Young hunter

I was 8 years old when I learned to shoot my first gun, actually a compressed CO2 rifle. I soon learned to hunt birds with it. Nowadays though, with the kids bombarded daily with violence, I'm in doubt if they should be introduced to firearms at that tender age. What do you think is the appropriate age for a kid to be allowed to handle firearms for hunting?

I do think that the younger generations are more vulnerable to this sort of stuff...however, it worries me to think that I won't be able to teach my son/daughter when they're that age to learn how to safely handle and use firearms.

I was always taught how to handle firearms in the safest fashion, and I remember having a great time with my grandfather on his farm shooting cans and other targets when I was younger (still do!).

I hope that I can share the same experiences with my kids that I had when I was younger.

It should be possible to share those experiences, just as long as a few basic safety rules are followed.

Although I am uncertain as to the exact age that it is considered safe to start teaching a child to use a gun.

Shooting cans is great fun, and it really teaches good hand and eye co-ordination. Also, knowledge of how a gun works can be useful for an understanding of certain aspects of science, such as energy, momentum, and so on.

Good point!

I always thought about shooting as an education in self-discipline and responsibility. When I used to hunt birds as a kid, I was thought to cook and eat whatever it is I killed and never to hunt animals for the sake of killing (my grandfathers were superb hunters).

It also taught me patience and to give my best for that first shot. I don't hunt now but I still carry those principles I learned up to this day. But I didn't watch much TV in those days either, I usually spend my weekends and summer reading books, doing chores, or hiking the backwoods.