[Chefnutz]

There is an agenda that has been set, and the MSM is is doing ther best.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31952727/ns/us...life/?GT1=43001

 

[Chefnutz]

Now I would not set my child afield alone, because hunting is more a family thing to me and I think it is irresponsible to a point. If the child is not educated in fire arms training, or animal identification, of course he or she should have a person with them or not have the gun in their hands until they have the proper knowledge. But this seems to be written in the anti gun sentiment again

 

[Shep]

Adults do the same thing all the time. It is because people do not identify their target before pulling the trigger.

 

[Chefnutz]

Yup

 

[Big Dog]

Let the parents decide, not the law.
We as parents know our kids, lawmakers as strangers, don't.
One 16 year old may be ready to hunt solo, and the next one may not be.
Some 16 year olds aren't mature enough, he!! some adults aren't either.

 

[eaglelarry]

You nailed it Big Dog. This kid broke the #1 rule though, IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET!

 

[chivo]

I agree that it was bound to happen with a child unsupervised afield. Parents are the ones who know wether or not their child is ready. My Dad would have NEVER let me alone with a rifle when I was a teenager!!! I bowhunted then, but didnt rifle hunt. I was a bit of a crazy kid though, and he knew this. Therefore, no gun hunting or target practice without him or my Grampa present. Just common sense if you ask me.

 

[Grapes]

I grewe up in rural Clarkston as a kid, and I still remember my dad getting me a BB gun on my 6th birthday, and a .22 on my 10th. He would just let us go out across the road, and let us be kids. Of course, the 1st year or 2, he was always there supervising me, but when he felt comfortable, he let me go alone. I do believe I was 8 with the BB gun, and 13 with the 22.

It all depends on the kid.

 

[scienceguru]

I dont agree with havign kids that age unsupervised in the field whether the parent feels like they are ready or not. With people now hunting from raised platforms with firearms it is a more dangerous time. I agree that one should identify their target first. Too many accidents can happen with anyone but more so with young kids who get "buck fever" and shoot at the first sign of movement or take a poor shot and wound the animal.

My daughter likes to hunt and go with me but she will not go unsupervised. I have hunted with lots of people in college and alo some students of mine on the past and I only hunted with some of them once!!! Because of their attitude and lack of training I refuse to hunt with them again as they are unsafe!!!

So I believe that no matter what the age they say one should not be unsupervised until they have hunted long enough with an adult to know and practice safe hunting techniques!!

 

[Big Dog]

It's sort of a couble edge sword. Some kids might be perfectly able to hunt alone, and others not. Even if your child is ready to handle it, the risk is still there that another kid might not be , even if his or her parents think they are.
I'm not sure I would hunt alone or let Heather hunt alone at any age, just due the possibility of an accident.
Some on the stuff I've seen at indoor shooting ranges makes me nervous. Idiots walking around with a gun in their hand, and not pointed down range, and the one clown who had a failure to fire and turned the gun around to look in the barrel

Those are the ones that hear it from me! I'm usually pretty easy going, but if somebody I don't know points a gun(loaded or not) at me, I get ugly.
I was taught from a young age how to safely handle firearms, and that is the only way.

But on the other hand there are too many firearms restrictions in place now, that I'm not a fan of creating any new ones. I'd rather see some of the current ones lifted.
NO CEZ's!!!

 

[chivo]

I think hunting from elevated platforms actually helps to better identify your target. You get a better look at them. But again, doesnt mean I want a 10yo up there with a .270 ripping holes through the first thing that moves!!!

 

[snowman]

QUOTESeven states - Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Vermont and Washington - set no minimum age for solo hunting.
In Texas, kids can hunt alone when they are 9.
In Alaska, Louisiana and Tennessee, the minimum age for unsupervised hunting is 10, in Missouri it's 11, and in nine other states it's 12.
That's a total of 21 states in which kids can hunt alone at age 12 or younger. And in 19 of them, young hunters afield by themselves may pursue any game - big or small - that is in season.

Absolutely not. Yer right that parents should know when their kids are ready. Have you seen these parents? Have you talked to these parents? How do we know the parents aren't white-trash country hillbillys with missing teeth and no education? Now I'm not saying they all are but who says the parents are bright enough to make that decision?

 

[Big Dog]

QUOTE(snowman @ Jul 22 2009, 10:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTESeven states - Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Vermont and Washington - set no minimum age for solo hunting.
In Texas, kids can hunt alone when they are 9.
In Alaska, Louisiana and Tennessee, the minimum age for unsupervised hunting is 10, in Missouri it's 11, and in nine other states it's 12.
That's a total of 21 states in which kids can hunt alone at age 12 or younger. And in 19 of them, young hunters afield by themselves may pursue any game - big or small - that is in season.

Absolutely not. Yer right that parents should know when their kids are ready. Have you seen these parents? Have you talked to these parents? How do we know the parents aren't white-trash country hillbillys with missing teeth and no education? Now I'm not saying they all are but who says the parents are bright enough to make that decision?

Yeah, but it's a crap-shoot, some of the lawmakers might not be much smarter

 

[outsider]

there needs to be a minimum age limit in place that even if a parent feels their child is responsible enough they still need to be present but by no means should this be anywhere near 16. the law should be in the middle grounds so young teenagers who are responsible can go and ones who maybe need to be supervised need to be restricted by the parents. ive seen adults who are unfamiliar with guns learn a thing or two, i also strongly support hunter education.