Michigan bill would allow younger children to hunt

[The Straight Story]

LANSING, Mich.— Children under 10 would be allowed to hunt as long as they're with an adult mentor through legislation that has passed the Michigan House.

The measure adopted Tuesday by an 85-23 vote next goes to the Senate, which has passed similar legislation.

Current law requires a child to be at least 10 to get a hunting license. The age requirement is 12 if it involves hunting deer with a firearm.

The House bill would eliminate those provisions and set up a mentoring program that would allow children to get licenses earlier.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-huntingage-michig,0,256612.story

[Le Taz Hot]

1. Just what we need . . .

four-year-olds packin' heat. :wtf: Seriously.

[xoom]

22. Yeah, because that's literally going to happen.

:wtf: ......?

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[svsuman23]

30. so then they are already doing it with out this law passed?

Those damn criminals always find a way to get guns to the children!

[Mr. Jefferson]

2. I don't really see the need for legislation in the first place.

Shouldn't this be a family matter?

[Aerows]

8. I don't either

If the kid is ready to hunt, they are ready to hunt. If they aren't, some artificial barrier isn't going to make them ready.

Hunting is pretty much how human beings survived. Should there be an age limit on gardening, too?

[jpak]

20. It's part of the GOP/NRA full court press - guns everywhere all the time for everyone

yup

[sufrommich]

3. It will probably pass. There's a huge number of hunters

in Michigan and they tend to vote.

[seabeyond]

4. both my boys have gone hunting and they were under 12. neither have a desire to deer hunt

so many of the kids in this area have already done this. i dont see the problem

[The Straight Story]

5. I don't either, I am not even sure what the law here is in Ohio but I have seen

Kids of about 8 years old hunting with their parents.

[seabeyond]

7. ya. i am clueless in this state, too. hubby knows, i am sure. he keeps up on all this stuff

i dont like guns. i dont like hunting. not my thing. it is his.

[Kolesar]

6. A child cannot hold a 30 caliber rifle straight enough to be safe

A child sure as hell cannot hold a shotgun and withstand the recoil.

[Aerows]

10. Not necessarily true

And isn't it up to the parents to teach their kids about gun safety if they are going to be hunting? The kid is either ready and able or they aren't, and that should be a parental decision, not a governmental decision.

[Kolesar]

11. Should stick with dodge ball, like you are playing right now

:hide:

[xoom]

17. you are correct, but now it makes it legal for parents to take their kids out with

Them if they are Interested.

[MattBaggins]

28. No it's not up to the parents

It is up to the community to decide if a person is competent enough for a weapon just as they decide when one is able to drive a car. When it also involves the health and safety of other people the rest of the community has a say as well.

[The Straight Story]

12. My 10 yr old can shoot a .22 just fine

And if your hunting squirrel they can be effective (got to go for call of duty black ops head shot... :) )

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kolesar]

21. The "professor" wracks his brain to post all of an incomplete sentence...eom

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. Those few words are all a post from you merits

Hit and run posters like you really do hate it when the favor is returned...

[Kolesar]

24. And you're sad

They were mean to me in the schoolyard :(

[Xithras]

26. Not true.

I was target shooting my dads .30-06 when I was 10 or 11, and my own kids took a few target shots on mine at about the same age. My older son has been using a .410 regularly since he was about 10, and has fired more game loads through my 12 gauge than I can count.

Sure, no kid is going to be firing 12 gauge deer slugs and even buckshot may be a problem, but that's true for many adults as well.

FWIW, I had a simple rule for my kids. When they could shoulder a rifle and hold the barrel level for 30 seconds without wavering, I pulled out the .22 and let them start plinking paper targets. For most kids, that's somewhere around eight or nine years old.

[kickysnana]

9. That is how Mao took over wasn't it. n/t

[xoom]

18. By giving parents the ability to take their 12 yo son or daughter hunting with them?

[WatsonT]

31. Yep, Hitler and Stalin too

Childhood hunting is directly linked to totalitarianism.

In fact the root latin word "fascista" means "young hunter".

[Kolesar]

13. Ted Nugent's state won't restrict him to 22s, though...eom

[Shagbark Hickory]

15. I'm 100% against guns but for 100% for children hunting for their food. What a dilemma.

[The Straight Story]

16. Are you against government people having guns or just citizens? (nt)

[Shagbark Hickory]

19. Mostly citizens. But most street level cops too. Like the UK

[X_Digger]

25. Meh.. under 16 in my home state didn't require a license..

Seems odd that Michigan wouldn't let kids of any age hunt, given appropriate supervision. I was carrying a pack for my dad when I was 8. I often got bored, but I just pulled out my pocket knife and started whittling.

[Cid_B]

29. YOU HAD A KNIFE!!!?

What kind of crazy parents did you have?!

Seriously though, I was just looking at the extra line in my knuckle where I closed mine on my finger around age 7. Still there.. crazy