:thumbsup:
I'm all for getting kids involved with firearms as early as possible. More specifically, when it is most appropriate for the child in question, and only if they continue to express interest should "instruction" really continue (beyond basic respect for the awesome power that can be produced by such a small device).
But free, unsupervised access should only occur when sufficiently mature enough. What age you consider this, imho, should depend entirely on the child in question. When I was late high-school/early college, I had knowledge of our firearms in the house, and knew what parts of the puzzle were where (ammo and weapons in different locations but fairly close). When they were not taken out (rarely) to fire when visiting a farm, I understood them for one purpose: property defense. Nobody even had to tell me that, but I don't even think of them. Only when I heard our dog barking (more intensely than usual) did those firearms even enter into thought, and I already basically had a plan of grab phone, run into parents room and grab weapon, and defend through assault.
Never even needed to do any of that. However, perhaps it should have at least been practiced, so as to not fumble around when it really mattered. :hmm:
Our weapons weren't secured, and perhaps that something to really consider. My dad is somewhat old-school though, and the way I see it (and the way I might approach it as a father, if/when it comes to such), it is just how things are. Hell, I'm not really sure I'd want weapons completely locked down, at least, not every single one. Maybe a gun safe would be good for rifles and other weapons, but having to get into a safe before you can properly arm yourself when someone is in the house, seems like a dangerous waste of time. And thus, somewhere a handgun should be "out" (not secured in safe/locked), but hidden, and the magazine somewhere else, with ammo stored separately (possibly where a full magazine would be stored).
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