I do not think it is the courts place to make this decision. I believe that a parent is far more qualified to decide if their child is capable of safely handling a firearm. From reading the story I do not believe this had anything to do with the kid having a shotgun. This was more about a fight between two divorced people and the kid being caught in the middle. I do however believe that the father has no choice at this point but to comply with the order or risk losing his son. He should appeal this order and keep appealing it until the order is overturned.

very well put, ke7cjw.
You took the words straight out of my mouth.

Nate

I agree with vtbluegrass, you would think the NRA would be more than happy to appeal this. Since when is it the states job to decide when my child is old enough to accompany me and let me supervise him shooting in a safe and responsible manner.

Is this really about a shotgun or is it more about a pi$$ed off ex-wife who is trying to do anything to get back @ her ex-husband?

It may not be, but I've seen many examples of kids thrown under the bus just so Mom or Dad can exact some revenge.

Either way, this guy better do what the judge says or he'll lose his kid for years.

Jim

I agree with the judge. He is to little yet. Maybe you can introduce him to a .22 it is smaller. I didn't get my first shotgun until I was 10 or 11.

once again, a pretty crappy job by the reporter.

The reporter never described the circumstances under which this kid was allowed to "possess" the gun. Likely because the reporter assumes that anyone owning a gun at all is an "evil" act.

If the guy let a kid go running around with a gun, without any prior lessons or supervision, there is probably a case to be made for parental negligence.

-> Let the negative feedback for rational thought flow!

If the guy was supervising his kid or had given him prior lessons and deemed him responsible enough, then this is one of the stupidest, most reactionary, most overreaching court decisions I have ever heard of.

Ken I agree, most reporters have only one thought guns are bad if you own a gun or allow a child to shoot a gun then your bad. I wonder if they think if our Olympic shooters just picked up a gun the day of the event. I also dont agree with the judge I belive it should be my job to decide when my child participates in shooting sports, but I also dont know the circumstances of the divorce case. Like mentiond before could just be a pissed off ex.

I remember back when I was stationed at Eielson AFB Alaska ready to head out to run the range for recreational shooting, My Daughter age 9 wanted to go and help, sure load up! While I was watching the line she asked if she can shoot my 22-250 I told her it was ok. She went back to the truck pulled the shooting mat and grabbed the ammo box and brought it to the line in front of the tower. Then she went back by herself and carefully pulled my Remington 700 BDL 22-250 from the ATV gun boot, pointed the rifle away in a safe direction, opened the bolt, looked and stuck her finger in the chamber then walked up to the firing line then carefully laid the rifle down pointing down range all text book perfect. After shooting a couple of rounds, this Major came bouncing up to me and demanded to know who in the hell is watching this kid and before I could respond just happen standing next to me was his Commander and boy did he let him have it. “That kid requires less Adult supervision than you do lieutenant!

My 9 year old Grandson Alex is safer and a better Sportsman than a lot of Adults I know!

I find those that say age 9 is too young, I find them in the dictionary between Ignorance and Stupidity!

The proper age of a person is based on, the desire to learn and second the mental capacity of the person! I’ve seen Adults to be the most and I’m going to leave it right there!

The ignorance to train a person with the desire to do something leads to dangerous and deadly consequences!

Any challengers?

BRING IT ON!!!!!!

One more thing,

I know beyond a reasonable doubt, New Papers will slant an article to sale more papers. A few years ago, a Doctor was accused of pulling a gun in a clinic and waving it around. I knew this Doctor and talked to all the patients that where there and they all said it didn’t happen. What happened was, the so called owner (real owner is a convicted felon for Gun and Drug running and the clinic had to be in his sons name) owed this Doctor thousands of back pay and all the Doctor wanted to do is just get his stuff and leave. The Doctor had a Canceled Carry License and everyone knew it, It all was just a frame up!

All the overwhelming evidence pointing to clear the Doctor of all the charges and the criminal background of the real owner of the clinic was ignored by the News Paper but they ran it anyhow just to sale there paper!

I fully disagree. If the kid can handle it then let em shoot. I shot my first .243 by the time I was 8 and although I was small and the scope busted my eye open, I fixed the problem and was shooting targets with a .243 and 20ga. by the time I was 9. I think a Judge is not needed on this kind of an issue. I feel its the parents place to say if its ok or not for the kid to shoot a gun. This just seems to me that its more and more gun restrictions that should have been a parents call. I think that shooting/hunting should be determined by whoever knows the child the best. If the dad or mom knows the kid cant handle the shot guns kick, dont let em shoot it. If they know the child can handle it than let the kid have his first shooting experience.