Disclaimer: this isn't meant to provoke a reaction, stir up a debate or cause any ruckus. Simply trying to understand the culture as we don't have anything remotely close to this here.
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So, 8 or 9 appears to be the acceptable age for kids to get their first gun yes?
I'm assuming they start to learn about them much earlier though...
So at 9 they get a gun, at what age do you let them hunt and kill their first animal? Do you teach them how to prepare the kill and knife skills?
At what age do kids get introduced to hand guns and automatic weapons?
At what age do you allow them to start buying their own firearms?
If you're not armed for hunting reasons but self defence and recreational shooting (at the range I guess?), when do you get your kids firing guns and having them keep their own?
Honestly I'm not looking for a rant about your 5th amendment or whatever story you have about the right to be armed. Just curious as to how the gun culture introduces their kids to such things.
All depends on your child and when you feel they are mature enough to understand. I have verbally taught my daughter about gun safety for the last couple years.
Legal hunting age here is 12 I believe. There are youth hunter programs that will allow them to hunt younger though.
Yes, she will field dress her own animal when she hunts and kills one. If she is not ready or will not do that (at least get her hands dirty and help me), she will not hunt. She has been taught to respect the animal. Never kill any animal that we will not eat. That goes for fishing as well.
She will not "keep" her own firearm until she is 18 and can legally store them herself. Any of "her" firearms will be stored in my safe. She will under no circumstances touch any firearm unless she is with me at the range or cleaning them at the house. She cannot legally buy her own firearm until she is 18. She must be 21 to purchase her own handgun.
She will start shooting my handgun when I feel she is proficient with the rifle. Most likely in another year or two. Automatic weapons are not legal here. Semi-Auto are. That would be my handgun. I do not own any semi-auto rifles at this time. But that is not really anything different. Just one shot per trigger pull.
I apologize if I came off rude earlier. I am all for a clean and civil discussion about differences between cultures. I just did not want it to turn into a fight about why people believe we should not have guns, they kill people, think of the children, etc. If we can keep it friendly, I will be glad to talk about it.
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