By now we’ve all heard about the 9-year-old girl accidentally killing her instructor at a shooting range when the weapon recoiled over her shoulder.  According to Arizona authorities, the instructor, 39-year-old Charles Vacca, died at a hospital Monday night after being shot with a submachine gun he was teaching the girl to fire.

The website of Bullets and Burgers, the shooting range where the accident happened, says children between the ages of 8 and 17 can shoot a weapon if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Some folk are saying this is perfectly fine since the girl was with her parents. But this seems way over the top for me.

I’d be interested in hearing what you guys think. Is it really OK for kids 8 to 17 to shoot a weapon if they’re parents are with them? If not, what is the appropriate age?

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Students at Carver Early College School of Technology attend the school’s art class on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. Atlanta Public Schools plans to convert the campus to a school of the arts that will serve grades 6-12. The plan depends on voters extending a one-cent sales tax for education. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller