Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!doug.cae.wisc.edu!osnome.che.wisc.edu!hunting
From: pfeiffer@NMSU.Edu
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: Hunting "Accidents"
Message-ID: <1991Jun15.055731.29585@doug.cae.wisc.edu>
Date: 15 Jun 91 10:57:31 GMT
Lines: 46
Approved: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

picou@convex.com writes

   It is agreed by most, that intensive education is the best method for 
   hunting safety.  For those young starters, a seasoned adult hunter
   should be able to teach safety.  It makes no sence to place a high
   powered rifle in the hands of a child.  The empty gun theory is not
   a stupid idea, but unneccessary.  A child should be started with a
   B.B. gun.  Start them out with a `Red Rider' or equivalent.  Teach the
   child how to fire the gun, aim the gun, look beyond the target, etc...

You're being too conservative.  My son started with click-click guns
at about 3, rubber darts at about 4, and now (6 1/2) has his first BB gun.
All his guns have been kept in the safe right next to mine, and he has
never moved up a notch until he was behaving himself safely.  He
didn't get the rubber dart gun until he was big enough that I thought
he could learn to aim, and he didn't get the BB gun until he behaved
safely with the rubber dart gun.  He moves up to a rimfire when my
wife and I aren't nervous about it!  My daughter (3 1/2) seems about
ready to start with the rubber darts now...

It should be pointed out that even with the click-click guns, they
have never been allowed to point them at each other.  There are people
on the net who won't let their kids have toy guns on the grounds that
they might mistake a real gun for a toy someday; this is a valid
argument but I take the opposite tack.  I teach them to treat even a
gun made of see-through green plastic like it was real.

Oh yes, why click-click and not caps?  Cap guns are so &*^(&*!!! loud,
and we have an old terrier who's gun-shy.  I just bought a pair of cap
guns, to go with the new golden retriever puppy who came home today,
so she can be taught better.

   Take him in the feild with this gun, and let him shoot at game, this
   low power gun will not harm any animal.(even at close range)  As the
   child proves himself as being a safe hunter, move him up to a larger
   rifle.  The reason these B.B.guns are made is for the purpose of educating
   our young to be safe, and prepare them for hunting.  If the trainer
   works with the child, this method will sprout a safe and competent hunter.
   It really works!!!

Disagreement here:  my children aren't going to shoot at any animals until
they're big enough to be hunting for them.  Shooting animals with a BB
gun because it won't hurt them is far too close (to my tastes) to
teaching them that a gun can be misused...

-Joe.