Okay, did anyone see the story about the 5yr old who shot a deer? He couldn't even read the test, it had to be read to him. He was quoted as saying 'I like it. Shooting a gun and shooting at the animals and killing them.' A representative from the Humane Society of the United States said a deer rifle can kill someone up to a mile away, and young people don't have the experience, judgement and emotional maturity to handle that kind of fire power. They are talking to legislators to establish a minimum age of 16 to be allowed to hunt. The article said in my area the minimum is 12. I never considered the possibility of missing and shooting someone by accident. That happens sometimes among adult hunters. When our paper posts the story I'll provide a link.
Becky, let's let the parents decide when a child is ready to hunt, NOT the legislature!!! I know young children that are "ready", and some teens that are not. It's up to the parents who know their child, not to you or the government.
Sing it Sister Jackie! I agree. There is no evidence to support an age restriction on hunting with supervision. What's up with all the gun talk again. I thought we all established our stance in the last locked thread. The dejavus are starting to come on....
Brooke, you can unsubscribe if you wish. This story brings up a good point. How young is too young? This kid's rifle was longer than him almost.
No, the question is NOT how young is too young, it's WHO DECIDES that. And I believe it's up to the PARENTS. I'm tired of government and do-gooder organizations "knowing" what is best for my children. I personally don't believe that my almost 6YO is mature enough to hunt with a gun, but he HAS shot a rifle before, in a very controlled environment with Daddy. But I also don't want to tell others what is best for their children.
My son and daughter will have there share of guns when they are a tad older. We are currently teaching our kids about guns. How to act around them and how not to act around them. Not to point them at anyone and so on. Our guns are locked in a gun safe AND have child locks on them too. We have double protection for our family and others. I, not the government, will chose when they are old enough. The gov't has there hands in to much as it is. This is a parental decision. If you don't want your child to see, touch, shoot a gun that is your decision but do not go trying to make the laws tougher as this will only affect people like me. People who do bad things and do not obey the law as it is will not obey any gun laws either. PGA was correct in the last thread you started about this. Gun laws only ONLY affect law abiding citizens like myself. The drug dealers, the molesters the bad people that you don't want around your kids will still have guns and there will not be one thing that anyone can do about it. Now, this NRA member is going to go surf other websites.
Here in Wisconsin, you have to be 13 to go hunting. FINE BY ME. I personally would not choose to let my child at 5 go hunting. Weather or not some parents think their children are ready by this age, I am sure there are some parents who are not that responsible, THINK their child is ready, but they actually are not. If a child is that responisible, then that is a parents perogative. If they aren't, then a parent needs to be a parent and use common sense and good judgement. Sadly, not all have those traits and common sense is not all that common sometimes. Let's just hope this parent has good common sense and judgement. Just my two cents. On a side note, it is pretty scary about what the child said to why he likes hunting. If that was my child saying that, I'd be a little freaked out that I may have the next serial killer on my hands. Kind of odd. Again, just my two cents. I said nothing to offend anyone or personally attack, just giving my opinion which everyone is entitled to have.
I just re-read it and it seems like the child wasn't even legally of age in that area. To be honest, if the parent was that stupid in going against the law (whether the parent agrees with the law or not) the parent should be fined. Even though we may not agree with certain laws, they are laws and should be abided. I don't agree with some laws, but the law is the law and should be respected.
I think that there have to be laws set to protect us as a whole. Otherwise we would let our five year olds do the driving (my 6 year old has better direction sense than me). But still, laws need to be set especialy for something that can be as dangerous as shooting a gun.
You cannot legislate common sense. Jen, I know where you and Becky are coming from, but I still feel it needs to be up to the parent. Views on guns vary a lot depending on where you're at. For instance, it's actually part of the curriculum up in Alaska! I've a friend that lives in Rural Ohio, just twenty minutes from Columbus, that keeps a loaded shotgun by her door to shoot at critters in her garden. No one in that area thinks anything of it. She has a preschooler...I might add she DOES keep the gun OUT of his reach...and he'll probably be shooting it by the time he's six. It doesn't bother me at all that some of you are anti-gun. But I don't want anti-gun views forced on us through legislation.
