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Original poster

12-year-olds with BB Guns - safety rules

16 replies

flyingcrow · 25/09/2012 16:49

I am happy for my son to have a BB gun, but I'd like to know what kind of safety guidelines other parents impose, and what your experience is, particularly of skirmishing. How risky is it, if goggles are worn?

OP posts:
MrsHoarder · 26/09/2012 14:09

Not got a child of that age, but I'd advise keeping it under lock and key when he's not supposed to be using it. Sometimes preteen boys get giddy and you don't want him to have a weapon then.

I speak from experience of how painful they are at exceedingly short range due to my brother breaking the safety rules (fortunately he missed my eyes).

NatashaBee · 26/09/2012 14:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mathanxiety · 27/09/2012 14:52

DS had one at that age. He really enjoyed it and came to no harm.

The rules were:
BB gun kept separately from BB pellets, which were kept by me under lock and key.
Gun only used with parental permission and when parent was there.
Gun only used when he was on his own and for target practice using cans or bullseyes.
Gun only used in one particular area outdoors where there was no chance of ever hitting anyone with a BB (in my case this was a part of the yard that had the garage wall as a backdrop).
Gun emptied of pellets under my close supervision when gun time was over.
No shooting at any animal or bird. Any infraction of this rule meant gun taken and never given back.

In the highly unlikely event of a friend with or without BB gun coming over to join the fun, parents of friend had to be notified and had to give explicit permission in person to me (not 'Mom said I could'), and friend had to comply with all my rules including emptying of BBs after fun was over.

In the event of DS wanting to go to friends' houses to play with their BB guns, parents had to be there and willing to supervise or I would not allow DS to go. After that, DS had to comply with any rules the other parents set for BB guns.

mathanxiety · 27/09/2012 14:58

Skirmishing -- I would encourage paintballing and I would not allow skirmishing of any kind.

You can do damage with BB pellets, both to participants in a skirmish and to innocent bystanders or animals/birds, but not with paintballs.

Allowing your DS or DD to use a gun for skirmishing is not teaching respect for the gun. Paintballing is a different concept based on realistic appreciation and respect for what can be done with real guns.

With guns and alcohol you have to teach respect first and foremost because both are capable of doing a lot of damage unless their nature is acknowledged.

AmberLeaf · 27/09/2012 15:10

Skirmishing events are highly organised and generally you need to be at least 16 to participate.

Some groups/clubs will have them for younger enthusiasts but they will be very strict on the rules.

Its not a cheap passtime especially those that are also reenactments so people that do it tend to take it seriously and are very rule conscious.

AmberLeaf · 27/09/2012 15:11

*rule and safety conscious.

bureni · 27/09/2012 15:16

Safety rules.... do not give a 12 year old a gun, simply as that.

MoreBeta · 27/09/2012 15:20

I have knowledge of a 12 yr old boy with a BB gun. Not my own boy I hasten to add. Police got involved after it was used improperly and posed a danger to the public. In summary, give a boy a gun and he will use it.

I really would not go there unless your DS is closely supervised at a proper gun club.

Original poster
flyingcrow · 05/10/2012 18:57

Thanks to everyone for your feedback. Very useful, especially mathanxiety's clear guidelines.

OP posts:
ShirleyRots · 05/10/2012 19:01

You'll have your eye out!

lljkk · 05/10/2012 19:01

I think MA's guides are good, but they would be way too much for me to enforce. Good luck, sounds like you'll be spending a lot of time enforcing the rules.

DS wanted a BB gun. He freely admitted this was so he could shoot people who annoyed him. Strange enough I haven't bought him one.

Nahla321 · 05/10/2012 19:03

Don't let him take it anywhere were you can't see what he's doing with it!

mg19380 · 14/10/2014 18:04

i want on one but my mom won't let me

astewart · 21/10/2014 21:22

My son had one, till he shot a friend, in the eye....... Awful things, I handed to the police when they arrived, gladly.

BlueberryWafer · 21/10/2014 21:44

Mathanxiety I was about to say no way to any child having a BB gun until I read your post, and actually I can see how under correct supervision and with rules in place, it doesn't sound so bad.

CadmiumRed · 21/10/2014 21:50

Mathanxieties rules here, too.

And target shooting only. Everyone has to stand behind the one with the gun, all the time.

No way, no way AT ALL would I allow any shooting or aiming at anyone else. They seem to want to shoot each others legs. They seem to want their legs shot at. Even thinking of aiming at a person or animal and I will crush it under my car wheels.

After begging for one for months, the fussy wore off after a few weeks target shooting.

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