Parenting

How old for a child to receive their first rifle?

I will not get into specifics for right now, because I want honest answers. Once enough people have answered I will give specifics. I don't want puppies and rainbows. I want honest answers. Thank you :-)

Here is the link to the gun in question. Thank you for your answers. No, you are not being punk'd. Promise.

https://www.crickett.com/

[Poll]
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Re: How old for a child to receive their first rifle?

  • Is this a real question?  Or a we being punk'd?
    promised myself I'd retire when I turned gold, and yet here I am
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  • My dad's a gun-nut and even he wouldn't give a child under 12 a gun.  Can a child under 12 even legally hunt?

    .
  • imageridesbuttons:
    Is this a real question?  Or a we being punk'd?

     

    Word.  I'm hoping she means a toy gun.  I still voted no.  I think a person should receive their first rifle when they join the armed forces or police force. 

  • Seriously - this has to be one of the craziest questions I've ever seen on here. Why is this even an option for a 4 yo? Do they make rifles that small? My guess is you're not going to get any puppies & rainbows - just the opposite.
  • imageDandelionMom:

    My dad's a gun-nut and even he wouldn't give a child under 13 a gun. 

    This.  I would never consider something like this until at least the teen years...and even then is a maturity-based decision.  

    I wouldn't even entertain the idea of a BB gun at 4.  My bro was always very mature/had great friends and he didn't get the BB gun til about 12.

     

  • What?!?!

    I can't imagine anyone would say this is okay.  AND I am from the South where guns are more widely used?!? Hunting?!?! 

    Ralphie only got a bb gun and "shot his eye out!"

    Personally, my answer is NEVER however I imagine some 14-16 year old would be ready...hunting with dad?!?  IDK. 


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  • imageAggieCouple:

    imageridesbuttons:
    Is this a real question?  Or a we being punk'd?

     

    Word.  I'm hoping she means a toy gun.  I still voted no.  I think a person should receive their first rifle when they join the armed forces or police force. 

    It is a real question, you are not being punked. Promise ;-)

    I will explain specifics soon, I promise. I want an unbiased poll before I say anythign specific, because I don't want anyone to jump on MY side just for the hell of it. (because we know how some bumpies are...)

    I believe the gun is called a cricket Jr. I will google and post a link asap.

    Thank you ladies.

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  • a .22 at 4 yrs old????? hell no!!!!!!!!!!  We didnt even let Josh have a BB gun when he was 4.  He got the BB gun when he was 8 yrs old under close supervision of his dad.  He got his .22 when he was 14 again under close supervison.
    Josh-10/1/87, Brittany 3/9/91, Mandi 7/26/92, Michelle 9/11/06 image I'M GRAPE JELLY- ALWAYS AROUND & ALWAYS THE SAME If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me. For I must be traveling on now. Because there are too many places I've got to see. -Allen Collins & Ronnie VanZant My favorite verse!
  • My boyfriend and I just had this discussion a while ago.   I am not a big gun fanatic, or avid hunter, but he said that he MAYBE got his first BB gun at around 8-9, possibly even 10.  He said he didn't have a 22 until about 12 or 13.

    I think even my exH (DS's father) had about the same time line.  I do know, however, that L is getting a bow for christmas from his dad this year.  Lordalmighty. 

     

    Is your stepson's bio mom getting him a gun for Christmas?

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  • I don't know enough about rifles to be able to really say, so I'm a SS.

    I guess a lot depends- are you a family of serious hunters and/or live in a very rural area? Would the child actually do anything with a gun or is it just meant to be a gift that stays locked in the gun cabinet for quite a few years until the kid is older?

    FWIW, my dh had a little 22 when he was a kid and he says that he used to love shooting old tin cans off of the fence, LOL. But, he was in a super-rural area and even now he sometimes shakes his head at how permissive his parents were with things like that; seems kind of crazy in retrospect and he was much older than 4 at the time!

  • I chose no, but I would have selected HELL NO if you had posted that option. I would never buy anyone a gun and would have a heart attack if anyone bought any of my family members one, especially my four year old (or baby, for that matter).

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  • imagekaratechrissy:

    I believe the gun is called a cricket Jr. I will google and post a link asap.

    I know what a cricket is. :)   That is what we hunt coons with.   Still a mighty powerful gun for a 4 year old!

