My niece fired her first gun

[RH822-A]

My 12 yr old great niece came over Saturday to spend the day with me while her parents were at work and I finally got her to go shooting with me. I asked her "do you want to make your dad very proud of you?" Her eyes lite up and with a big smile she excitedly asked, How? I said learn to shoot. She agreed, so after about 15 min of general firearm safety and instruction on how to operate the Ruger 10/22, I started her shooting from 50 yards. She pick up on everything very quickly, from loading the magazines to clearing a jam. After 10 minutes of watching her like a hawk and not needing to correct her even once, I backed off about 15 feet, took a seat on the ground and let her go. She was tearing up the 6 & 8 inch P-dog swingers and ground about 10 clays to dust. 350 rounds later, I got out the Mini-14. On the first round she touched off with the Mini, she let out a bit of a surprised gasp, then giggled and proceeded to empty the rest of the mag.
When her dad arrived to pick her up, she said to him, daddy I need to show you something. She looked at me and I told her "You know what to do". So, she got the 10/22 and a box of ammo and headed out the back door. Her dad looked at me and said, Seriously?? how did you talk her into it? I replied, Ask her if she wanted to make her daddy proud. And watching his little girl load and fire a rifle all by herself did indeed make "Daddy" very proud.

we're going shooting again tomorrow. I can't wait.

 

[Stschil]

I absolutely love reading threads like this! Just can't get enough of hearing about, and seeing people during their first experiences with a firearm. Brings back so many memories of my Dad taking me out to shoot his .38 Police Special for the first time.

 

[gage]

N I C E
Thank you for sharing the joys of first time shooting.
No doubt you made her day and a valuable life long memory!

 

[Water63]

It's always good to see young kids getting involved and learning how fun shooting can be. The schools teach how bad guns are but we win every time we get a kid shooting. They let their friends know how much fun it was and the torch is pasted down again. Congrats!!

 

[Mr.Lubie]

Awesome story and +1 to you sir for getting her started on hopefully a life long path of target shooting and a safe happy gun ownership for her someday

 

[spasmo]

It is fantastic to see girls out shooting and I like seeing them be posted. I think it's important so that other women/girls see there are others out there that aren't afraid of firearms.

 

[danielocean03]

Thank you for sharing! I can't wait until my daughter is old enough to "introduce" to firearms, she's just turned 5 last month. She's known what they are since she was 4, and I use every opportunity that presents itself to educate her on firearm safety. She knows they're not toys, and she knows what to do if she were to ever find one.

 

[JBrockman]

I get the pleasure of experiancing a young persons first shot every year and watching the smile on a parents face when they hit the target the first time. Johnson County 4-H Shooting Sports is a great place for a young person to learn the safe handling, loading, cleaning and shooting of their firearm. You have never seen a bigger smile on a youth as when they bust that first clay and Dad and Mom are there to witness it.

 

[brotherbill3]

AWESOME!!! ... Well said by the OP and everyone!!!

 

[The Bubba Effect]

Good Uncle!

 

[RH822-A]

I know this ones a bit young (she's 3), but it tough to say no to big green eyes and Peeeees Papaw? I be berry careful.

P.S. I held and "aimed" she pulled the trigger. Then we had to go in so we could watch Dora.

 

[Pami]

P.S. I held and "aimed" she pulled the trigger. Then we had to go in so we could watch Dora.