Important Information to Consider Before Buying a BB Gun For Your Child

It seems that every boy reaches a certain age when he starts talking about bb guns. This has been happening for generations and is often intensified around Christmas. The quest for a this gift from Santa has now been immortalized in the Christmas classic film, “A Christmas Story.” But just how safe are these guns? How old should a boy be before he can use one. Where can they be used? How much supervision does a child need? What are the laws about this type of gun? Are they actual firearms or just a toy?

All of the questions above are not only important, but need to be answered before you buy any type of bb gun for your child. The age question is usually the first one that a parent will have. Manufacturers over time have found that the earliest age for using one is 10 years of age. This not written in stone, but it has been found to hold true over the decades that bb guns have been in use. Some boys may be able to use one responsibly at an earlier age, but they will often be kids that have grown up around guns in rural areas. Again, this minimum may not apply to your son if he is underdeveloped physically. He may not be ready to fire a rifle. Your child must also be mature enough to handle the safety requirements to avoid injury to himself, other people, animals, and property.

There are no laws or permits required with bb guns at the Federal level as they are not considered fire arms. This is due to the lack of gun powder to fire the pellets. However, there can be local ordinances that are specific to your city or county. A simple phone call to the police or sheriffs department can answer this question for you.

Even though these rifles are not considered guns by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, it does not mean they are harmless. It is true that a bb will not kill if shot at someone, but the pain inflected can be intense. And the old joke about shooting your eye out is not exaggerated. Many people have been hit in the eye and lost some of their vision. If you decide to buy a rifle for your child, make sure you purchase a pair of protective glasses. Make sure you also purchase a pair for your self. A bb can easily bounce off something and hit the eye of a bystander.

This brings up an important part of the ownership of a BB rifle. No matter how responsible a child is, they should never be permitted to use their gun without adult supervision. Using bb guns can be very safe when they are used properly. It is always in the hands of a parent to teach their son or daughter to use the rifle in a responsible way. Young people will often give in to temptation and shoot at neighborhood animals and property damage comes easily with a rifle. Although they are not considered fire arms in a traditional sense, they are clearly more than toys.

If you do decide to buy a BB rifle for you child, you will first need to decide where and when it will be fired. There may be certain places a BB rifle can be used in your area,while other places will have restrictions. You may be able to shoot at targets in your back yard. You need to determine this ahead of time and be ready to make a commitment to spend time with your child, as supervision is one of the most important aspects of safety.

Just BB Guns are specialists in bb guns and offer a wide array for both adults and children on their website.