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  • imager9stedt:
    imagekaratechrissy:

    I believe the gun is called a cricket Jr. I will google and post a link asap.

    I know what a cricket is. :)   That is what we hunt coons with.   Still a mighty powerful gun for a 4 year old!

    ditto

    Josh-10/1/87, Brittany 3/9/91, Mandi 7/26/92, Michelle 9/11/06 image I'M GRAPE JELLY- ALWAYS AROUND & ALWAYS THE SAME If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me. For I must be traveling on now. Because there are too many places I've got to see. -Allen Collins & Ronnie VanZant My favorite verse!
  • imageAggieCouple:

    Word.  I'm hoping she means a toy gun.  I still voted no.  I think a person should receive their first rifle when they join the armed forces or police force. 

    This!  Mental idea giving ANY child a gun!

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  • imageAggieCouple:

     I think a person should receive their first rifle when they join the armed forces or police force. 

    Confused

    4 is extreme, but... so is your opinion. *

     

    *I respect your opinion, but I do not agree with it.

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  • I had to read the subject a few times to make sure I was seeing it right. WTF? Who would ever think that's a good idea? Water guns ... nerf guns ... hell, maybe even a paintball gun but a .22 rifle. Hell to the mothereffin no.
    image


  • My BFF's broke-ass husband bought their 22 month old one for Christmas when he went hunting last weekend.  No joke. He said for when he is older, but whatever.  I told her she should shoot him with it.
    Jenni ~~Alex & Avery ~~ 6/13/06~~Adam ~~3/26/08

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  • imageJenniC1135:
    My BFF's broke-ass husband bought their 22 month old one for Christmas when he went hunting last weekend.  No joke. He said for when he is older, but whatever.  I told her she should shoot him with it.

     

    Indifferent 

  • I think the subject line says it all for me: "how old for a CHILD to receive their first rifle?"

    My first instinct is to say "never, when they are still a child".  however, I do think it may be far more appropriate when they are teenagers.  Minimum age of 16, I say.

    But, still, I'm dying to know the logic/reasoning behind this that you promise to explain. 

    ::sits at desk and waits::

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  • I will be honest and say that DH wanted to get DD the pink one when she was born. It didn't happen.

    My 4yo nephew might get a BB gun for Christmas, not my idea of a toy, I want a gift that they can play with by themselves.

    No way in hell should a 4yo be given a 22.

  • It screams "child endangerment" to me.
    Stay at home mom to a house of boys: two amazing stepsons, 12 and 9, and our 4 year old.
  • My 4 y/o uses a plastic Ikea knife at meals and only has her practice rounded edge scissors when supervised.

     Can you tell I'm in the no/never category?

     

     

    DD1 01.19.07
    DD2 11.17.08

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  • imagefemmegem:

    I chose no, but I would have selected HELL NO if you had posted that option. I would never buy anyone a gun and would have a heart attack if anyone bought any of my family members one, especially my four year old (or baby, for that matter).

    Ditto this except my answer was going to be HELL_FUCK_NO!

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  • I said shpeshial shnowflake...because I would never give a gun to anyone. of any age.

    that's ridiculous.

    Is he a pioneer? responsible for hunting for the family's food? Heading out on the oregon trail?

    no?

    then nofvcking gun!

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  • Supervised use as a teenager would be ok with me. Anything prior to that is irresponsible.
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  • imageEdithBouvierBeale:

    Is he a pioneer? responsible for hunting for the family's food? Heading out on the oregon trail?

    LMAO!!!!
  • My children will have guns when they are independent and live on their own without any financial assistance for me. I am totally anti-gun and I will never ever allow one in my house or in the hands of my offspring as long as they live under my roof!
  • Short of a zombie invasion? Never.
    imageimageimage
  • Four is a little young..I just don't think a four year old has the fine motor skillz to shoot it properly.

    By 5 though, I mean, my kids could pick their nose and eat it....wiping their own butt was a lot better....and yeah, seems like a perfect time to introduce a weopon to them....the fine motor skills are SOO much better, and the maturity is just amazing....you know?  A lot less of the kicking of little brother because he pulled apart a puzzle...seems logical to hand a kid a gun at 5.

    Great gift idea!!! Thanks!!! (would it fit in the stocking?)

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