they need to ask me to go shooting and need tighter supervision. At 12 they can learn responsible gun ownership with a .22 or shotgun. As far as handguns, since it's illegal to give them a handgun until they're 18, they have access to mine as long as they ask. I leave one unlocked in the house in a very high place. You either have to be at least adult sized to reach it or would need a ladder. The teenaged kids know where it is. The younger ones don't.