GunnSmokeer
Senior Member
So, you'd like to take your kid shooting.
You'll shoot a rifle, and a pistol.
Your kid wants to bring a friend.
You call the parents of that friend and they say it's OK.
So you take the boys to your huntin' club land and go to the little shooting / sighting in area y'all have there, and start banging away.
This is all legal, right?
Right?
(right?)
NOPE.
Let's start with the general rule that person under 18 can't even possess or have under their control any handgun. Code section 16-11-132.
And it's also a crime for an adult to supply a handgun to a minor. Code section 16-11-101.1
So, aren't there exceptions for parents taking kids target shooting?
Well.... there's no exception for recreational fun shooting, like plinking, or casual target shooting that's not part of a formal, official match. UNLESS the fun shooting is taking place at an established gun range that is "authorized by" the County or City (as applicable). So unless that hunting club had its little sighting-in range inspected by the local building inspector and code enforcement division of the government and got written approval to operate a range there.... the "target shooting" exception won't apply.
What about that exception for learning firearms safety?
There IS such an exception, but it only applies to persons enrolled in a hunter education course or firearms safety course. Not just getting a lesson in how guns work, taught by your dad or your friend's dad. That's not a "course."
Finally, there's an exception for when the kid possesses a handgun "on the real property under the control of such person's parent or legal guardian, or grandparent."
That would apply if the real property (land) was owned by the dad, and it would allow his kid to shoot there. But the friend of that boy isn't any blood relation to the man. So that "your dad or granddad owns the land" can't apply to the friend, AND I don't think it applies to anybody here in this scenario, because it's the hunting club that owns and controls the land. The Dad only has a license as a Club member to use it. He's not in legal control of it, like an owner or lease holder.
So... we have a situation where the Dad could be charged with a felony and both boys sent off to juvenile court. Unless they're 17 years old, in which case they could also be charged with adult-level felony crimes.
If you think this is ridiculous, contact the the NRA, GCO, GSSA, or directly reach out to your representatives in the General Assembly.
This is a ridiculous law that needs to be seriously amended to make it less hazardous for responsible adults to take kids shooting.
You'll shoot a rifle, and a pistol.
Your kid wants to bring a friend.
You call the parents of that friend and they say it's OK.
So you take the boys to your huntin' club land and go to the little shooting / sighting in area y'all have there, and start banging away.
This is all legal, right?
Right?
(right?)
NOPE.
Let's start with the general rule that person under 18 can't even possess or have under their control any handgun. Code section 16-11-132.
And it's also a crime for an adult to supply a handgun to a minor. Code section 16-11-101.1
So, aren't there exceptions for parents taking kids target shooting?
Well.... there's no exception for recreational fun shooting, like plinking, or casual target shooting that's not part of a formal, official match. UNLESS the fun shooting is taking place at an established gun range that is "authorized by" the County or City (as applicable). So unless that hunting club had its little sighting-in range inspected by the local building inspector and code enforcement division of the government and got written approval to operate a range there.... the "target shooting" exception won't apply.
What about that exception for learning firearms safety?
There IS such an exception, but it only applies to persons enrolled in a hunter education course or firearms safety course. Not just getting a lesson in how guns work, taught by your dad or your friend's dad. That's not a "course."
Finally, there's an exception for when the kid possesses a handgun "on the real property under the control of such person's parent or legal guardian, or grandparent."
That would apply if the real property (land) was owned by the dad, and it would allow his kid to shoot there. But the friend of that boy isn't any blood relation to the man. So that "your dad or granddad owns the land" can't apply to the friend, AND I don't think it applies to anybody here in this scenario, because it's the hunting club that owns and controls the land. The Dad only has a license as a Club member to use it. He's not in legal control of it, like an owner or lease holder.
So... we have a situation where the Dad could be charged with a felony and both boys sent off to juvenile court. Unless they're 17 years old, in which case they could also be charged with adult-level felony crimes.
If you think this is ridiculous, contact the the NRA, GCO, GSSA, or directly reach out to your representatives in the General Assembly.
This is a ridiculous law that needs to be seriously amended to make it less hazardous for responsible adults to take kids shooting.
