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I have been asked by friends and neighbors what I think is the proper age for children to learn about guns, how to safely act with guns and how old they should be before they are allowed to shoot. I am sure most folks here on NJGF have had similar inquiries and also have definite opinions on this topic. There have been some previous threads that addressed this topic but I thought it may make sense to ask the NJGF community their current thoughts on this issue,while sharing my own thoughts and my responses to them. My response to my friends and neighbors is: “It really depends on the specific child AND the parents’ attitude towards guns”. We all have known young children who are very mature for their age, while also knowing young adults or even older adults who are shockingly immature. My perspective on this issue is from growing up in the suburbs, as opposed to a rural or farm setting, so may differ from those who experienced that entirely different environment as a child and teenager. I have explained that in NJ the minimum age for obtaining a hunting license and the prerequisite completion of a hunters education course, is 10 years old, and that the child may hunt only when accompanied by a properly licensed adult aged 21 or older. Another factor is the physicality of the child. Is he or she tall, strong and steady enough to handle the recoil of a rifle? Are they mature enough to understand that the firearm is NOT a toy and what the permanent effects are of something that has been shot? Are they truly interested in learning or is it you, the parent that is possibly prematurely urging them to learn and hoping they will share your interest in guns? All of these are factors that contribute to determining the appropriate age for a child to be introduced to firearms. Just remember that whatever you do is your own responsibility. You are the one who will have to live with whatever choices you make. I tell my friends that they are the best judges of the maturity of their children and that each child is different and finally, to use common sense. It is vital that the parents ensure that their children learn how to safely handle and use a firearm, before live ammunition is ever introduced. It is paramount that the parents take full responsibility to train their children to respect and understand that firearms are weapons and that improper use can be lethal, a concept that children below a certain age find hard to grasp. IMHO, I seriously doubt that a child of 5 or 6 can have the ability to genuinely know how dangerous guns can be, and how very easy it is to accidentally end someone’s life with a single mistake. As with anything else potentially dangerous to children, education is vital, whether it is about sex, alcohol, drugs, fireworks, swimming or guns. Children are naturally curious and it's better for the parent to be proactive to teach their child/children about gun safety as a good preventative measure. If you can't or will not do it, have an experienced professional teacher do it for you in an organized class or if you can afford to, one-on-one instruction. Sometimes, the instructor may have the patience to teach, that the parent may lack. Also, as many parents know, a 3rd party instructor may garner more respect from an older child who may be entering the typical rebellious stage of adolescence. If you don't provide this instruction, someone else may “tell” your child about guns and they may not get it right. AVB-AMG