Zombie apocalypse time! How old does a child have to be before you give him/her a gun?

[Jakub324]

Imma say 13, as long as the child in question in reasonably stable. I think most kids can handle that kind of responsibility at that age.
What about you?

EDIT: Assume you have no shortage of guns and ammunition.
Yes, in a real apocalypse, ammunition would be a concern, but this is the internet. Not an apocalypse, so we find ourselves free of the real world's constraints, like ammo shortages.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

it's a zombie apocalypse, gun/ammo shortage is ALWAYS a factor.

that being said, it's not really about responsibility but whether the kid will be an effective shooter and whether he/she will be a danger to you and the other survivors.

and THAT being said, i don't care how old they are, if they can't shoot at least better than i can, i keep the guns.

 

[Jedoro]

Hell, in the apocalypse I'll give one to a kid when they're 10. How long they keep it is another story.

 

[Vault101]

that would depend entirly on their ability to handle the weopon..weather they are 8 or 18

 

[Nouw]

that would depend entirly on their ability to handle the weopon..weather they are 8 or 18

This. If the kid happens to be better-trained with a gun than say someone ten years older I'll give it to the kid in a heart-beat.

 

[Mr.PlanetEater]

Either 10 or 11 because let's face it, no matter where you live; if you're a boy chances are by the time you are 10 you've shot at least a BB Gun.

 

[WolfThomas]

Hmm Walking Dead suggests giving a young kid a gun is a good idea, but Last Blood subverted that by having it as a bad idea.

Probably depends on the skill and maturity of the kids, still unless it's drastic I'm not giving anyone a gun till I know they can use it safely without shooting themselves, me or dying and losing my gun.

 

[Verzin]

why the hell are you toting around a child? unless you plan to use it for bait, ditch the kid. giving a firearm to a child, and a PSYCHOLOGICALLY UNSTABLE ONE AT THAT, this is zombie apocalypse after all (dismembered family members anyone? zombie puppy dogs? violence and the upheaval of everything safe and familiar?), is sheer idiocy, and sticking with a thing that'll slow you down is even dumber.
Ditch the kid. you'll live longer.

 

[Blunderboy]

Children are too big a drain on resources and a huge liability even without arming the little buggers.
No children until after the undead hordes have been sent packing.

 

[Shiftygiant]

8.

 

[Vampire cat]

It's not about the age really, it's about how mature and familiar the child is with the gun and how one should use it. If it knows proper safety and use that's more important than age, but I imagine I wouldn't want a child to carry anything too heavy or powerful, and never without me paying close attention until it's truly old and mature enough to handle it independantly.

When there is a chance of sudden panic I would't entrust someone I wasn't sure could andle it with a gun, young or old. I'd just get a boat first of all anyway, get off shore until the worst "storm" had settled X3. My survival tactic in this case is based on not needing a gun in the first place, by avoiding population centers altogether, and only go to the mainland for fuel and food.

 

[Bloodtrozorx]

Skill trumps Age. If the kid can shoot then he can have a .22 to plink at Zombies. No way in hell he gets a 30.06 or .270 though.

 

[wintercoat]

Small arms training begins at 6. Hunting and Assault rifle training begins at 12, or whenever they can comfortably hold a rifle stock to their shoulder, as well as training with shotguns.

 

[Techno Squidgy]

As long as they are mature enough to not shoot someone because they pissed them off, and they can shoot, their age doesn't matter.

 

[Aerosteam]

Meh, everyone knows a child is invisible. Children don't need guns to survive a zombie apocalypse.

Assuming the child has never played an FPS. Hell yes.
If they won't mimic the actions being used in games like that, at least they won't show off with a '360 third eye no-scope headshot dropshot longshot across the map epic skillz'

 

[droop99]

i wont give them one why waste valuable zombie bait

 

[droop99]

i wont give them one why waste valuable zombie bait

 

[Manji187]

Since I'm not Santa, giving (in this case lethal) presents to random strangers...it really depends on the kid and the situation.

Actual Context. Some abstract "OMFG ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE" isn't gonna cut it.