'My First Rifle' is a photo series that captures American children with their guns -- not toy guns but Crickett rifles, which are real, .22-caliber guns specially designed for children. The Crickett rifles, designed for children between the ages of five and 12, are lightweight and come in a variety of colors.
Photographer An-Sofie Kesteleyn embarked on a road trip from Ohio to Texas, and visited gun shops, shooting ranges and private houses looking for Crickett-wielding children to photograph. Kesteleyn paired the children's portraits with photos of each child's answer to a question about what their greatest fears are.
Aside from putting a disturbing face to the raging gun-ownership debate in the US, the 'My First Rifle' photographs are captivating for the simple reason that it's extremely odd to see innocent-looking young children equipped with guns capable of killing a person. The children's answers about their greatest fears are distinctly childlike and innocent, a stark contrast to the destructive weapons they hold in their hands.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Child Gun Rights
- Creating child-friendly gun designs and training programs for them.
- Gun Industry Future
- Designing innovative firearms for children.
- Child Safety Education
- Introducing firearms safety lessons in school curriculums.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Firearms
- Creating specialized and portable firearms for children.
- Education
- Incorporating firearms safety training into school activities.
- Photography
- Creating new photography concepts, such as capturing controversial topics.
