Yes, that's right...Even kids can have guns in the Country I live in. Fortunately here in South Australia the government permit children, [read minors sub-18 years of age] to own firearms. Of course it's not quite as simple as a kid walking into a firearms dealer and picking up a gun; There's rules: Club membership, licensing, supervision, storage...The usual training and legal requirements and the like. I know of a few kids who have handguns, I shoot against them in IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation) competitions including the recent State Titles. Because IPSC involves speed and movement as well as accuracy and tactics the young kids are generally pretty good; They can move faster than old boys like me. Of course they compete in their own age-groups but their junior class is hotly contested between the boys and girls and they are intense shooters generally.
One such kid is the one in the image here. A good lad. His dad and him shoot regularly at the two clubs I shoot at and also compete against me at state level. They are good people.
You can seem him here doing some work on one of my handguns, my CZ Shadow 2. He has the same gun, the one you can see in the back of shot. Both are stripped as we were working on them, making some changes. I mentioned in a blog I did yesterday about taking a couple of girls at work shooting in a few weeks, about safety and knowing how guns work and as always, I practice what I preach. As competitive shooters, LEO, security or military operators for that matter, knowing one's equipment is critical. There's a surprising amount of parts that make up a gun, especially a semi-automatic hand gun and knowing how that jigsaw goes together will mean the difference between a safe-operating firearm and a chunk of useless metal. And so we strip them and learn each time.
Keeping a firearm in good working condition is important from a safety perspective and of course operational standpoint. Going into a competition for instance means checking and re-checking my equipment, no different to a cop going on duty would (should) or a military operator: Really anyone who carries, and may be required to fire, a weapon. You can see my little buddy doing some work here on both our guns and it made me think about the importance of what he was doing and specifically in respect of his age. (14 years old). He expertly worked the tools, was meticulously careful with the myriad pins, springs and tiny parts that make up the gun and pieced the jigsaw puzzle back together. What impressed me was the care and attention he gave it. At each stage he'd check, then re-check, before proceeding and once complete would check the firearm for correct operation maintaining trigger discipline and safe muzzle direction at all times. If he wasn't satisfied it'd be apart again and rectified. It was impressive to watch this young guy work.
Firearms are no joke; They can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and due to the wrong people having them have caused a lot of sorrow and heartache. In the right hands though they can be enjoyable and very safe. Two of my handguns pictured to the right. The Shadow 2 (top) is the one we were playing with today.
Exposure to, and training in, firearm safety and guns in general have had a positive impact on this kid, and many like him. He is such a nice lad: Respectful, polite and mature for his age. His sport has also instilled a great deal of responsibility and discipline in him; Walking around with a hundred or so others with a handgun holstered and six filled magazines on your belt will do that. He strives to be the best he can, fit, strong and mentally alert, which shows in his shooting and he also trains relentlessly. He shoots at State Level (is way better than I am) currently and is one of the best juniors in the country. I believe he is world-class and have no doubt he'll represent the country in a years to come...
Today however we were just a couple of dudes tinkering with our guns, chatting and hanging out at the range. I felt inclined to write about it as I am always looking for opportunities to present one of my hobbies (shooting) in a positive way and demonstrate that the sport of shooting guns is not all about rough blokes shooting guns off in the air, swilling beer and chewing tobacco. Yes, guns can do bad things, but no gun ever jumped up and shot anyone, it's only when humans apply their will on a gun that it is capable of harm.