RE: Raise the hunting age?
I began hunting with my dad at 5. By 8 or 9 I was hunting alone. By 12 I had harvested a few deer. Then at 16 I took a hunter safety course.
I do understand your concern though. A firearm in the hands of someone inexperienced can be dangerous. But the ultimate responsibility is ours. Teaching our children safe and ethical hunting should began as soon as a child can communicate. I point out safe handling of firearms to my nephews at 4 yrs when they play with capguns etc. Rather than playing Cops and Robbers, they shoot at imaginary creatures and correct each other for unsafe handling. Preschool is a great time to ingrain ideas in a child...I had to quit smoking when they came home from kindergarden and said it was wrong to smoke...it was easier to quit than to sell that hipocracy to them!!