Kids and Guns

The controversial right to bear arms is at the heart of American culture. In the USA today there is a huge divide amongst parents. Some are against the sale of toy guns while others are buying the children the real thing. Kids and Guns will shed light on the world of child shooters, illuminating the fascinating beliefs, ambitions, and paranoia that underpin it.

Teaching your kids to shoot is seen as a fun family experience and yet over 3,000 children are killed or injured every year in accidental shootings. This unique and moving film follows the stories of three American families tackling the difficult issues behind the American relationship with firearms and the compelling stories behind the horrifying statistics.

For 9 year old Hank shooting was a way of life for his family.  Although Hank was only 9 he had already shot 14 deer and hundreds of squirrels to eat.   After saving his money, his mother brought him his own youth rifle – a gun specifically designed for children.  In February 2014 whilst staying at the family deer camp, he went out alone to shoot and never returned.  Following a huge police and helicopter search, and with the help of the local community, Hank’s body was discovered 200 yards from the camp.  Kelli and Brad believe that the gun was faulty and that the safety feature did not work as it fired accidentally when it hit the ground after Hank tripped.  The programme tells their compelling story in the aftermath of their son’s death. Surprisingly neither Kelli nor Brad believe in stricter gun control for children. As Kelli comments: “Hank wouldn’t want kids to stop hunting.”

JD lost the use of both legs and an arm when he stepped on an I.U.D while serving in Afghanistan. Returning home to Kentucky, he was keen to reconnect with his daughter through hunting so bought her a rifle for her fourth birthday. The film follows their experiences as he tries to get Kaylin to use her huge .44 calibre Magnum at home despite her protestations: “She is going to learn to shoot whether she likes it or not.”  The film follows JD and Kaylin as he tries to get her to bond with him through his love of hunting and shooting, not necessarily always getting the results he wants.

Spyder moved to Texas from New York following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. While he had never owned a gun before, he became paranoid about the Taliban driving up the interstate and amassed an arsenal of weapons claiming: “There's a saying here in Texas, if you know how many guns you have, you don't have enough.” Under his tutelage, his 9 year-old daughter Gia has begun to shoot competitively, using weapons that have been bought or made especially for her. He is a demanding teacher and makes no apologies for it, pushing Gia to the point of tears if she does not perform as well as expected: “You're gonna cry in life. Get used to it, just cry for the right things.”

Director - Francine Shaw
Executive Producers – Ruth Kelly, Morgan Matthews
Production Company – Minnow Films