Here is a link to the story- http://www.comcast.net/news/national/index.jsp?cat=DOMESTIC&fn=/2005/11/05/258146.html
This was very interesting to read. I am not opposed to guns at all. Actually, my dad taught us how to shoot and I love it. My honey and I frequently talk about getting one to teach the girls. Hw, I agree with that there does need to be quidelines just like with driving. It is for the protection of the country as a whole. Hw, I can see with rural life why guns are necessary but I also see that being in a rural area it might be necessary for a 13 or 14 yo to drive. I am just so glad I get to be home and make the rules here and not for the country. I hate the gov stepping in, but I would definitely hate to live next door to that 5-yo who is now armed.
No thanks, Becky. I think I'll stick around and remain on top of things. After all, with 3 threads in the past few weeks devoted to gun regulations, I'd hate to miss out on such a hot button issue. I enjoy a good debate.
I totally agree. You took the words right out of my mouth. Jackie, I don't disagree nec. with what you are saying. If my nieces up north went hunting (at 7 and 10) I wouldn't even think anything of it. BUT, they live in rural Wisconsin. We live in the city. And personally, even though I love my city, there are a lot more crazy people in the city. Crime rates are higher, etc. etc. etc. KWIM? Maybe laws need to be considered different for rural areas than they are in cities? I don't know, but I do see your point. Living in the city though it's a little more scary when you hear of these things.
One more thing...I don't think we should look at this like a debate, because that is when things start getting heated, people get attacked, things get blown out of proportion, and people get hurt. Let's keep this as a civil discussion please. We are all Christian (I think) women and adults I might add as well. If someone says something we don't like, please dont' mock them or make judgements. Let's keep the peace ladies (and any gents we have). It's ok to disagree. That's why we are all uniquely wonderful!
I just got finished praying for a family. Read post TERRIBLE TRAGETY. I know that the parents that allow their children to hunt, teach them everything they need to know. But if someone gets shot accidentally,Can you live with it?
OMG you guys... I wasn't going to reply to this thread because I really don't have a lot to add to this conversation (and I still don't BUT I do have something I need to say and I see that others have already said something similar so I'm going to jump in too). I love you all so please don't anyone see that I'm taking sides... I'm trying not to here. What is right for one family may not be right for another family. One family might be comfortable taking their 5 year old child out hunting at a young age while another family isn't comfortable with it. IT DOESN'T MATTER. If it isn't your child, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. As a Mom, I have a responsibility to make decisions that affect my home and my children. What might be right for my home may not be right for another home and vice versa. The decisions are as individual as each person represented on this forum. Amanda closed the last thread when it had a negative tone to it... how much longer do you expect her to keep this up??? Are we not adults? Can we not act like them? You know what... if I'm going to say anything at all, I might as well get myself in really deep and say what's on my mind right. Becky... I'm surprised you started this thread at all given the passion from the last thread and the direction it took, BUT it is informative and it is important to you. I thought it was risky to even start that one so soon but I was holding out hope that it could have been started and a good talk about it could have come about because of it, but it didn't happen that way. Brooke... I'm surprised that your first post on this thread would be the reply with the comment that it was. You and Becky rarely agree on things (when you do, it's a rare eye popper occasion), but publically making that comment is belittling to not only Becky but to you too. I personally wish the two of you could sort this out privately and not drag us all into it... words have been exchanged by each of that you would be hard for both of you to look beyond knowing each of your temperments, but I really think you need to do this. Is it too much to ask that if you don't agree with the thread to just walk away from it (I had no intentions of replying to this thread - I do read it though - but then it's getting out of hand and people are going to be hurt by it). That's the only reason why I stepped into this one... I don't want to see anyone get hurt out of this, but it's on that road... We all need to remember that our individual decision or opinion isn't the be all that ends all... I don't plan to reply to this again and will unsubscribe from it because I don't feel that I can contribute anything productive to it. I have a million reasons why hunting for Andrew is or isn't right when it is or isn't right for Christian to hunt, but that's a decision that I have to make a decision that no one else can say is right or wrong or that anyone else can make for me. Does that make sense??? Please ladies... be the stronger one, admit your part in what is happening, go the other person and talk it out PLEASE. That doesn't mean you have to be the best of friends if you dotn' want to be... just work the issues you have out PLEASE. I love you both and don't want to see the wedge driven deeper between the two of you when there is no need for it.
I am going to say that if Randall wanted to take Vicki hunting at the age and she wanted to go then that is fine. He is one who is responsible for her and the gun. If she shoots a deer then that is great. I don't think a 5 year old should be hunting by theirself but with a parent I don't see why not.
