RE: Kids first gun
My only advice would be " stay away from semi-automatics" with kids. The temptation to get careless w/ bullets is increased when you can buzz through a big clip in a few seconds. A couple years ago in Buffalo a father was with his 10ish son at an indoor range trying to do everything properly (standing behind the kid, keeping him from spinning around w/ a " did you see that shot?" and etc.) and the boy fired the semi-automatic pistol (don' t remember what caliber) and the first shot kicked the gun straight back over the top so that the barrel hit his forehead -- the impact of the barrel on his head jarred his finger on the trigger and before anybody knew what was happening the boy was dead on the floor. Whenever I take my kids to the range it' s w/ Grandpa' s old single shot Winchester .22 (60A). I just think kids are more careful about the weapon when they have to shoot one bullet at a time.