I introduced my son to handguns when he was 9. We were camping and I let him pick the shoot site. Then I asked him to explain why the site was a good one. After 3 or 4 attempts he got it right. A large clearing with a mound about 60 feet high as a backdrop. The I handed him an unloaded GP1 and asked him what he was holding. After a few answers, I told him that he was holding "death." The look on his face told me I had gotten the message across. Over the years he has learned to respect guns and the unintentional but irreversible damage they can do, and the initial fascination with them has turned into a healthy respect. He enjoys shooting but does not own, nor does he feel the need to own a gun. At the risk of sounding nonchalant, he thinks of them as no big deal.

It is my opinion that every child should be introduced to firearms at an early age. Teaching that they are "bad" is the biggest factor in building the fascination and curiosity that makes them want to "pull the trigger."