CHILDREN as young as 11 are applying for and getting Queensland firearms licences but some people want to see the legal age for gun licences lowered even further.
Figures released under Right to Information laws showed 86 children aged 11 or 12 hold firearms licences.
As of May this year, 1291 children aged under 18 were legally able to operate a weapon despite being deemed too young to vote, or drink alcohol. The Courier Mail reports.
Most of the pre-teens sought licences for shooting club purposes, but 14 were granted a gun licence for rural use.
The largest number of young pistol-packers were in the Warwick and Toowoomba area, where some parents consider shooting a valuable life skill.
Warwick branch president of the Sporting Shooters Association, Mal Smith, said it was unfortunate children younger than 11 were not allowed to hold a gun licence in Queensland.
"A lot of children do shoot at home on their own properties because it's a private residence, but because of the law they can't do it on the (shooting) range," Mr Smith said.
- Read more about the SSA's call for under-11s to have gun licences at The Courier Mail.
