guns and kids

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qwerty53

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Hi,
From what age a kid can SHOOT (not own) real gun at the range under adult supervision? Are there limitations on types of guns? How about airsoft. I know airsoft has no limitations but my question is. Airsoft has to be used at the range or at approved fields only right? You cannot use it on the backyard ( of course without a risk of it going to someones property.....)
Thanks.
 
Depends on the range's rules. There is no MGL WRT age of a supervised shooter (Not talking FA...that's another issue)

As someoene that's done this, as early as they are able to safely handle the gun and understand the rules works in my book.

AFAIK, airsoft is not considered a firearm except on school property, so backyards are fine, but the damn yellow beads may be an eyesore.
 
Check your local ordinances before you start shooting airsoft in your backyard. My town has an ordinance against "air-powered" projectile devices (or some such BS wording) that makes it illegal to shoot airsoft and paintball inside the town limits, except on a liscensed field.
Aloha.
 
alohadoug said:
Check your local ordinances before you start shooting airsoft in your backyard. My town has an ordinance against "air-powered" projectile devices (or some such BS wording) that makes it illegal to shoot airsoft and paintball inside the town limits, except on a liscensed field.
Aloha.
Click to expand...

That's absurd, but I guess you can't make make any assumption in MA. Are nurf guns gtg?
 
C-pher takes his 7 year old daughter to the range to shoot and I have had plenty of invites from him to bring my 7 year old son along too. He hasn't shot any yet but wants to. I don't know of an age requirement but I don't think younger than 7 is a ready age anyway.
 
MisterHappy said:
Depends on the range's rules. There is no MGL WRT age of a supervised shooter (Not talking FA...that's another issue)
Click to expand...

And even if you believe the state's bulls**t on that issue, that's more than just an "age" issue. According to "them", nobody without an MG license is even supposed to touch an MG.

-Mike
 
Do parents really need to ask if it is illegal to teach their children how to do something?

I need to move.
 
Why doesn't start an Northeast Airsoft Shooters Forum? I realize that certain types of air guns are real guns BTW.

That way the air soft commandos can live in their world and we can live in ours in a peaceful co-existent kind of way....[wink]
 
I've had no problems bringing my 6 year old to my clubs to shoot.
Santa got him a Cricket .22 last year. He keeps asking if Santa will bring him a scope for it this year. I think so...
 
I took my 5 year old earlier this year. Since he could talk and comprehend stuff, I beat it into him that they are not toys, he ever finds one at a friends house ect not to touch it and get an adult and will other safety topics, and every few weeks gets a refresher lesson. Do early this summer he asked about trying it, do let him fire 3 rounds out of the smallest caliber rifle I own with my direct supervision and control. He was happy and asks constantly to go, but am waiting till I spring for a .22 rifle as the m1a1 paratrooper was too much I think.
 
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alohadoug said:
Check your local ordinances before you start shooting airsoft in your backyard. My town has an ordinance against "air-powered" projectile devices (or some such BS wording) that makes it illegal to shoot airsoft and paintball inside the town limits, except on a liscensed field.
Click to expand...

You're joking. [shocked]

Aren't you?

Maninblue1861 said:
I took my 5 year old earlier this year. Since he could talk and compounded stuff, k best it into him that they are not toys, he ever finds one arty a friends house ext not to touch it and get an adult and will other secret topics, and every few weeks gets a refresher lesson. Do early this summer he asked about trying it, do let him fire 3 round out of the smallest caliber rifle I own with my direct supervision and control. He was happy and asks constantly to go, but am waiting till I spring for a .22 right as the m1a1 paratrooper was too much I think.
Click to expand...

cthulhu_demands_spellcheck.jpg
 
dwarven1 said:
You're joking. [shocked]

Aren't you?
Click to expand...
I wish I was. Sudbury has an ordinance against the shooting of BB, pellet, or paintball guns in the town limits. I talked to the PD (and looked up the ordinance) earlier this summer when my son wanted a BB gun or a bow. Cub scout camp gave him his introduction. PD said GtG on the bow, but no BB.
 
I was at the range not too long ago, a gentlemen was there with his two sons, maybe 10 and 12. He set up is AK clone on the back of the T of the rifle bench, with his two kids standing at the arms of the T - about 2 feet in front of the muzzle. The RO, myself and other folks on the range all gasped the same gasp at the same time. The RO ran over and asked the man to leave until he had a better understanding of shooting safety.

My point is, maybe the question is when is someone old enough to supervise a child shooting?
 
I think gun safety should begin early and be reinforced well before they are ready to shoot. A bb gun is a great way to introduce proper use and sight picture. Then whenever you feel they are mature enough for the real deal. I'm married with no kids yet, but that's my plan one day.
 
alohadoug said:
I wish I was. Sudbury has an ordinance against the shooting of BB, pellet, or paintball guns in the town limits. I talked to the PD (and looked up the ordinance) earlier this summer when my son wanted a BB gun or a bow. Cub scout camp gave him his introduction. PD said GtG on the bow, but no BB.
Click to expand...

Good grief. I wouldn't have even thought to ask the PD... why did you?
 
Family is friends with one of the local LEO's. He told my brother-in-law about it a couple of years ago (BIL was shooting paintballs out his bedroom window at a LARGE rock in backyard). I wanted to confirm that bows were acceptable. Now my son practices archery in the backyard and comes to the range with me. We decided to skip the bb gun and go straight to the 22lr.
Aloha
 
TNHunter said:
In MASS, children shooting must be supervised by a parent or a Certified Instructor, with parents permission.
Click to expand...

[rolleyes]
Certified by whom? And in what discipline? Would a Shotgun Instructor cert (as I have, see below) allow me to take a neighbor's kid out for .22 riflre and some pistol shooting? And is a guardian acceptable? What's the age cutoff for "children" - 18 (voting) 15 (have own FID)? Please provide a cite to the relevant MGL or CMR for this.


Not to be a nit-picker, but there is too much confusion WRT gun laws. By your statement, grandpa could not take litttle Johnnie out to the range unless he had an instructor cert, as he's not the child's parent.
 
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State trying to remove the parenting role from parents aside, there is no set age that your kid can shoot... It is a level of maturity that you are looking for. The kid's gotta follow your directions exactly and not want to run off to play at every opportunity while at the range.
 
Kids are all different, and parents know their kids better than anyone else. When you decide your kids are old enough, just do it. Make sure you've got the basic safety rules firmly inculcated in them before they handle anything, then get them used to handling and dry-firing under strict supervision. When they obey all the safe handling rules without any prompting, hit the firing line. My son was shooting my 1911 at the age of 7, and my daughter (2 years younger) was right on his heels. Some kids need to wait until their 40's or 50's, though.

Ken
 

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