From: jheath@fieldofdreams.npirs.purdue.edu (Jim Heath)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Youth Shooter Questions
Date: 9 Sep 92 21:27:25 GMT
Organization: Center for Environmental and Regulatory Information Systems, Purdue University

#From article <9209082256.AA27306@hplsdmc.col.hp.com>, by saksa@col.hp.com (Tom Saksa):
# My daughter, (age 9), has recently returned from a two week kids
# summer camp where she did some conoeing, riding, archery, and
# shooting.  Since then she expressed an interest in learning more
# about target shooting, and I wish to oblige her if it can be done
# reasonably safely.  I am hoping for a bit of advice, and the
# answers to the following questions.
# 
#    1. Is 9 a good age, or should I try to hold off?  I know that
#    this is probably somewhat dependent on the child and other
#    situations.  My daughter is very responsible and I do not under
#    any circumstances plan to allow her any unsupervised time with
#    any firearm! 
#

I was taught to shoot when I was 5 or so.  Looking back on it,
Dad might have emphasized some of the safety aspects a little
better (don't shoot BB guns at hard, flat surfaces, particularly
those that are perpendicular to the line of fire), but the world
and our family survived.  I think I must have be 9 or 10 when I
was allowed to shoot the .22 rifle on my own.  I don't know where
you live, but I was raised on an 82 acre farm with no close
neighbors.  I think that was a particular asset for shooting.
'Course by the time I was in high school, we had a neighbor near
enough to land .22 pistol rounds in our yard when he/she was
shooting at birds.  'Course Mom yelling at them seemed to
encourage them to empty the whole magazine (talk about stupid).

I think the NRA junior program may take kids as young as 9 or so,
but I'm not directly involved with the program.
 
#    2. What should I use to teach fire arm safety?  I have a Daisy
#    air rifle, and it seems to have the features I would want.  It
#    is singlely loaded in the rear with a bolt like action.  It also
#    has a safely similar to those on many 22 rifles.  I also have
#    a 22 rifle, but it is a semi auto, and may not be a good
#    choice.
# 

You might consider a pellet rifle and bullet trap in the basement
if you live in town.  Check your local ordinances (sp?) first
though, I believe I have read here that some jurisdictions (sp?)
consider this discharging a firearm within the city limits.
Don't use BBs with a bullet trap though!

#    3. Where do I find shooting glasses in a size that works well
#    for kids.  I cannot find child sized safety glasses anywhere.
#    My daughter has used adult safety glasses at times and finds
#    they tend to either get in the way, fall off, become
#    uncomfortable, or all three.
# 

If your child wears glasses, get her a pair with the "super"
lenses (cannot think of the name, Lens Crafters uses the stuff in
their "Feather Weight" lenses -  I think it is carbo- something
;-{)  ).  If she doesn't wear glasses, I suspect you could buy
some without any prescription at most optometrists.  I know it's
an expensive solution, but then, what's an eye worth?

#    4. Should I not do any training at all, and get her into a
#    club, class, or other program?

I think this may depend on how you feel about it.  If I had kids,
I think I would get them some training at our club, but I would
teach them safe gun handling as soon as it was possible...

-- 
"Land of song, said the warrior bard,           Jim Heath
Though all the world betrays thee.
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard, (The Minstrel Boy)
One faithful harp will praise thee."         (Thomas Moore)