MORE than 20 children in Dorset are authorised to use guns, figures show. The Gun Control Network said allowing children to use powerful weapons, such as shotguns, is "absurd" and warned that weapon security cannot be guaranteed with youngsters. But the British Association of Shooting and Conservation says teaching children how to enjoy the benefits of responsible shooting is to be encouraged. At the end of March, 22 children (aged under 18) in Dorset held certificates granting them permission to use shotguns or firearms, according to Home Office data. They were among 10,575 people in the area permitted to use the weapons. There is no minimum age to hold a shotgun certificate in England and Wales, but a child must be over 14 to have a firearm certificate.