to target a crowd that generally doesn't fight back.

Progressive playbook: Help me, help you, help yourself.

And if you don't, I will make you regret I ever asked you for my help.

[ar15robert]

I have a son who is high functioning austism he is 14 now but been shooting with me for 7 years i started him young on the 22 rifle and he enjoyed it didnt shoot a whole lot at first but went with me for weekend trips and gradually took to shooting the rifle more.I also let him pull the trigger on the ar and past 2 years hes been shooting it often and getting better at longer distance targets.

These days he shoots it more than me and is really focused on hitting the targets at further range.I let him try my 45 last time out too but hes got some work to do on that.

I got lucky he took to them and respects firearms theres somethings that they just wont do or not interested but camping and shooting is something he likes to do.

[junbug7]

I had the same issue with my son who is also high functioning autistic........ My advice - take your time, do it slow, and she'll let you know when she's ready. Try not to be disappointed if it takes longer than you'd like.

Good advice, thanks.

I'd check myself right there. She's not ready. That's cool. Maybe later.
Kinda defensive, being defensive in that way, it does seem like you are eager to "push" your hobby on her. That statement I just made is overly strong and not exactly the case, but I don't have a gentler way of putting it. It's more like the statement I made, taken down 2-3 notches. That's how it comes off.

Personally, I wouldn't introduce firearms to anyone with Autism (or any mental disorder), especially since, as you say, she's not interested.....

I hadn't meant to come off as defensive. Just trying to clarify what I typed. If I knew she wasn't interested I wouldn't give it a 2nd thought.

With this thread, I was hoping for info on youth shooting or parents with similar situations. I am eager to learn what I can on the subject.... But eager to push my daughter into shooting, I am not. I have not talked or mentioned to my daughter about her shooting at all. I try to do my homework on any subject before jumping in head first, I figured this forum would be best for opinions & info.

Regardless what I learn or find out, If she is standoff-ish or uninterested I wouldn't force her to try just because I want her to do it. Especially not with firearms.
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[A-J]

Let me add that taking my kid to the range whenever I went was a hoot for him. The range we went to allowed him to sit at the table in the lobby area where he could watch my wife and I through the glass. The bonus was he could also see the other people shooting, so it allowed him to see that a lot of other people shoot. Women, children, etc.

It may be a few more years before she's ready to do it, assuming she'll come around. Patience is going to be your best friend, as I'm sure you're well aware.

[Win231]

I'm not saying guns should be forced on everyone...I'm saying you can't draw a blanket conclusion for a subset of people based on how a few acted. If we follow your logic, then technically we'd get better results banning certain races from owning guns rather than those with ASD...but, that would be racist, so apparently it's more acceptable to target a crowd that generally doesn't fight back. As with anything, you have to look at things on the individual level as everyone is different. That's why they call it a spectrum, not a one-size-fits-all bucket.

You're not following any logic. Comparing mental illness to races of people is as asinine as it gets...much like comparing prejudice against Pit Bulls to prejudice against assault weapons.

[Whiterabbit]

Good advice, thanks.


I hadn't meant to come off as defensive. Just trying to clarify what I typed. If I knew she wasn't interested I wouldn't give it a 2nd thought.

With this thread, I was hoping for info on youth shooting or parents with similar situations. I am eager to learn what I can on the subject.... But eager to push my daughter into shooting, I am not. I have not talked or mentioned to my daughter about her shooting at all. I try to do my homework on any subject before jumping in head first, I figured this forum would be best for opinions & info.

Regardless what I learn or find out, If she is standoff-ish or uninterested I wouldn't force her to try just because I want her to do it. Especially not with firearms.
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It's all good. I can't give you the parent's perspective (Thank God for that), but like I said, the guy in my club scores a-OK

[darkwater]

You're not following any logic. Comparing mental illness to races of people is as asinine as it gets...much like comparing prejudice against Pit Bulls to prejudice against assault weapons.

Why? People are born with ASD, just like they are born with their race...they weren't conditioned to be that way. And, if you reread what I wrote, I am not directly comparing them...I am saying that you have grabbed a subset of people, those with ASD, and pronounced it is better off that they don't have guns. However, we have FBI statistics that show a higher correlation of violence to a particular race than we do to a particular ASD. But, like the Democrats rabidly going after "assault weapons", which are only involved in less than 3% of all homicides, you've decided to target ASD people when evidence shows that they are one of the least likely subsets of people to harm anyone else.

[rkt88edmo]

From taking my kid out I just have the following advice.

-Be away from other shooters. The noise and brass from other shooters can be quite offputting, even if you hardly notice it, it may bother them a lot.

-Make sure they understand all loading and unloading operations. Have a clear procedure for what to do if something unexpected happens. (finger off trigger, set down the firearm, and I will be there to help you.

-Go over range rules and expectations. Be by their side between firing periods and preferably sit on a bench so that no one goes near the gear during the cease fire.

-Just shoot the .22lr

-Make sure their gun is sighted in beforehand and that they understand what the proper sight picture is.

-Make the day all about them.

-Reactive targets or shoot-n-C

-Start the target as close as the range will allow.

-Make sure their earpro and eyepro is worn correctly. They may not really understand that their hearing is at risk if there is loud noise leaking in and what things should sound like when the earpro is working properly. (I always have them double plug).

-If you are positioned at their 7-8 o'clock, you can have your left hand near their left hand and your right hand on or near their right shoulder so that you can control their body and keep the firearm pointed downrange if need be (assuming you are both right handed). You may need a extra chair or stool of your own depending on the range accommodations.

[A-J]

-If you are positioned at their 7-8 o'clock, you can have your left hand near their left hand and your right hand on or near their right shoulder so that you can control their body and keep the firearm pointed downrange if need be (assuming you are both right handed). You may need a extra chair or stool of your own depending on the range accommodations.

This is so true. My son got so excited that he nearly swept the line with the gun. Being in exactly that position kept it (and him) pointed in a safe direction.

[Win231]

This is so true. My son got so excited that he nearly swept the line with the gun. Being in exactly that position kept it (and him) pointed in a safe direction.

None so blind as he who refuses to see.

If your son "nearly swept the line with the gun," he's too young for shooting, or not suitable for shooting. And your denial sets the stage for a tragedy & years of regret.

[CAL.BAR]

OP - this is just NOT a good idea. FOR THE MOST PART - girls are NOT into guns (in general). Beyond that - kids on the spectrum tend to be very sensitive to loud noise and disruption. (not really a good thing for shooting) Lastly, there once was a mother who's son was "on the spectrum" who thought that she would help him share her love of firearms and perhaps help her son through his autism issues. His name was Adam Lanza. Google the name if you have to.