American Kids Love Their Guns (39 pics)

So remind me, which part of 'a well regulated militia' these kids form?

I'd say around 15 -16.

You should be old enough to drive before learning how to use a gun.

I say if taught proper the younger the better...I have been shooting since I was 7 and has taught me to respect the power behind a gun.....

I'm not sure I agree with that last statement. My ex girlfriend had a 6 year old son at the time we were together. I was and still am a dedicated target and competitive shooter, as well as a range safety officer. When Robert showed a fascination with my collection, I took him out to the outdoor range to plink with on of my .22's. After the first time, he was as much a safety Nazi as I around firearms, he knew they were not toys, and most of all, he developed a true focus skill. I never worried that he'd be one of those tragic statistics of accidental shooting. I like to think we had some great times out on the range.

westlockfiredept, thank you for sharing that, I don't have children however My brother does and we too enjoy going to the local range as a family.

Most of these pics are of youth's with their competition rifles.
Parents are near by, it's a controlled setting.
I don't see a problem with these specific pics.

This is NOT how all American children are raised. As usual, this is being portrayed out of context.

I do think kids should learn how you safely use, handle, and respect a firearm. Its a good family activity to go to the range, i bring my friends and their kids all the time.

"This is NOT how all American kids are raised. As usual, this is being portrayed out of context"

I wouldn't expect anything less. Sadly, there are those who still believe any morsel of propaganda thrown their way (or pretend to believe it)...

I had my first weapon at 6. by the time I turned 10 I certified sniper on closed range, open range and creep. 18 years of the military, you can guess what I did. I never lived in the city, was a farm kid. having a weapon is like owning a hammer, it is a tool, used wrongly can kill. my family taught how to handle weapons. I taught mine, they will teach theirs. The misconconception that guns are dangerous is just that, they are not, people are. More people are killed and die by motor vehicles, do we take all motor vehicles away as well?
99% of American kids are NOT raised this way.

It is a great "toy"! :02:

Kids getting educated in the handling of guns. Great sport.

If you don't see what is the problem with this, then you are part of the problem.

Learned to shoot when i was eight, used to go out in the vineyards of Napa Valley and hunt jackrabits with a 410 shotgun. went to gun safety classes with my older brother, learned from my uncles and older cousins too. Really enjoyed those times, was taught if you shoot it, you clean it, and we would eat it. Of course there are exceptions to everything. but these pictures show well supervised kids. i could go on, but gotta go!

Anony,
I see no problem, but, there is one. Recreational target and competitive shooting are legitimate sports. It is no worse than letting your kids play hockey, football, lacrosse , etc. The problem are those who would vilify those of us who do engage in this sport. We are not militants, anarchists, survivalists, or so on. We are merely engaging in, and teaching those who want to learn, our sport. Firearms to us are the tools we use to participate in our sport. They are no different to us than a new glove is to a baseball player or skates to a hockey player . Please don't paint us all with the same brush the media has wielded all these years