Are Air Guns Safe for Kids?
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Identification
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While air guns produce a less powerful impact than powder guns, they can still injure a child and in some cases kill them, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
Interesting Fact
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From 1991 to 1998, 53.7 percent of gun-related injuries in children treated at Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, were due to air-powered guns, according to Science Daily.
Considerations
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Parents sometimes give their children BB guns to introduce them to handguns. Children could mistake a powder firearm for a toy after playing with an air-gun.
Warning
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Consumer Products Safety Commission guidelines say that children under the age of 16 should not handle a gun. In addition, police officers may misinterpret an air gun as a real weapon.
Tips
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The National Rifles Association advises parents to always supervise their children when they handle an air rifle. Additionally, both the parent and child should read and follow any air-gun's safety manual.
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