I think that its the instructors fault because a girl at that age should have a smaller caliber gun that isn't fully automatic. well i got my first gun at the age of five so yes I believe they should because they will get the proper instruction on how to handle, and shoot a gun plus the safety is a great thing to learn when you are a little kid. I think that you should at least be fifteen to learn the basics of a fully automatic weapon but to actually be able to shoot them around others at least the age 17.