Those are actually two separate questions.
What age did I start shooting? I was 11.
What age did I start learning about gun safety? I can't tell you, because it's been for as long as I can remember. I was a very young kid. My dad didn't even let us point our fingers at each other and make the “pew pew” sounds. He kind of just folded them up and said to put that away because it's not safe and we don't do that in our house.
My dad took gun safety very seriously, and I also take it very seriously. You don't aim a gun at something you don't intend to shoot. That's ingrained in me at all times. My guns are always pointed in a safe direction, which is downrange. My kids aren't allowed to play with guns or toy guns either.
When it comes to gun safety, I think it's about respect. It's about understanding safety of all aspects and making sure that it's always safe.
Gun safety was always paramount in our house. Quite honestly, while growing up I didn't even know where my dad had his firearms stored, because they were so well secured and put away. I didn't know where they were until I was much older.