From: viking@iastate.edu (Dan Sorenson)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Youth Shooter Questions
Date: 9 Sep 92 13:08:36 GMT
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA

In <9209082256.AA27306@hplsdmc.col.hp.com> saksa@col.hp.com (Tom Saksa) writes:

#My daughter, (age 9), has recently returned from a two week kids
#summer camp [...] 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.

#   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! 

	For God's sakes, man, take her shooting!  There is nothing like
properly-supervised shooting to teach responsibility, safety, and general
citizenship to a youngster.  I started shooting before I was five years
old, and I've met people 20 I wouldn't want near a firearm.  Use your own
best judgement with regards to your daughter, and I also suggest some
training for yourself.  Any NRA-sanctioned course ought to help, in addition
to a hunters safety course if offered in your area.  After reviewing the
training video by the Iowa DNR, I was amazed at how much they stressed
safety and not hunting per se in the video.  Keep both of you safe, and
get all the instruction you can for both of you.

#   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.

	Start with the air rifle, stress safety and marksmanship, then
use the .22 as a reward for good behavior.  I'm thinking the, "That's 
great shooting, and your muzzle awareness is excellent!  I think it's time
we moved up to a larger gun since you show such responsibility that you're
trustworthy with it." sort of thing.  NOTE: if you use this phrasing, your
child will laugh at you.  These are sentiments only, not a recommended quote.

#   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.

	An optometrist should be able to provide such.  If this doesn't
work well, numerous alternatives are available.  Among these is heating
and bending the temple pieces of normal safety glasses, or hop on over to
any college or machine shop where safety glasses are required as a matter
of course.  .... 
	[MODERATOR:  Or check with the kid's school!  When my wife teaches
 	 science and does any sort of experiment, then she routinely will
	 provide safety glasses.  Required in some states, we think, and
	 we know they're sized for the age group.  So get them there or
	 find where they buy. (And invite the teacher out too....) ]
....     If worse comes to worse, e-mail me and I'll provide information
on how to contact certain plastic makers who will make custom safety
glasses for you.  I've several professors with custom glasses, and they
all report only having to provide outlines of their glasses.  In addition,
I can also provide information on plastic types and sizes, as well as
suppliers, for custom-making safety glasses for youeself and loved ones.
Request this by e-mail only -- I'll respond via mail, or post if I get
more than ten or so requests (to the moderator: If this is a common query,
mail me and I'll be happy to post the information under a separate subject
line.  I trust you see more of these than I do.)

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

	A club or class is highly recommended, but give her the basics
yourself.  The added support is quite worth it, since she won't feel too
chastized if she does a common "stupid shooters trick" or "unsafe move"
in your presence, and will learn just the same.  This not only makes the
class easier on her, letting her concentrate on what little she doesn't
know and saving the instructor from having yet another student to correct,
but it also allows better learning.  I've found that the goal of making a
friend or parent proud is much more motivating than making an anonymous
instructor proud of your progress.

	Above all, make sure you're teaching her the correct information!
Call the NRA and get their literature.  Exchange letters and telephone
calls with certified instructors.  Take her to the local range and listen
to the range master.  Safety begins at home, and that means you have to
provide a prime example.  The more info you can get, the better you will
be, and your local instructors, range masters, and NRA people you can
learn from the better.  Don't accept the "I've been shooting for 20 years
so I know it all" argument -- I have been, and I've a lot to learn!  Take
it from one who has been there, get info from a qualified source and
let both you and your daughter learn the proper use of a firearm.

	Side note: Once she is comfortable with a .22, introduce her to
hotter loads and different firearms.  You'll never know if her interest
is skeet, black powder, pistol, or rifle until you let her experience
them for herself.  Let her decide what interests her, and you can still
provide guidance and support.  Take her hunting, and let her put that
practice to practical use if she seems likable to the idea.  If not,
don't push her.  You're there to provide guidance and oversight, not to
make decisions for her.  Above all, don't push her.  Let her make up her
own mind and rise to challenges as she feels capable of meeting them.

	Did I miss anything?  Additions, including personal anecdotes,
are welcome.  This is how we learn.

<Dan Sorenson, DoD #1066 |"There'll be angels on Ariels in leather>
<z1dan@exnet.iastate.edu | and chrome, Ridin' down from heaven    >
<viking@iastate.edu      | just to carry me home." -- R. Thompson >
< ISU thinks I need more education, which they provide for a fee. >