Teaching Children to Shoot

[ddurkof]

I used the Eddie Eagle program with my son from the time he was about 18 months. He was taught, and tested with empty weapons, while being observed. Once the concept of don't touch, leave the are and get an adult was understood, it worked really well. He has always been allowed to handle weapons under supervision any time he wanted to. He was required to ask permission and then after obviously making sure the weapon was not loaded he was allowed to pick up, feel, and pretty do what he wanted to do, except point it at anyone. I had a firm rule in the house that NO weapon, real or toy be pointed at any person or pet. Even obviously fake guns are not to be pointed at any one. The one exception were water guns in the pool. It worked, He has just taken his CHL class and he is a bigger range safety person than most RSO. Allowing children to learn the safe way of using any machinery that can hurt them or others and they will do ok. Hiding guns make them mysterious and the child will crave touching the gun. That leads to the dangerous experimenting with weapons.