Okay i got a good one for you guys! Grew up without a father (passed away), wanted to hunt, shoot, etc. Brother and brother in law took me when i was like 12yo and i took a hunter safety class on my own. Went hunting with BIL and mentioned about him swiping me with the gun and was told the safety is on. Ill always remember that. Took nephew to hunter safety class and by this time i had a state peace officer firearm training under my belt, many years of hunting and shooting so safety was pounded in my head severally. I take the kid pheasant hunting figuring it would be a blast, let him carry a single shot, went over don't shoot unless your 100% sure, stay next to me and no shooting to the left which was towards me! I was maybe 20yards from him. Taught the kid how to cradle carry the shotgun and gave him the single shot on purpose cause it had to be cocked to fire. He swipes me and i said hey, watch the gun! Kid does it again and i said look, what's rule #1 always watch where that guns pointed. His response was my dad said if the safety is on it wont go off unless i take the safety off and pull the trigger. I said what did the hunter safety guy who is also a PD instructor tell you? It then dawned on me that he was told the same thing i was when i was his age. He did it again and i went ape crap on him. I said come here! You just shot me! He says what? I said you just shot your uncle! No i didn't! Yes you did! What do you do? He says IDK! I said look if i have to tell you again we are going home! He again said well my dad said. I said look i don't care what your dad said he is wrong! He got mad, told his dad, bla, bla, bla. I took him out again and said rule #1? He says watch where i point the gun cause you'll freak out on me like a lunatic and smiles! I would walk behind him on his right if the gun was carried cradled muzzle to the right and just say watch that muzzle and he would flip the other way. I did that to him several times until we jumped a rabbit and the kid cocked the hammer and went to swing and i yelled. He got upset and we walked some more and then we sat down and he asked if he could go kick some bushes and i said yes but remember i'm behind you do not shoot. Gun went off when he seen a rabbit or a squirrel and i checked for it and said which way did you shoot? He says this way and points and i said that was towards me! He says no it wasn't! I said are you sure and he says yes you were behind me and the animal was to my right. Good answer kid!
Now some may have reacted a little harsher, some think i was too harsh but each time i took him out i had to tell him we are far from home, you cant drive, etc be careful. I took him deer hunting a few years later and we are talking to a group of hunters and he cradle carried it and turned and the guy never noticed and i said hey! watch that muzzle! He apologized and the guy said no biggi. I asked him what he did wrong and he realized it and then his little buddy goes and drops his single shot slug gun and sends everyone running. He tells me well at least i didn't drop it! LOL. Its bad to yell, freakout, etc cause it could ruin them or make them more nervous. Im not a fan of taking newbies either but they just need molded and reminded. When i deal with newbies i constantly ask them questions so see if they are on the A game.
Now some may have reacted a little harsher, some think i was too harsh but each time i took him out i had to tell him we are far from home, you cant drive, etc be careful. I took him deer hunting a few years later and we are talking to a group of hunters and he cradle carried it and turned and the guy never noticed and i said hey! watch that muzzle! He apologized and the guy said no biggi. I asked him what he did wrong and he realized it and then his little buddy goes and drops his single shot slug gun and sends everyone running. He tells me well at least i didn't drop it! LOL. Its bad to yell, freakout, etc cause it could ruin them or make them more nervous. Im not a fan of taking newbies either but they just need molded and reminded. When i deal with newbies i constantly ask them questions so see if they are on the A game.