# Little gunner boy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 31, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899 "2011-12-31T01:11:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/1 "2011-12-31T01:11:25Z")
In general, should there be a minimum age at which a child be allowed to shoot a BB gun under close supervision? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/2 "2011-12-31T01:58:29Z")
No. It’s no fun that way anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/46a35a/32.png) [@UFC\_Is\_Sux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UFC_Is_Sux)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/3 "2011-12-31T01:59:58Z")
You’ll put your eye out, kid. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/4 "2011-12-31T03:46:49Z")
No. As long as they’re under supervision everything is fine. Doesn’t matter if they lack the strength to hold the barrel higher than 45 degrees, if you are controlling access to the gun and watching where it’s aimed, everyone is safe. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/5 "2011-12-31T03:48:27Z")
Even if the child is not yet walking, shooting from prone is possible. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/6 "2011-12-31T04:17:41Z")
The other thing is, if you wait until they’re eight, will they pay any attention when you instruct them on gun etiquette and proper handling? Will they be as willing to never fire it except in your presence? I think not. Anything that is harmful to themselves and others needs to be taught as early as possible. Now I’d like to discuss your reaction to fellow motorists. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/7 "2011-12-31T04:21:04Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > The other thing is, if you wait until they’re eight, will they pay any attention when you instruct them on gun etiquette and proper handling? Will they be as willing to never fire it except in your presence? I think not. Why not? Why is eight so late that it’s all over after that? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/8 "2011-12-31T04:28:59Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > The other thing is, if you wait until they’re eight, will they pay any attention when you instruct them on gun etiquette and proper handling? Will they be as willing to never fire it except in your presence? I think not. > > Anything that is harmful to themselves and others needs to be taught as early as possible. Now I’d like to discuss your reaction to fellow motorists. Oh, that’s easy. If you teach them etiquette and proper behavior in all things, then yes they’ll pay attention later. I don’t understand your statement, the one about fellow motorists. BTW; I own several guns and enjoy (target) shooting. Just sayin’. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/9 "2011-12-31T05:55:12Z")
It’s very simple, children. The right time to start shooting a BB gun is seven. So you mean seven as long as you’re trained? Nope, just seven. But, what if you’re not ready at seven? Seven! You’re ready. ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/10 "2011-12-31T08:42:26Z")
As soon as they have some respect for the idea that people don’t bounce like cartoon characters. I’ve never actually been in this situation, but I’d imagine that any kid with the coordination and common sense to cut an apple safely will be okay with a BB gun. Possibly even less. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/11 "2011-12-31T14:38:09Z")
We have two daughters, ages 13 and 11. I bypassed BB guns and started them off with .22s. They each have their own .22 rifle, and regularly shoot (on their own) in our backyard. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/12 "2011-12-31T15:18:42Z")
Nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/13 "2011-12-31T15:32:10Z")
When I was a kid I lived in a fairly rural area. We all had BB or pellet guns. No real supervision. We killed or wounded a huge number of animals for no real reason except momentary amusement. Birds, turtles, frogs, squirrels, you name it. I deeply regret that now. “No Mom, we never shoot birds, just cans and targets. Honest!” At some point in my early teens I suddenly developed empathy for other living creatures. I still like shooting but would never shoot any animal without a really good reason. Just re-read the first post and noticed the OP said “under close supervision” so my post may not apply. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/14 "2011-12-31T15:47:49Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > When I was a kid I lived in a fairly rural area. We all had BB or pellet guns. No real supervision. > > We killed or wounded a huge number of animals for no real reason except momentary amusement. Birds, turtles, frogs, squirrels, you name it. I deeply regret that now. > > “No Mom, we never shoot birds, just cans and targets. Honest!” > > At some point in my early teens I suddenly developed empathy for other living creatures. I still like shooting but would never shoot any animal without a really good reason. > > Just re-read the first post and noticed the OP said “under close supervision” so my post may not apply. Same here, pretty much. The problem with close supervision can be that we, the supervisors, will become more trusting and adjust our idea of what “close” means. What **River Hippie** relates is part of growing up. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/15 "2011-12-31T15:49:26Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > At some point in my early teens I suddenly developed empathy for other living creatures. I still like shooting but would never shoot any animal without a really good reason. I don’t have a problem with killing a wild animal if you’re going to eat it (e.g. deer, turkey), even if you don’t “need” to do it. I also don’t have a problem with killing nuisance animals. But I think killing animal just to kill it is disturbing. This is why I have never understood the shooting of groundhogs. What are they hurting? I’m on the fence when it comes to coyotes. On the one hand, I don’t like them because they eat rabbits, which (obviously) makes it more difficult for rabbit hunters. On the other hand, an argument can be made that coyotes help thin out the population of older/diseased animals & rodents. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/16 "2011-12-31T16:48:52Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > This is why I have never understood the shooting of groundhogs. What are they hurting?. I agree with everything you posted. Groundhogs are a huge nuisance. They are hell on crops (especially beans) and dig big holes that can cause injuries to farm animals when they stumble in them. I now live in the city and had a family of groundhogs living under my porch and EATING MY HOUSE before I live trapped and relocated all 6 of them. I would never shoot one with an airgun however, my current code of conduct for shooting an animal starts with using sufficient firepower to insure a humane kill. The other thing with coyotes is they quickly develop a taste for house pets. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/17 "2011-12-31T17:22:15Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > I agree with everything you posted. > Groundhogs are a huge nuisance. They are hell on crops (especially beans) and dig big holes that can cause injuries to farm animals when they stumble in them. > I now live in the city and had a family of groundhogs living under my porch and EATING MY HOUSE before I live trapped and relocated all 6 of them. > I would never shoot one with an airgun however, my current code of conduct for shooting an animal starts with using sufficient firepower to insure a humane kill. > > The other thing with coyotes is they quickly develop a taste for house pets. Coyotes, like others, develope a taste for east prey. House pets are really neither predator nor prey. They live as scavengers. When I was a kid we lived in a rural area and my parents raised chicken (a lot of them) in a big coop. My dad knew how to keep the coyotes out of the coop so they soon lost interest in the chickens and the pretty much ignored the coyotes. Coyotes are most active around dawn, and I used to watch them through my bedroom window sniffing around our yard and occasionally snagging a mouse or something. They paid little attention to the chickens or to me in the window. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/18 "2011-12-31T17:38:12Z")
Coyotes were never seen around these parts until the last 10 years or so and they now frequent the suburbs around the edges of the city. People around here weren’t used to keeping thier pets safe from the coyotes and it took a while to catch on. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/19 "2011-12-31T17:43:36Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Coyotes were never seen around these parts until the last 10 years or so and they now frequent the suburbs around the edges of the city. People around here weren’t used to keeping thier pets safe from the coyotes and it took a while to catch on. That would be mostly _little_ pets, right? I hear they like to mate with larger dogs but I don’t know if that’s true. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/20 "2011-12-31T18:16:09Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > That would be mostly _little_ pets, right? I hear they like to mate with larger dogs but I don’t know if that’s true. They hunt in packs. I’ve heard they are pretty crafty and will use one 'yote to lure a dog into chasing it into the brush where the rest of the pack is waiting. They can mate with dogs I believe. I’ve also heard thier prefered prey is mice, rabbits and squirrels. I am definitely not a coyote expert. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899.md?page=2)