mascire2

We just bought bb guns (air soft) for my two sons who are ten. They
were temporarily happy just shooting targets that we made. Eric is not
happy with this anymore, and really wants to shoot at birds. He likes
that they move and it is more of a challenge. I guess it is the hunting
instinct. I don't feel good about him shooting at birds. For one thing,
I think he would be really upset if he wounded one and had to see it
suffer. I would be upset as well. I tried making some targets that move-
things hanging in trees, etc. He still isn't happy with this. We live
in a suburban neighborhood, so he can't just go up and down the street
shooting at whatever he wants to. I wish he could, but we need to have
concern for our neighbors. I also of course have those deep seated
fears around him wanting to shoot birds. He has always loved animals,
and I am trying to get my head around the fact that there isn't
anything wrong with what he is wanting to do. (Is there?!) Any ideas on
how I can help him get his needs met?

Thanks!
Amie

Pamela Sorooshian

On Jun 18, 2007, at 2:18 PM, mascire2 wrote:

> We just bought bb guns (air soft) for my two sons who are ten.

You might want to check the legality of the guns and be sure you're
not using them where it isn't allowed. Turns out that where I live
there is NO place to shoot them, legally, except at a couple of
shooting ranges intended specifically for that purpose. The police
are extremely strict about enforcement.

That said, there is protective clothing and masks and all that - they
can shoot at each other if you get them well-outfitted.

-pam

>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Gold Standard

>>I don't feel good about him shooting at birds.<<

I certainly understand that.

We've had airsoft guns here for the last couple of years, and Cam (13) is
very active with it...he's been asked to join a local team here that is
supposed to be getting sponsored.

As far as I know, he's only shot at people (willing people :o), but as Pam
suggested, you might want to see what the law is where you are. If it isn't
legal to shoot birds with airsoft, that helps your cause. If it is legal,
maybe letting him experience it will bring him to his own conclusions.

Have you looked at those devices that shoot model clay birds (can't remember
what their called), which is done for sport? Maybe that would satisfy the
desire.

If he really wants to hunt birds, if that is what the drive is, maybe
looking in your area for resources that support hunting (hunting ranges,
hunting stores, etc...most places have limited hunting seasons).

If he just wants moving targets, airsofting with people is pretty dang
exciting (with all the gear of course). We started off pretty slow...just a
few kids and an adult, lots of information and discussion about how everyone
wanted it to work...always had a "safe" place in the yard for anyone who
didn't want to get shot...this progressed to the kids setting it up
completely independently, and having "tournaments" in different people's
yards with great obstacles and hiding places. Cam is very quick, agile and
an accurate shooter...this has been an exciting sport for him.

Jacki

Sandra Dodd

-=-Have you looked at those devices that shoot model clay birds
(can't remember
what their called), which is done for sport? Maybe that would satisfy
the
desire.-=-

Pigeon, pigeon launcher. Skeet. I don't think you could hurt one
with a BB gun.

What about paper airplanes or toy parachute guys or the little flat
balsa wood airplanes or styrofoam airplanes? They could launch
something cheap and easy and try to shoot it in flight.

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

mascire2

Thank you for all of the ideas. I will look into all of them. I think
Eric would love being able to shoot at other people. I will look into
our laws first though.

Thanks again,
Amie




--- In [email protected], Pamela Sorooshian
<pamsoroosh@...> wrote:
>
>
> On Jun 18, 2007, at 2:18 PM, mascire2 wrote:
>
> > We just bought bb guns (air soft) for my two sons who are ten.
>
> You might want to check the legality of the guns and be sure
you're
> not using them where it isn't allowed. Turns out that where I live
> there is NO place to shoot them, legally, except at a couple of
> shooting ranges intended specifically for that purpose. The police
> are extremely strict about enforcement.
>
> That said, there is protective clothing and masks and all that -
they
> can shoot at each other if you get them well-outfitted.
>
> -pam
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>