I could shoot a .22 pistol by the time I was 5. A rifle by 8 and had a high powered rifle next to my bed when I was 13. I was always taught shoot to kill if someone broke in. I also had access to the gun cabinet at any time. My father taught me about guns as early as he could. He never held back but always told me if I wanted to see a gun or play with it, to get him any time. He'd never hesitate when I asked. So yes, you should arm your children, as long as they have been properly educated on them first.
Me too. I used to go coon hunting for my cousin on his farm from 5-13 or so and was trained by my father and grandfather. He'd pay us a few bucks for each tail we brought back since they were mucking around in his fields. We'd also kill anything else like gophers or squirrels too.
Ahh, good times. It was hog hunting for me. I always wanted to go coon hunting with dogs but never had a chance.
My favorite times were wild turkey hunting with my Dad before he passed away. There's something magical about sitting silently in the woods at 5 am on a summer day holding your shotgun, ammo pack, flask of whiskey and communicating only with eye contact and gestures until the birds start leaving the trees and you just pepper them. Gamey but good meat too. That's how I learned to carve a bird too.
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