Hi moms,
Wondering what age is appropriate for a bb gun, or is maturity too much of a factor to make this an easily answerable question? My brother and I had them at a pretty young age, but I can't remember WHEN and mom's no help. Elementary school...but there's a big difference between a 5 year old and a 10 year old. Advice to those who allow guns (or bb guns) for kids?
Thanks for the advice, ladies. My son just turned 5, but after discussing it with husband, we'll wait until maybe Easter or so. He is very precise and has that personality where he just naturally goes with the "regulations" if that makes sense, so I do trust him. Of course, as a little kid, the gun will still be put away and just used with parental supervision, so that makes it a little easier to trust, lol. It is not outlawed. We've been teaching gun safety with a toy gun for a couple months now. I told him if he can handle that gun properly, not point it at people or throw it around, and treat it safely, I'll get him a BB gun for target practice. Next year my cousin wants to take him hunting on family property (we will kill a deer for the his family, and hopefully one for our family and that's good for the year for us---we eat nearly everything and make it last, teaching other lessons with that). But I don't want him going hunting when he hasn't had any target practice or practice holding a gun or whatever.
My brother and I, along with all of our cousins, had BB guns as kids and we never abused them or ANY animals. We had a large target hung on the barn door for the bow, crossbow, blowgun, and bb gun. We also lined up stuff on shelves and would have contests to see who could shoot how many things the fastest. It was good fun. The only time I shot an animal was when a stray great dane went a little wild (a SCARY stray dog) and jumped our livestock fence and started attacking our goats. He tore an ear off one of our goats (mom was actually sitting in a chair reading a book, the goat ran and jumped in her lap, and the dog got the goat's ear WHILE he was in my mom's LAP) so we shot it with a real gun because that dog didn't care that mom was there----it could have hurt her too. Guns do not automatically make you crazy.
Well for one thing they are outlawed in city limits. Supervision is the main concern here..you can draw targets and nail them to trees...never shoot birds or animals...and always have the gun pointed down when not in use. They can be fun...but dangerous too.
My daughter received one for her 5th birthday and my son will too. My brother and I both had them when we were kids and we were taught how to responsibly use and care for it. We still have both BB guns. My daughter is almost 7 1/2 and uses it only under adult supervision and not in town.
Yes, I'd say it's all about maturity and responsibility. There are things I'd trust my 4 year old with that I would NOT trust the 8 year old with. Not a BB gun, yet, though:) IF you wanted to put a minimum age on it? umm... 10 maybe? I don't know- my four girls just like to play with cap guns:)
Where do you live? Do you live out in the boonies? Or do you live in a city or a high density neighborhood?
If you live around a lot of people, a bb gun isn't appropriate for a child who is too young to be trusted to not go out and try to shoot something, and can end up hurting someone. Even 10 year olds make stupid judgment calls, and mistakes.
The old Christmas movie with Ralphie is what I think about when I hear about giving kids' bb guns - the Red Rider that his mom would say "You'll shoot your eye out!" Love that movie!
Oh, and we never gave our kids bb guns, in case you're wondering.
Good luck deciding.
Dawn
Maturity is always important.
I know some adults who I wouldn't trust with a sling shot let alone a bb gun.
Be aware of your states laws about whether they are considered a firearm or not.
A firearms safety class is a good idea.
BB guns and air rifles are certainly things that can not be brought to school.
If you're going to hunt squirrel or rabbit with them be aware of the hunting season for them.
Some information to think about:
http://injury.findlaw.com/personal-injury/personal-injury...
I think maturity is extremely important. My nephew was ten or so and given a BB gun for his birthday while they were out at a restaurant: he began to point it at people.
Yep, holy sh*t!
Kids have to be able to have the self-regulation and restraint not to treat it as a toy they can play with when they want, but to wait until you are in an appropriate place to use it. They have to understand that you never point it at a living thing. The child has to show that they have good judgment and are trustworthy in other situations-- it goes beyond the cognitive understanding of "do's and 'don'ts".
You know, you can also call your local police department to see what their suggestions are.
Marda's a retired cop. Marda, can you weigh in on this one?
My dad is an avid hunter and always has been. He was raised on a farm with guns and I was raised in a house with guns. I never received an actual gun of any sort as a gift, but I have two boys, and my father feels that around 8 IF the child is mature and willing to listen and cooperate is a good BB gun age (my husband was never allowed to have one, but he and a buddy did get in trouble for stealing the buddy's older brother's and shooting out all of the street lights in the neighborhood at age 10). For some kids it may be 10 -others even 6 or 7. Regardless, especially in this day and age, it should be kept where it can only be accessed by you or his dad and he can only shoot it with you.
I think my son was 6-7 when he got his, then 8 when he got his .22. He is about to turn 11 and is on his 2nd compound bow. My daughter just turned 6 and inherited her brother's BB gun and got her own bow for her birthday. She can't wait to go pig hunting with her dad and brother.
They aren't outlawed in all city limits Casey.
It depends on maturity.
I'd say 10, but that's my kids lol.
My husband bought one for our son for his 5th birthday. He only gets to use it under close supervision.
Totally depends on the maturity of the child.
My husband said his dad first talked about gun safety. My husband was also brought up around guns.. His family were hunters
When his father trusted that my husband could be trusted to follow his directions and to take it seriously, he was given the gun for his birthday.
He was 6. His father kept it in the gun safe with all of the other guns, so my husband had to ask for it and an adult was always with him when he used it.
Maturity and personality are huge factors. What type of neighborhood you live in is also a factor. When I think of bb guns I think of woods lots of room away from houses. I doubt I would consider it with a child under 10-11. But some kids are responsible enough (no self control) never!
My boys were 5 and 6 when they got theirs for Christmas one year.
It does have a lot to do with your kid's personality tho and whether or not they are capable of not shooting their eye out ;)
I remember being 9 when my dad got me one for Christmas... I still have it, a rusty, ol' Daisy.
In my house, never. But many of my oldest son's friends started getting Air Soft weapons at around age 12. They have a lot of fun staging "Air Soft wars" in the summer and I let him participate using a borrowed gun because I know that the parents who buy them take them seriously and make sure that they are used with proper eye wear and other protection in a safe setting.
All of my boys got one for thier 6th birthday. The were mature enough for one. They had been raised around guns so they understood that they were not toys.
We are a hunting family, dh is actually hunting right now. Both kids have compound bows, right now they target shoot with them but my 9 1/2 yo is going deer hunting with dh next week for the first time. So my kids understand that firearms are not toys.
We are thinking about getting DS a bb gun for Christmas. He won't shoot it unsupervised, and he won't shoot it at home only at our two hunting leases. DS understands getting a bb gun is a big deal and we feel he's responsible enough to own one. We probably won't wait that long to give DD (8) one, she's even more responsible about firearm safety than DS is.
None...NO BB Gun period. If you are a family that hunts for food, someone should start teaching a child LONG before they EVER hold a fire arm. In my humble opinion, killing for sport is NEVER appropriate...kids who get BB guns usually don't just shoot at cans...they shoot at bird, squirrels and other small animals that should be left alone.
Blessings...
Never! We barely allow Nerf & water guns in our house.
