My kids have been shooting since way before the ‘recommended’ age in my state. The were strictly monitored till they showed signs of gun maturity. Also I constantly repeated the gun safety commandments till they were sick of hearing me.
I remember hunting with my little brothers. I’d send them down the fence row to flush rabbits and birds. I had a .410 single shot and we always brought meat home. I was about 9 at the time. A year later I learned how to drive the truck to bring water to he field hands. At 11 I got to drive tractors. I got in trouble a couple of times taking the truck into town to get yoohoo’s and twinkies with my girlfriend from across the road.
I feel sadness for this boy loosing his brother.