Gun Safety 101 - Gun courses in school?

[jynxedu]

Quote:

Students who choose to enroll in this new course learn the safe way to handle a gun and earn one credit — the equivalent to ceramics or photography electives. Critics are gunning the debate; they say handing teenagers loaded weapons equals trouble. “It is very important for a child to be proficient responsible with a firearm as a hobby or just practical shooting, he should know how to operate it just like you would teach a child how to operate a saw or any hand tool,” said parent Scott Marx. Arizona's State Game and Fish Department said it will dispatch qualified, trained instructors to every school that signs up.

We had JROTC in high school, they had .22cal rifles in their matches. hell, we had a rifle range tucked away in the bowels of the school.

What is the big deal?

[Xtreeme]

{shrugs} we had it in 5th or 6th grade.

[GroundZero3]

man i wish they offered this when i was in school!! I dont see anything wrong with it!

With the proper training, rules, and guidlines a gun in a teenagers hand is not dangerous. Those who accidently hurt themselves or others are usually those who are not trained.

Accidents do happen, but hell accidents happen when doing any sport. With the proper supervision i could see this being productive and interesting class!

[jynxedu]

Our school had a "rifle team" that got to practice after school when all of the other sports had their practices. The only caveat was that you had to be enrolled in JROTC to be on the team. They traveled to other schools for competitions.

These kids were level-headed and were taught not to overreact, so they had composure when they'd screw somthing up at a match or competition.

Isn't that a nice quality to have?

[sharder8]

We didn't get any credit for taking it at our school.

Personally, I think it's a good thing for everyone to take. It was the state Hunter's Safety course and all the boys and many of the girls took it.

By making the kids aware of the dangers in the class room, you avoid the failure by the parents to teach their kids not to play with guns. It's a great way to make people aware of the dangers, even if you're anti-gun or never intend on owning or allowwing a gun in the house.

I taught my kids gun safety when they were young, and to this day, they don't touch or will comment when I walk away from a gun on the table, even though it's in pieces being cleaned. (Note: I don't leave guns laying around that are operational.)

Harder

[John Prophet]

kids used to be able to take rifles to school to go hunting afterward etc....hold the gun in their school photos etc

[RADAR1797]

I took gun safety in 7th grade complete with .22s, target practice and proper hunting attire. It was a required class. :shrug:

-RADAR

[jynxedu]

I don't see what people are making a big deal about?

Quote:

“I'm afraid these programs are really geared more toward increasing peoples interest in guns rather than safety,” said Dr. Mary Rimsza, director of the Student Health Center at ASU

Huh?

[tony_j15]

yes, we shouldn't teach children anything about guns, so when they happen to come across one they will pick it up and pull the trigger out of curiosity.

as far as I'm concerned, they can make it a required class.

[johnnycombat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharder8

:
By making the kids aware of the dangers in the class room, you avoid the failure by the parents to teach their kids not to play with guns.

Amen

Of corse I’d say the samething about sex-ed