I am 45 and and have four kids. My oldest son is 24 and has quite a collection of firearms in his home. My 19-year old son is a MP in the MARINES and shoots expert in rifles and pistols. My 18-year old daughter carries a handgun for self-defense while in nursing school. My youngest daughter is 5 and already owns a pink Crickett .22 rifle.
They all have one thing in common regarding firearms... They all know gun safety and have a respect for all firearms. I have never made firearms a mysterious and forbidden fruit that kids have to wonder about. All of my kids began shooting at a very young age so that they could learn the basics of handling a gun and safety.
This is my youngest shooting her Cricket on her 5th birthday: