Are 12 Year Olds Mature Enough To Hunt?
By anniepa
@anniepa (27955)
United States
November 28, 2007 4:43pm CST
I just got done reading and responding to a discussion about a 12 year old boy who was tragically killed in a hunting accident; apparently his gun accidentally went off and shot him in the chest. My 12 year old grandson, Todd, went deer hunting for the first time this week and I was a nervous wreck BEFORE reading about this tragedy. I've always had misgivings about kids that young being allowed to hunt but I got out-voted by the men in my family who are all avid hunters. I know there are likely plenty of sportsmen (and women) here on myLot so I'd really like your opinion. Does it really make sense that you have to be at least 16 to drive a car in most states - it soon will be 18 in Pennsylvania - 18 or 21 to smoke cigarettes, 18 to join the military and 21 to drink an alcoholic beverage but only 12 to handle and shoot a gun? To take it a step further, are 12 year olds equipped to understand the whole concept of killing and death or could it desensitize them to the value of life?
5 people like this
4 responses
@reanicah2007 (444)
• Philippines
29 Nov 07
for me no. a 12 yrs old is not much enough mature than to a other people.they will put their self at the danger,and the first place that age is very near at any dangerous things. thats why we need to keep them in safe place even they are in our home or to other place.
@abondr (6)
• India
29 Nov 07
this whole idea of killing innocent animals are giving me creep. whether you are 12 or 21 or 121 years old that does not mean, you are given the permission to kill from god. this killing thing is not atall pleasent for men or animal both. so this is not good.
2 people like this
@cherry_pig (118)
• United States
29 Nov 07
I suppose you aren't a meat eater. So then what about the innocent slaughter of carrots? ;)
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Nov 07
I'm not a hunter, and I'm kind of against the whole concept of hunting to begin with..I can see if the person really needs to hunt for food, but hey, isn't that what supermarkets are for? LOL
I'm with you though...I don't think anyone under the age of 16 to 18 should be allowed to hunt, also I can't help agree that if kids learn to hunt at a really early age, it does desensitize the child to respect animal life and might make them a little gung-ho about killing
1 person likes this
@pismeof (855)
• United States
29 Nov 07
I don't wish to create an argument because I know how sensitive you are about domestic animals however when you do go into the wilds you learn to respect the forest as well as the animals.Non -hunters don't seem to realise that man is entering the animals domain and they are not as defenseless as you may think.
Many times just to even spot one is like hitting the lottery never mind actually getting a shot off.
2 people like this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
29 Nov 07
Or lets not forget how cows and other animals are killed before they go to the slaughterhouses to get packaged to be on the grocery store shelves......
1 person likes this
@lostdoor (26)
• China
29 Nov 07
I agree with you! in my opinion, hunting is a tool that people in the past time had to do for making a life, but in modern time, human alway treat it as a entertainment or others like game. i really hate this, because animals are lives just as human, only the god or the nature have the right to take their life away.
1 person likes this
