Lets see. I got my first gun from my father when I turned 10, It was the same shotgun he got when he turned 9. I got my second gun from my uncle when I turned twelve. I did not receive another gun until I was 22 when I bought a black powder rifle kit and have yet to put it together and take it out shooting. I had just got back from my first deployment to Afghanistan. During my second deployment to Afghanistan (age 23) I got in touch with a buddy who works at a gun store and told him what I was looking for, he put two very nice pistols in the safe for me and I picked them up two weeks after I returned from my deployment. I have been around and have shot all types of weapons from .22 to .50 cal sniper rifles, to grenade launchers and fully auto weapons, I have a 9mm pistol, and a .45/410 Taurus Judge, that I love to shoot. Honestly, in my opinion you should wait until you are old enough to buy it yourself, legally. It will mean more than someone just giving it to you.
My 17 year old brother-in-law had that same conversation with his mother and father and they told him no, so he thought he could try to talk me into buying him a pistol to go shooting with. In the state of New Mexico, if I were to buy him that pistol, I would be sent to prison. Only because he is too young to buy it himself. In my opinion, when you are old enough to get one legally, go for it. They are real fun to shoot and can be real handy when defending ones self. Until then, just read up on them and take classes like others have said. Classes are actually pretty fun, believe me, I had to take a lot when I was still in the military.