Gun Safety 101 Sparks Debate

[rick_reno]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,157261,00.html

Gun Safety 101 Sparks Debate
Saturday, May 21, 2005

LOS ANGELES — Arizona schools have added a fourth "R" to reading, writing and arithmetic — rifles.

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.

“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 (search).

Click in the box near the top of the story to watch a report by FOX News' William La Jeunesse.

However, some students say it is on target with their curriculum.

“We learn life skills, like when we miss [a shot], not to get mad. You learn a lot of cooperation with your team members,” said student Kim Peters.

And many parents argue they would rather their children learn how to handle a gun and be safe, than be sorry.

“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.

 

[El Tejon]

Excellent first step. Next, make Firearms 101 mandatory for graduation. Then, make Firearms 101, 201 and 301 mandatory to vote!

 

[dasmi]

“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

Ugh. And just what would be the problem with that?
I am so bloody tired of these University types being "afraid" and "concerned" all the time. NO ONE CARES. Shut up.



Phew. Sorry, had to get that out of my system.

 

[armoredman]

And our Democrat Gove Napiltano signed this one into law. Good. I hope they do make it as mandatory as sex ed and drivers' ed. I also wish they had this when I was in high school - to successfully pass this class, students HAVE to go to the range. There's a final exam I would be on time for!

 

[geekWithA.45]

they say handing teenagers loaded weapons equals trouble.

I don't recall any training program ever involve handing a loaded firearm to a student.

We teach them how to load up for themselves.

The premise, is, of course, if you don't know how to load it, you have no business touching it.

 

[El Tejon]

BTW, Dr. Mary, the federal government forces mandatory firearms, especially eeevil black rifles with baby-killing bayonets and no sporting purpose, training on tens of thousands of teenagers every year! It's called "basic training."

They seem to have a firm handle on teenagers and firearms. What's your problem?

 

[Preacherman]

“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

Uhh... paging Dr. Mary... in my experience, it's hard to find any teenager (male, at least) who isn't interested in guns!

 

[jefnvk]

Next, make Firearms 101 mandatory for graduation. Then, make Firearms 101, 201 and 301 mandatory to vote!

Nope, gonna have to disagree with that one. Make the core classers the only ones required to graduate. It can be in a group of classes that is available to be taken as an elective to meet the elective requirements, but all students shouldn't be forced to take it.

As for voting, let's start with making passing Government with a C or better a requirement.

BTW, if this is anything like college, there will be a waiting list to get into the firearms class. Too many people want to tkae them.

 

[whm1974]

they say handing teenagers loaded weapons equals trouble.

Please. It wasn't that long ago that preteens were given .22 rifles and/or shotguns for a birthday/Christmass present. My Grandfather was allowed to go hunting by himself at 9 or 10 years old with his .22 rifle.

-Bill

 

[Zach S]

Critics are gunning the debate; they say handing teenagers loaded weapons equals trouble.

Good thing my little sister is only eleven.

 

[Moparmike]

Change the subject from rifles to sex ed and condoms...

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

Amazing what a couple words can do to shed some light...

 

[Standing Wolf]

Students who choose to enroll in this new course learn...

Oh. A choice. Leftist extremists always have a terrible time with choices—unless, of course, it's about killing babies.

 

[VARifleman]

Oh. A choice. Leftist extremists always have a terrible time with choices—unless, of course, it's about killing babies.

And finally someone has the courage to say it!

As for the course? Great idea. I wish they would do this at my school, that and have a gunsmithing course. I always have wanted to do things myself.