I've shot various firearms since I was 8, got my first .22 for my 12th birthday (yes, mine and mine alone, to use when I wanted to, but I had to buy my own ammo, which I could do at any hardware store and most grocery stores....this was in the 50's)
What is wrong is parents don't train the kids proper gun safety and responsibility. Being 10 or 12 years old does not automatically disqualify a person from being safe and responsible, just like turning 21 does not automatically make them safe and responsible.
There is a cop in trouble here in WA because his 3 year old shot his 6 year old sister with his issue pistol. Come to find out, this little 3 yaer old had been working at getting into his dad's issued gun safe since he was old enough to walk....there is no age that is too young to state gun safety and discipline. This is not the first insidence of this either. I know of another one in WA (different officer) where his kid did manage to get into the issued gun safe, and one in ID.
Don't ever underestimate a young kid...ever.