__ Gun Safety Courses for Youth
_
Many states offer gun safety
courses that are specifically geared for youth. Some of these courses are meant
to help keep a child safe in the event that they find a gun. Other courses
actually teach children how to shoot and care for their weapons. In either
case, the best way to keep kids safe around guns is be open and honest in our
discussions about firearms and to communicate with them in an age-appropriate
manner.
Parents are the key players in keeping children safe around guns, whether there are guns in the house for protection or for hunting. We all know how curious kids are, and just telling them that guns are off limits could make them more appealing. There are gun safety courses available to help you discuss guns with your children no matter their age, even if you have decided they are not yet ready to learn to handle a gun. These courses will help guide your discussions with them and to keep them safe without instilling unnecessary fear.
Even very young children can be taught the most basic and important parts of gun safety -- that if they find a gun, it’s important to stop, not to touch it, to leave the area, and to find and tell an adult about the weapon.
At some point, you will determine that your child is old enough to learn how to handle a gun. At that time all children should be taught some additional basic safety rules, even if their parents never intend to own or use a weapon, because certainly, the parents of some of their children’s friends will.
There are three key gun safety rules that should always be followed:
In that case, look in your area to find appropriate gun safety courses for your child. There generally will be a minimum age requirement for the course, about 11 to 12 years old, depending on where you live. Frequently these courses are billed as “hunter safety” but they should provide basic gun safety and how to properly care for weapons, lessons that will apply to all firearms and are part of being a responsible gun owner.
Truly, this is one example of training that your child will be able to use for the rest of his life. The gun safety courses he takes as a youngster may well be the only training he needs, if and when he decides to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon as an adult.
Parents are the key players in keeping children safe around guns, whether there are guns in the house for protection or for hunting. We all know how curious kids are, and just telling them that guns are off limits could make them more appealing. There are gun safety courses available to help you discuss guns with your children no matter their age, even if you have decided they are not yet ready to learn to handle a gun. These courses will help guide your discussions with them and to keep them safe without instilling unnecessary fear.
Even very young children can be taught the most basic and important parts of gun safety -- that if they find a gun, it’s important to stop, not to touch it, to leave the area, and to find and tell an adult about the weapon.
At some point, you will determine that your child is old enough to learn how to handle a gun. At that time all children should be taught some additional basic safety rules, even if their parents never intend to own or use a weapon, because certainly, the parents of some of their children’s friends will.
There are three key gun safety rules that should always be followed:
- Always point a gun in a safe direction
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot
- Keep your gun unloaded, until you are ready to use it
In that case, look in your area to find appropriate gun safety courses for your child. There generally will be a minimum age requirement for the course, about 11 to 12 years old, depending on where you live. Frequently these courses are billed as “hunter safety” but they should provide basic gun safety and how to properly care for weapons, lessons that will apply to all firearms and are part of being a responsible gun owner.
Truly, this is one example of training that your child will be able to use for the rest of his life. The gun safety courses he takes as a youngster may well be the only training he needs, if and when he decides to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon as an adult.