Red Ryder BB Gun for 4 year old

[brockash]

I don't get why anyone needs a bb gun at all???? I don't get it, what's the point? And no, I don't think a 4 year old is nearly responsible enough or old enough to have a bb gun, although like I said, if it was my choice, I wouldn't get one at all.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Supervised or not, why does a 4 year old need to shoot anything?

 

[cmaee]

My DS got one for his 7th birthday this year. I struggled with the decision to get it for him or not. My DH felt it was fine and most of his friend's moms told me that they had got their kids them when they are 5. I grew up in a home where we hunted and learned gun safety at an early age. My DH does not hunt, so we do not have guns in the house. DS7 had been begging for the BB gun since he was 5. He has done great with it. He likes to target shoot. We got him a bunch of targets and he likes to shoot them and pop cans. I went over some pretty clear rules with him on it. He cannot shoot the BB gun unless his dad is with him. He is not allowed to keep the BB gun in his room...it is stored hidden in our bedroom and the BB's are stored in another room in a locked cabinet. He doesn't know where either items are stored and locked away. When he is handed the gun, he has to check it immediately to see if it is loaded or not...basic gun safety rules. We made it very clear that a BB gun is not a toy, but a gun that could kill someone. He treats it with respect or we would get rid of it.

 

[okeydokey]

4 is way to young. The maturity needed to handle a weapon is not there.

 

[DVCJones]

Uh.......NO!!!!!!!!

He'll shoot his eye out....or worse.

 

[RMulieri]

He'll shoot his eye out. At 4 yrs old, my kid could barely find her mouth at the dinner table .There is no way a 4 yr old is old enough for a bb gun.Maybe 6 or 7.

 

[woodkins]

WOW...I am in culture shock. Living on Long Island, I don't think I know one person whose kids have a BB gun....at any age. It just isn't something that is even in the relm of everyday life. I guess we are too "citified" or something but the thought of a 4 year old with a gun is just shocking to me.

 

[NotUrsula]

If we're talking about a situation where Dad will be taking him out to teach him target shooting, and where the child will never actually be holding the gun without Dad's hands also on it, then I would say that the privilege of learning to shoot a BB gun would be an appropriate kindergarten graduation gift, but it should be clear that the privilege is the gift, and that the gun itself still belongs to Dad.

If we are talking about teaching him to strip and clean it, and allowing him to use it for squirrel hunting and the like, then I think 9-10 is about the right age, presuming he gets formal firearm safety training beforehand. I've personally never heard of a firearm safety class that didn't expect a child to be old enough to know how to read.

I grew up in rural Louisiana, and the rite of passage 40 years ago for boys whose families hunted was getting your own .22 on your 12th birthday. Based on what my nephews got, that still seems accurate. The BB gun of your own usually came 2-3 years before -- but NOT when you were still a preschooler.

At his current age I'd say that a Nerf gun would be the proper speed. He can use that to learn basic safety such as never pointing at a person or a pet, and also not in the direction of any glass window.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My DS got one when he turned 10, only after taking a course on them at Cub Scout camp. He is only allowed to use it shooting targets in the back yard with DH and we keep it and the bb's put up where none of the other kids can use it. It's a weapon, not a toy, I think giving a gun at 4 doesn't give them a chance to develop a healthy fear of being shot.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Um, my kids will never be getting one if I have anything to do with it.

I do understand though that different parts of the country do things differently. So no judgement on early gun use. I do think that 4 is way too young though. 6 maybe but only if they are a mature 6 and completely supervised.

 

[Cloudwatcher]

WOW! I guess I am on the other end. DD5 got a pink bb gun last year for Christmas. She goes and shoots when Daddy goes and shoots. DH is an avid hunter and thinks that everyone from day one should be gun saftey trained. We keep her gun locked in the safe with all the other guns and when she wants to shoot or clean the gun, then we open up the safe (number and key lock) and watch as she handles her gun.

 

[LisaNJ25]

If I gave my 4yo son a red ryder he would shoot all of our eyes out. He was watching the movie the other day and I did tell him I would buy a bar of soap for his mouth like Ralphie.

My 17yo got a bb gun last year but it doesnt usually sees the light of day.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I found this on another website:

This Red Ryder BB gun is the same 1938 model that Daisy has been making for decades. Daisy Red Ryder airguns are lightweight, easy to use, and dependable. That's probably why they've been a favorite of shooters 10 years and older ever since their introduction in 1939. With proper supervision and training, this is the perfect gift for a beginning shooter.

