Youths who have been properly trained on the use of firearms are MUCH less likely to be on either end of an accidental shooting. In addition, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice: "Boys who own legal firearms, however, have much lower rates of delinquency and drug use and are even slightly less delinquent than nonowners of guns." ( ncjrs.org/pdffiles/urdel.pdf [ncjrs.org] )