Finding training for a young'en

[Holland&Holland]

BPR is a little skittish when it comes to younger kids with handguns.

We just got turned away. I brought my 11 year old to shoot my AR15 and they wouldn't let him. He's 2 months shy of 12 years old, has his firearms safety certificate, shot his last round of trap with a 12 gauge, is in 4-H shooting sports (14th out of 98) but none of that mattered. Oh well, we'll go back in a couple months. FYI, the BPR rules state:

Age Restrictions

Must be 18 to shoot at the range without a parent or guardian, must be 21 years to buy ammunition. Minimum age
with a parent or guardian is nine years. Nine to age Eleven .22 rifle only. Eleven to thirteen .22 pistol. Age thirteen to eighteen,
centerfire allowed based on stature of the child, and solely at the discretion of the range personnel. (Under 18 year olds
without a parent or guardian must have a written permission slip giving the child permission to shoot with the adult - this
applies to handguns and is Federal Law)

Which range is BPR? That is not an acceptable policy in my book. I am all for safety however children are the future of our sport and our rights. 13-18? They can hunt deer at 12 (previously, now they can actually hunt younger) where are they supposed to get their practice in. Please let me know which range this is as they will never get one dime of my money.

[ttousi]

BPR=Burnsville Pistol Range

[DakotaPatriot]

After getting him familiar with shooting and rifle safety, you might consider taking the young'en and his mother to a local appleseed. There have been a fair amount of young kids shooting there.

[lenny7]

Which range is BPR? That is not an acceptable policy in my book. I am all for safety however children are the future of our sport and our rights. 13-18? They can hunt deer at 12 (previously, now they can actually hunt younger) where are they supposed to get their practice in. Please let me know which range this is as they will never get one dime of my money.

I don't think you can put an age on when kids are ready. I have every bit of faith and trust in my son and his safe firearms handling. He earned this through his actions, not his age. I also know lots of 11 year old that I wouldn't trust with airsoft, much less a shotgun or AR15.

They don't know my son and don't have the trust in him that I do. I don't have a problem with that. I don't have a problem with their age limits. I think they should make an exception for my son based on what I know about him, but they didn't and I'm ok with that. It's not their responsibility to allow my son to have this shooting opportunity on their range. I'll just take him to the gun club to shoot next weekend.

[Squib Joe]

I think the age of the kid is less important than the attitude of the parent or guardian, and his or her willingness to take special precautions when teaching a young shooter. We insist that the parent stand directly behind the youngster, never turn away even for a second, and able to take control of the firearm at all times. We've never had a problem as most parents take this very seriously.

[Holland&Holland]

I think the age of the kid is less important than the attitude of the parent or guardian, and his or her willingness to take special precautions when teaching a young shooter. We insist that the parent stand directly behind the youngster, never turn away even for a second, and able to take control of the firearm at all times. We've never had a problem as most parents take this very seriously.

Exactly! That is what I am trying to say, well stated.

To have a policy like BPR apperantly does that eliminates a key segment of our sport send the wrong message, and does harm to our future. Have a competency ok I get that, have a specicial review of the rules great, make sure that both child and adult are competent and of course if there is a situation where the range officer does not feel they will be safe then by all means kick them out, but to ban based on age and particuarly these age levels is just wrong.

There are plenty of 40 year olds whose saftey sense is worse than my 13 year olds...

[Stradawhovious]

Strad, check Ammocraft in Hopkins.

http://www.gobblerspecialties.com/

I know they have a bunch of used Savage single shot youth rifles in stock and they can be had for very little money. No offense to anyone but those are a bit better and cheaper than the cricket/chipmunk rifles.

Good safety tip Egon! I went there yesterday and picked up a tube fed bolt action Marlin 81 for $65. It will be perfect. Thanks!

[mnglocker]

When you're ready to teach him the fundementals of a lever gun, let me know. You can use my Marlin.

Actually, if it's easier for you, you're welcome to come shoot for free at Delano, just give me a call so I can make some time in the schedule.

[JustinPo]

I'd like to add that a home based BB gun range can be the best way to get them truly hooked. I grew up in the suburbs so the backyard BB gun range was a no no some neighbor would have bitched so to the basement it went, and the nice thing is it takes only minutes to setup and is absolutely dirt cheap, and once you trust him enough you don't even have to watch him (well my parents didn't anyway) and since it allows shooting sports to be worked into the whims and attention span of a young child it keeps them entertained for exactly as long as they want to be, normally one to two dead pop cans.

Oh and a big thumbs up for doing this.