I don't understand people who hand their kids guns with no training whatsoever

I had a friend in high school whose father bought him an AR and they went shooting one time. My friend never touched the rifle again so he loaned it to me to shoot at a competition instead. I refused to shoot it because the rifle was loose on the upper and lower receiver. Basically I could see light where they were supposed to be connected. That was it for me but I decided to ask the father that night if he had ever noticed that the rifle was loose. He did, but it was "good enough." <br><br>I told him no, then shot the rifle after the next two competitions. The rifle literally exploded on the 50 yard range sending the upper receiver into the next shooting booth. The worst part for me is that the father thought the rifle was suitable to give to a 14 year old. I also remember the father telling me that "the kid will figure it out." Not okay with allowing children to handle a firearm, especially a hand built one at that.