The "star system" is interesting. While guns have been a part of my life since I was 12, a demerit system is new to me, so I couldn;t really comment with authority on how beneficial it'll be. That's up to you two I suppose.

I will say this: carrying around a rifle stock in Ohio with my Uncles was my introduction to "range" safety. Also, watching them shoot in the Vandalia (without my participating) was also my introduction. My Dad, when I was 12, gave me a 12 gauge Savage bolt action shotgun. It had a 3-round clip. Before we ever fired a round, I had to "teach" my father "range safety". In other words, after he taught me, I had to be the instructor, explaining how to handle the weapon when loaded, when to load, where to point (and not point) the gun when loaded or unloaded, what to do with the weapon when climbing over a fence, etc etc. This taught me, but I didn;t really understand how well until much later in life. Oh...and then, we didn;t go hunting for my first "loaded " excersize.... we went to the rod and gun club and shot both trap and skeet..... many times over before we went bird hunting.

Later in life, I became a firearms instructor for Texas law enforcement... holding an Instructor's certificate and a Firearms Instructor's certificate with TCLEOSE (any Texas LEO's will know what that is). In 1993, I became a Firearms Instructor wiht the Border Patrol. In both schools, part of our education was "teaching" our instructors: range safety, range commands, how to achieve accuracy and correct deficiencies, weapons breakdown and cleaning, etc. Teaching "them" was the most invaluable lesson of both schools.

Coincidently, my 8-year old daughter is now ready to learn. We'll start out with my 22-gauge pellet gun and move up to a 22 LR, and on from there. It may take several years, but I plan on using the same techniques my Dad, Uncles, and employers used on me.