DC Shoot Age Question

[Midland]

I need to ask a question now that my 16yr old found out I was planning on attending the DC Shoot and he wants to come with me. While he has the brains, maturity and four letter vocabulary to attend DC sessions with me (his coding skills far exceed mine at this point in some cases) I figured I would check on the Shoot as I have never attended this particular event and we don't consider gun safety anything to mess around with. He has fired at targets in the past and gone hunting with the family so he is familiar firearms although he has not had any formal training.

My question is would this be a bad idea to bring him to this particular event or is this strictly adults only? Would he be OK as just a spectator or would he even have the opportunity to possibly handle a lower caliber weapon?

Thanks

[TheCotMan]

I need to ask a question now that my 16yr old found out I was planning on attending the DC Shoot and he wants to come with me. While he has the brains, maturity and four letter vocabulary to attend DC sessions with me (his coding skills far exceed mine at this point in some cases) I figured I would check on the Shoot as I have never attended this particular event and we don't consider gun safety anything to mess around with. He has fired at targets in the past and gone hunting with the family so he is familiar firearms although he has not had any formal training.

My question is would this be a bad idea to bring him to this particular event or is this strictly adults only? Would he be OK as just a spectator or would he even have the opportunity to possibly handle a lower caliber weapon?

Thanks

No comment on policy. I do not run this. Deviant Ollam is the guy that can answer on policy. However, in the past:

In the past, I have occasionally seen people under the age of 18 at the (unofficial) DC Shoot, but all of those that I recall seeing there were:
1) accompanied by a parent or guardian that was a responsible adult
2) as minor, they were well adjusted to adbiding by the rules of firearm safety with great respect for the tools being used and the damage they can cause when not being safe with them, and taking direction from the Range Masters / RSO

Since this is a distributed volunteer event, each person manages their own firearms and who gets access to those firearms. Each can have their own policies. This is in addition to any policies Deviant wants to provide for the general event.

Many of the people I know in hacking groups know what it was like to be denied access to awesome fun and powerful tools because age was considered a useful filter to deny access. In reality, we all know maturity is far more important, and using our own lives we see age is often a poor predictor for maturity.

In the past, minor at the shoot were required to be with the parent for the duration of the shoot.

If you hear back from Deviant Ollam that it is fine, and you are bringing a minor, plase be sure to bring adequate ear and eye protection. As an adult, you can choose to put your own body at risk, but not bringing adequate protection for your child could result in child abuse charges against you. Be sure to arrive early enough to hear the safety talk and learn how to identify RSO, when a cease fire is called, and what to do, and when it is safe to move forward of the firing line, and more.

I was a lucky kid, and given the chance to fire rifle and pistols around the age of 10. It was always with adult supervision , and it was a great, fun thing. Those aluminium cans didn't know what hit them! :-)

Hope you hear back on this soon!

Good luck!

[Modafinil]

.... my 16yr old found out I was planning on attending the DC Shoot and he wants to come with me.
My question is would this be a bad idea to bring him to this particular event or is this strictly adults only? Would he be OK as just a spectator or would he even have the opportunity to possibly handle a lower caliber weapon?
Thanks

I'm one of the parents that has brought his kid to the shoot, and I agree with TheCotMan on both points. My child was not allowed within arms' reach of the firing bench when not immediately supervised by a parent. If you decide that you're bringing him to the shoot, just be aware that you'll have to split your time between shooting and supervising, and that he will have to be content watching while you're not immediately supervising him shoot.

Having said that, I've found that the other shooters there are extremely welcoming, and I'd expect that he'd have the opportunity to sample many different weapons that he'd be comfortable shooting. Feel free to stop by my lane on Thursday, and sample some firearms.

[Midland]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I think I will bring him along for an experience he may never have the opportunity again to enjoy. All suggestions on oversight and safety of course are taken very seriously.