| BB guns make excellent first guns for your | | | | any colored markings. It is possible for |
| children. If you plan on taking your child | | | | policemen and others to mistake a BB gun for |
| hunting, you most certainly do not want to | | | | a real gun if markings are removed. |
| start him or her out with any other "real" | | | | |
| gun. First, teach your children how to | | | | · Be sure that your child wears eye |
| properly use BB guns. | | | | protection when shooting a BB gun. These |
| | | | guns can cause eye injuries, especially |
| The key to teaching your children to use BB | | | | because the BBs often ricochet. |
| guns is to make sure that they understand | | | | |
| that these guns are not toys! There are two | | | | · Try out the BB gun before giving it to |
| reasons for this: one, you want them to know | | | | your child. Make sure that the firing sound |
| how to properly handle a "real" gun when they | | | | is not overly loud. You do not want to |
| get one, and using BB guns is great practice. | | | | damage the hearing of your child! Give your |
| Two, BB guns really are not toys. They can | | | | child hearing protection! |
| cause injuries and even fatalities. | | | | |
| | | | · Be sure that your child knows to treat |
| If you do decide to give your children BB | | | | all BB guns as though they are real guns. |
| guns, there are some things that you need to | | | | |
| be aware of. There are many people that who | | | | These are just a few safety rules related to |
| do not agree with the use of BB guns, but | | | | BB guns. There are, of course, many more. |
| this is generally when they are misused. | | | | Make sure that you go over general gun safety |
| Here are some things that you should | | | | with your child before (not after) you give |
| consider: | | | | him or her a BB gun. |
| | | | |
| · The Consumer Products Safety Commission | | | | Also, you can check with your local NRA |
| (CPSC) suggests that only kids 16 years of | | | | chapter or other gun groups and see if they |
| age or older be allowed to use BB guns. The | | | | offer any courses in gun safety. They can |
| laws vary from state to state. | | | | create a fun and safe environment for your |
| | | | child to learn all about guns and BB guns. |
| · Some say that playing with "toy" guns, | | | | |
| like BB guns, might make it more likely that | | | | BB guns can be fun and useful, as long as |
| your child will mistake a real gun for a toy. | | | | they are used properly. Be sure that the |
| Be sure to clearly establish the difference! | | | | experience that your child has with a BB gun |
| | | | is a good one. He or she may gripe about |
| · For your children, buy only brightly | | | | having to learn about gun safety, but in the |
| colored BB guns. Do not allow them to remove | | | | end, you will be thanked! |