 

[Deb8821]

Got my DS9 Red Ryder last spring for his birthday. We too did gun safety and he has been taught to respect the gun. Ironically DS12 wants one but he doesn't have the same level of maturity or respect for a gun as my younger one has so none for him yet. Depends on the child and I think its regional as to what is an acceptable age for a gun. Deer hunting and hunting in general are very big in our area.

 

[allison443]

I thought it was a joke! Ds11's friend just got one, and all of the moms here are horrified. We don't let our kids play with guns in our liberal state!

I think I am in the same state as you....I never bought my kids a bb gun...my oldest is 22 and in all those years I have never encountered anyone around here who bought their kid a bb gun.
Also, the only adults that I know have guns are those who are law enforcement.

We also give at least $300 for a wedding gift! Oh wait that was another thread about regional differences........

OP the consensus seems to be to wait a few years. I agree with that.

 

[Befferk]

I agree that 4 is too young. My son is 7, and while he has one, he is closely supervised, and he only got the interest after he used one at Cub Scout camp. I don't think that 4 year olds grasp the concept of the potential consequences for such a serious thing. If they see it as a toy, and they see that a BB gun does minimal damage, what happens if they accidentally get ahold of a "real" gun and think that it will do the same minimal damage (even if you have yours locked up tight, it could happen at a relative or friend's house).

 

[mjkacmom]

I think I am in the same state as you....I never bought my kids a bb gun...my oldest is 22 and in all those years I have never encountered anyone around here who bought their kid a bb gun.
Also, the only adults that I know have guns are those who are law enforcement.

We also give at least $300 for a wedding gift! Oh wait that was another thread about regional differences........

OP the consensus seems to be to wait a few years. I agree with that.

LOL - the only people I know who have guns are cops, too! I live in a very Catholic town, and was invited to my gf's dd's bat mitzvah, who has been my dd's best friend since kindergarten. Many of my other friends have been invited as well, along with their children, and we're all panicking on what we should give! We've heard the party afterwards is like a wedding, and are thinking $300 per family (kind of between what we give for a communion vs. a wedding).

 

[Joyful3Heart]

If we're talking about a situation where Dad will be taking him out to teach him target shooting, and where the child will never actually be holding the gun without Dad's hands also on it, then I would say that the privilege of learning to shoot a BB gun would be an appropriate kindergarten graduation gift, but it should be clear that the privilege is the gift, and that the gun itself still belongs to Dad.

If we are talking about teaching him to strip and clean it, and allowing him to use it for squirrel hunting and the like, then I think 9-10 is about the right age, presuming he gets formal firearm safety training beforehand. I've personally never heard of a firearm safety class that didn't expect a child to be old enough to know how to read.

I grew up in rural Louisiana, and the rite of passage 40 years ago for boys whose families hunted was getting your own .22 on your 12th birthday. Based on what my nephews got, that still seems accurate. The BB gun of your own usually came 2-3 years before -- but NOT when you were still a preschooler.

At his current age I'd say that a Nerf gun would be the proper speed. He can use that to learn basic safety such as never pointing at a person or a pet, and also not in the direction of any glass window.

I love this reply, and wholeheartedly agree with it .

I have one thing to add... a Red Ryder BB gun is a "western style" lever action BB gun in which the lever is very stiff. IMHO, 4 years old is a little too young, most kids can't easily pull the lever until they are 8 or 10. I have memories of my brother at 6 putting the butt of the gun on the ground with the gun between his knees and pulling up with all his might on the lever. Just keep in mind he probably won't be able to use it independently for a while even if you wait, but with parental help and supervision, it can be a great way to build a foundation for safety and respect of all firearms he may handle in the years to come.

 

[diamondpixienc]

I'm a Louisiana native too (Geaux Saints...7 - 0) and BB guns are a right of passage. My big bro now (37) (who is still a serious hunter i mean if it's in season he's hunting it) got his when he was 6 or 7 and just about every other male child on the block or in the family had one. Now, unfortuneatley for him he has been blessed w/ 4 girls and I got the boy so due to his "I need a little boy to teach my skills too" mentality my son was graced w/ a BB gun from his favorite uncle on his 4th birthday too. He is now 6 and he has never touched it but once since posing w/ it at his birthday party. My points 1) 4 is too young 2) Not everyone from Louisiana pack heat or teach there kids to even if you've got a wannabe rambo or crocodile hunter for a brother

 

[pweyl36]

My father bought my son his first BB gun when he turned 5yr.He only got to shoot it when my father was around and it stayed at his house.