I start with apologies to other forum members and Mods because today, after having spent seven years on this forum, I feel tempted to question my own sensibilities. And, for all the good reasons.
You can always add those who offend your sensibilities to your ignore list or you can even leave if it bothers you so much. However, should you decide to stay and post, do expect some of your posts to be challenged or corrected or negatively commented upon should another member have a contrary opinion to yours. I'd much rather you stay but the choice is entirely yours. Remember....if you don't like my posts, there's always the ignore list...
You mention personal experience. Can you please tell us how many children have undergone firearms training under your guidance and how many of them have proved to be as safe as adults "well versed" (now that's a new usage of the word in weaponry) in safe gun handling ?
Both my sons have been taught safe gun handling by me. Whether it's a toy pop gun, airgun or firearm, the same rules of safe gun handling apply all the time. No exceptions, other than that the airguns and firearms are kept in the gun cabinet and toy guns in their toy boxes but those plastic BBs stay in the gun cabinet. I trust my sons but not all their friends to play safely. I have taught others, including adults, but I am obviously not around them all the time to see whether or not they use their guns safely.
Your confidence tells me the number must be substantial or else it could not have been the conclusive result of your survey.
The number is substantial enough for the simple reason I have seen many children exhibit safe gun handling skills. Who taught them safe gun handling is immaterial. What matters is that children can be taught safe gun handling.
And before you reply please take a good look at the youtube video that I posted and not the one this thread started with. Please watch the whole video.. right to the end so that the definition of "child" becomes clear to you as a father.
I don't understand what he said at the end but weren't you and I the same age, give or take a year, when we shot a firearm? I am well aware of the definition of 'child', the same as your father and uncle were or do you think they got it wrong as well?
Mack I have one question to ask - At precisely what age did your children start playing with toy guns?
Just one? I see loads of them. If this was a court, I'd have thought I was being cross-examined.

They must have been two or three years when they started playing with toy guns. Won't you ask how old I was?
Are you suggesting that you gave them real guns and toy guns on the same day ?
Common TC, stop being a ruddy bore.
Common TC, stop being a ruddy bore. What does
"My children were taught safe gun handling the day they started playing with toy guns." 'suggest'?
Did they show interest in both and is that what prompted you to teach them how to handle the real gun?
I am sure they were interested in my firearms and airguns but they were not permitted to touch them. When they grew old enough to
physically handle airguns, I cobbled up a couple for them.
In that case who taught them to use the toy guns?
Guess? It sure as hell wasn't you, otherwise they would still be waiting.
Because my shallow knowledge (which seems to be getting shallower every minute now) tells me that even certain toy guns need adult supervision, at least when they are used for the first time. I really want to be enlightened here.
Before you seek enlightment, you must find a Bodhi tree to sit under.

Now that you are comfortable, guess what??? Take a bow, TC, take a bow! You finally got something right!!!
And gentlemen, let me tell you that people who know their weapons follow their instincts and not "common sense" when they touch a weapon - be it a firearm or a razor.
Ahhh...and isn't that precisely why some common sense should be employed?
