Under 6
No access to firing lines or shooting areas.
Manatee Gun & Archery Club · Family visits
Minors at the Range
Bringing a child to MGAC? Review the age limits, supervision rules and check-in requirements before your visit.
Every minor needs a parent or legal guardian
- A parent or legal guardian must accompany the minor at all times.
- The parent/guardian must sign the waiver and provide the minor’s date of birth in writing.
- The minor must wear the wristband for their age group.
- Whenever the minor operates a firearm, their parent/guardian must supervise from within arm’s reach.
Supervision is required for every age group below. Range Safety Officers (RSOs) may stop any shooter for any reason.
Rules by age
Ages 6–7
Observation only on the firing line, accompanied by a parent or guardian who is not shooting.
Ages 8–11
- Only .22-caliber rimfire rifles, air rifles and BB rifles.
- No pistols or rapid fire.
- Maximum shooting distance: 100 yards.
Ages 12–17
- No age-specific distance or firearm-configuration limit (rifle or pistol).
- No magnum pistol loads.
- The shooter must be able to operate, sight and shoot the firearm safely.
All other MGAC range rules still apply. These age allowances do not replace range-specific requirements or RSO direction.
Read the full SOP before visiting
The Minors & Inexperienced Shooters SOP is the source for this guide and also covers first-time shooter procedures.
Questions about bringing a minor? Call the MGAC office at (941) 322-0055.
Florida law: Statute §790.22
Florida Statute §790.22 addresses minors’ firearm possession and use of BB and air/gas-operated guns.
- Recreational shooting — §790.22(3)(b): The exception for lawful marksmanship competition, practice or other lawful recreational shooting applies to minors age 16 or older, or to those under 16 supervised by an adult acting with the consent of a parent or guardian.
- BB and air/gas-operated guns — §790.22(1): A child under 16 must use them in the presence and under the supervision of an adult acting with parental or guardian consent.
- Transportation by a minor — §790.22(3)(c): The firearm must be unloaded and transported directly to or from an authorized activity.
MGAC’s rules are stricter. All minors under 18—including ages 16–17—must follow MGAC’s parent/legal-guardian, arm’s-reach supervision, waiver, wristband and age-specific restrictions above.
This summarizes the provisions relevant to a range visit; read the linked statute for its full requirements and exceptions.