Our Top 9 Tips for Teaching Kids Gun Safety

Now that everyone has recovered from being sick, we’re finding that we have more free time. It’s been nice the past couple of days! So nice!

Since Mark was off of work the other day, we decided to fire a few rounds at the gun range.

The Gun Range

Gun range is a pretty lofty title for the place where we go shoot.  How to describe the “Gun Range??”

It’s an unmanaged unofficial range up on Beretta Drive in the hills.  I don’t know who owns it, but Mark’s co-worker told him about it shortly after we moved to the area.

It’s pretty laid back at the range.

So laid back, in fact, the day we went to the range, the cows were loose!  A picture would be perfect right here.

Now all you gun haters out there…don’t be hatin’ on guns. We are not a gun-loving family by any means! But we think the right to bear arms is pretty rad and we choose to exercise that right.

Back to the pasture range…we brought our .22 survival rifle (which is compact and really a cool little gun). And our little itty bitty .380 with a laser that is not sighted in yet.

Survival .22 & .380
Survival .22 & .380

We have started teaching the kids about gun safety and drilling them on how to handle guns. They can answer basic safety questions pretty well and we run a TIGHT ship out at the range.

So here are our top tips for teaching kids about gun safety. And no, we are not trained professionals, just concerned parents.

Gun safety tips for kids
Mark helping L get set up

Our TOP 9 Tips for Teaching Young Children Gun Safety

  1. Never, EVER point a gun at ANYTHING unless you intend to shoot it.
  2. Treat every gun as if it’s loaded.
  3. Do not put your finger near the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
  4. Always point a gun toward the ground. And not at your shoe because your foot is in there ~ that is E’s contribution.
  5. If you don’t know what to do, stop.
  6. Slow and calm movements are controlled and safe movements.
  7. The parent assisting must tell the child they are free to fire.  Without our go ahead, they are NOT allowed to pull the trigger.
  8. They (the shooter) yells “Fire” when they are ready to shoot.
  9. Hearing and eye protection are to be worn at all times while at the range, (unless they are in a vehicle).
L show-casing the earplugs

Mark is always helping them, and right beside them.  One child is shooting, everyone else is in the van.  We go for 1/2 hour or less, short for the kids.  That’s it.

Me & Mr. Z, cozy in the van.

My Initial Reservations

In the beginning, I didn’t go with two older kids and I didn’t want Mark taking them to the range. But because our kids are fairly well behaved I wasn’t concerned with them not listening to us.  I think it was more the stigma associated with firearms and just fear of something going wrong.  Let me tell you…

Stigmas are stupid.

AND something can go wrong anywhere.

The benefits – which I’ll cover – outweigh any negatives.  Truly, it’s been a positive experience.

Kid's Gun Safety Gear
Here is E with his hearing and eye protection

Why This is Beneficial for Children.

  1. We get to demystify guns and take Hollywood out of guns.  Remove the mystery.
  2. This allows us to squelch the desire to “play” with guns because they can appropriately use them under our direct supervision.
  3. They get to learn how to safely shoot them (at an age-appropriate level).
  4. They understand guns are dangerous and we are instilling respect for firearms.

So there you have it.  Any tips or benefits you’d like to add?

58 thoughts on “Our Top 9 Tips for Teaching Kids Gun Safety”

  1. Thanks for posting this! There is definitely a stigma that goes with this topic… my husband and I also take our kids to the range and are teaching them firearms safety. If more people (adults included) had firearms safety training earlier on this stigma could be squashed. 🙂

    Reply
    • Thank you for your comment Sarah! I think it’s wonderful that parents see the value and importance of teaching their kids about firearms! There is so much fear associated with guns that many avoid the topic all together, but that won’t solve anything.

      Reply
  2. While I agree with most of your post, I feel I must tell you that the range command “clear” usually means it is safe to move down range or walk in front of the firing line or that no weapons on the line are loaded or ready to fire. As a former riflery instructor at a summer camp, I can see where this could possibly cause a dangerous situation.

    Reply
    • Thank you Charlie! I’ve updated the post accordingly. I can see how my poor wording could cause confusion for a child. I sincerely appreciate your feedback!

      Reply
  3. Many of your tips are the basic rules of hunter safety. I’m glad that you’re teaching your children to respect firearms and how to appropriately use them. I’m planning on doing the same with mine just as my parents did with me. Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  4. I am so thankful to see another mother allows her children to shoot a rifle. My husband bought our then 3 and 5 year old their own rifles, (my daughter got a pink one) for Christmas last year. Boy did I get criticized from my mom and MIL!! “I can’t believe you’d allow that!!!” Like we were going to keep it in their toy box and give them a box of bullet to shoot whenever they felt like it. Kyle’s step-dad and my dad were more relaxed about it. My husband allows the kids to look at his guns whenever they want as long as they ask. I mean—whenever. Getting ready for bed—sure. Late for dinner–we have a few minutes. Everything you said is spot on!!

    Reply
    • Thank you for your kind words Megan! I love that you are so willing to let them see the rifles! Most children hear no and that opens the door for them to sneak off and “play” with them unsupervised. By educating them, you’re teaching them to be safe around firearms and respect them. Great job!

      Reply
  5. I am so thankful to see another mother allows her children to shoot a rifle. My husband bought our then 3 and 5 year old their own rifles, (my daughter got a pink one) for Christmas last year. Boy did I get criticized from my mom and MIL!! “I can’t believe you’d allow that!!!” Like we were going to keep it in their toy box and give them a box of bullet to shoot whenever they felt like it. Kyle’s step-dad and my dad were more relaxed about it. My husband allows the kids to look at his guns whenever they want as long as they ask. I mean—whenever. Getting ready for bed—sure. Late for dinner–we have a few minutes. Everything you said is spot on!!

    Reply
    • Thank you for your kind words Megan! I love that you are so willing to let them see the rifles! Most children hear no and that opens the door for them to sneak off and “play” with them unsupervised. By educating them, you’re teaching them to be safe around firearms and respect them. Great job!

      Reply
  6. I love this and am forwarding it to my husband. He grew up hunting and I grew up around guns (but not using them past the point of a few times at the range). We both want our children to grow up with the respect and knowledge of what guns are and what they can do. I personally am nervous around them and need a refresher every time we go and shoot. The slow and calm movements statement was so true. Thank you for this. It makes me feel less alone. If I may ask, how old were your children when first started actively teaching them about gun safety?

    Reply
    • Thank you Kristina, my husband started taking our oldest when she was 5. Our 3rd child went when she was 2 but she didn’t really do much just watch. For our kids, 4 years old is a good age. That is when our son went for the first time, he loved it and did well listening to instructions.

      Reply
  7. Thank you Kristina, my husband started taking our oldest when she was 5. Our 3rd child went when she was 2 but she didn’t really do much just watch. For our kids, 4 years old is a good age. That is when our son went for the first time, he loved it and did well listening to instructions.

    Reply
  8. Thank you for this post. My husband is just getting into hunting, and there have been reservations on my end about getting into guns when we just had a baby. My husband expressed the desire for both of us to learn how to use the gun safely, and when the time comes, to teach our daughter as well. We still have years to go before that day, but this article offers some great advice. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Hey Leeann, it took some convincing for me to see not only the value, but also the importance of teaching our kids about firearms. Looking back over the past few years, I’m grateful that Mark persisted and they have a respect for guns. It’s also been great to be on board with him in this area rather than letting my fears divide us. Thank you for taking the time to comment!

      Reply

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