HELP PLEASE!! Honest opinion about an air soft gun for a mature 11 year old

NO, hon.

I don't think he'd hurt himself, and frankly he'd probably be responsible with it; I just don't believe in giving kids pretend weapons and neither do you, and I think it's important to set that example-no toy weapons in your house. This is basically why Bill made a deal with Satan in 1997 and we can only make girls. Who beat the snot out of each other with nekkid Barbies and Easy Bake Oven spatulas but that's not the point 😉 Encourage his prowess on the shooting range but explain your personal values and stick to them.

Besides, "mature eleven year old" is about as much of an oxymoron as a "silent whistle."

I chose not to allow my children to play with toy guns; that way they don't have to worry about distinguishing between the real ones. When my children were growing up, I was very much afraid of guns. Now, I'm looking forward to owning one in the future.

If you're asking the question, you already really know the answer........

I wouldn't if I had kids.

Having siblings around that age, I'm gunna say no way. LOL.

My mom still wont let my 17 year old brother have one. Then again, I personally wouldn't let them have it either.. No guns in my house.. real or fake. A weapon is a weapon.

If he has been fascinated by "shooting" contraptions since he was a little tyke, then a soft-pellet gun is the way to start out.

Regardless of the fact that you live in the States, his interest in firearms does not necessarily make him a budding psychopathic killer in the making. I doubt very much that much harm will come of this. If he is interested, your prohibition will only make it worse. He'll expell his interest, anyhow, in one form or another.

I got one for my nephew when he was nine and he has always practised safety when handling it or firing it. Nobody lost an eye or ended up being injured.

I understand your apprehension as a parent but this is your chance to instill a sense of responsibility in him starting from the ground up. By the time he is ready to purchase an actual firearm, he will-or should- be hard wired to understand the weight of the true responsibility resting in his hand.

Dussicar makes good points.

JPie, what is your experience with firearms? If you (or someone you know) could teach him all about firearms safety and that pulling the trigger is actually the LAST thing you do with a gun...