when I was 7, I had a .22 and a 20 gauge.

I could saddle my own horse and ride in the woods to shoot at sqirrels (I don't recall if I ever actually hit one)

and I agree. I also think that if you teach them how to handle one properly , clean it, shoot it, respect it. It's fine (and lock it up, lol)

i'd also have to add that
if your gonna teach a kid how to use one responibly also be a responisible adult

never leave the guns and amunition in the same place

keep the guns unload unless the child is being supervised and there are no other ppl around

put a trigger lock on the guns and keep them in a locked cabinet and put the ammo in another location also locked up..

if your wanting saftey and require a loaded gun in case of an intruder keep it in only a place you can find it and in no way your child could reach it

http://www.ohio.com/news/ohiocentric/37120874.html

This occurred in Ohio, of course....

what are you implying there?

Roy Romer, former Gov. of Colorado had his first .22 at age 6.

I live in Ohio.... calm down.

Too many folks forget that guns don't kill people. PEOPLE who MISUSE guns kill people. If you aren't responsible enough to know how to use one properly and for what it's designed for, you have no business owning one.

Music, you just described the MAJORITY of the population.

I have a paintball gun

I think that many states have gun safety training for children around 10-12 years of age. I had gun safety training around 10 I think...

in the area where I live, there is a strong hunting community and the classes are full almost everytime they are offered.

The parent that hunts and target shoots and has the sense of responsibility with guns are going to do everything they can to keep everyone safe...and that parent would know when their child was ready to join them in target shooting and hunting...

I'd say that if the lad is less than five, just about any 9mm will do. Older than five? Well, strap him with a .45 long slide w/ a laser scope.

Oh by the way if your kid still needs a babysitter, he doesn't need a gun.

Brilliantly noted.

if its for clay pigeon shooting certainly
and its in a controlled environment, and hes under extreme supervision at that age, then yes deffinetely

but if its to hunt then no, as much as i don't agree with a lot of hunting, hunting is a job the man of the house does to put food on the plate.

First of all, if people such as criminals need to resort to crime, they're already losers. Secondly, if they need to exert their power through the misuse of a firearm, it only shows what cowards they really are. They've already proven their irresponsibility.

Also, as someone already mentioned, if you own guns, KEEP THEM LOCKED AWAY! Keep the ammunition seperate from the guns, and also locked away.

It's called Common Sense. Unfortunately, it's not all that common.

Could not agree more.

I'm also of the opinion that just because it's legal doesn't mean it's a good idea.

Oh, you mean like alcohol?

I expect he'll be shooting beer bottles for awhile before dad lets him shoot anything else

and they have a never ending supply of beer bottles

How about parenthood?

In the hood it's the childs discretion when to have gun