Where I live fathers take their 12 yo sons out hunting and hand them the rifle, which they already knew how to use.
What we have mostly are snowmobile accidents, btw.
So they already know how to use a gun and probably have one before the age of 18 as a gift.
In the metro areas of the country we have 18 year olds who have been on medication all their lives and are products of single mothers who rob, kill, murder, rape, and steal.
As far as I am concerned, my son has owned a rifle since he was 8 years old. I control his access to it, but it is his rifle.
Never been happier to live somewhere. Northern Michigan is a glorious redneck community of polite, door-opening, flag-flying, prayer in public, truck drivers who always stop for strangers who are stuck in the snow, etc.
We made the choice to move here 4 years ago and could not be happier. Come on over and visit us anytime. Maybe you'll like it here too.