Mandatory Safety Training, yes or no?

[Guy B. Meredith]

I'm all for mandated safety training. "You don't know what you don't know." There is no sense in allowing people to be endangered by someone who does not even realize they need training or safe habits.

I prefer to see new shooters have a good experience so they come back and invite friends rather than having a bad experience and confirming prejudices that it is not safe for citizens to have firearms.

Oregon is proposing mandating live fire training for CHL with courses from NRA certified instructors. NRA training, local clubs and merchants, not something put on by another bureaucrat.

I DO think that if the training is required we are obligated to make sure training is available withing a reasonable distance, at reasonable hours. I also think we need to make it happen for the less affluent so that yet another tax, fee, etc. does not end up creating de facto discrimination.

 

[JTHunter]

All the gun or safety training in the world can't replace a working brain and common sense.

 

[JRH6856]

Nope. can't replace what isn't there to begin with.

 

[J-Bar]

Why didn't you interject after he had pointed it at himself? That's what we call a teachable moment.

I disagree. The teachable moment is before he picks the gun up.

Let's say you see this in the shooting bay next to you...hand over the muzzle and trying to clear a jam. You yell "Cease Fire". The guy looks up, and then the gun fires. He claims you distracted him and sues you for his injuries. So much for your good deed.

The best thing to do is leave the area as quickly as you can. If there is a range officer present, inform the person who is responsible. Otherwise find something to hide behind.

 

[GBExpat]

All the gun or safety training in the world can't replace a working brain and common sense.

There it is.

 

[holdencm9]

I disagree. The teachable moment is before he picks the gun up.

Let's say you see this in the shooting bay next to you...hand over the muzzle and trying to clear a jam. You yell "Cease Fire". The guy looks up, and then the gun fires. He claims you distracted him and sues you for his injuries. So much for your good deed.

The best thing to do is leave the area as quickly as you can. If there is a range officer present, inform the person who is responsible. Otherwise find something to hide behind.

It's also best to avoid providing CPR to someone having a heart attack, or push someone out of the way of a vehicle.

 

[22-rimfire]

No hands over the muzzle EVER once a gun is loaded. Jammed is loaded until unjammed. These people should never rack a round into the chamber with their hand over the muzzle.... receipe for getting shot. I have had a few go off when you chamber them... always pay attention and keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Into your hand is not a safe direction unless you want to be a human backstop.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Maybe, maybe not. There is certainly more to safety, esp. when carrying a gun in public for self-defense, than the 4 rules.

I’m happy to admit I oversimplified my remarks, although I would like to point out that simple adherence to the four rules would have prevented the entire incident, but I don’t see how this side discussion adds to the OP’s overall intent which was to ask if safety training should be mandated.

So please allow me to restate my remarks in a way that (hopefully) won’t offend you.

It has been my overall experience that the type of person that would benefit from safety training will seek it out on their own anyway and the type of person that would not benefit wouldn’t put any of what he/she learned in the class into practice anyway.

I believe the potential for abuse far outweighs any perceived benefit.

Good day.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Mandatory Safety Training, yes or no?

In a word...NO.

 

[9MMare]

I’m happy to admit I oversimplified my remarks, although I would like to point out that simple adherence to the four rules would have prevented the entire incident, but I don’t see how this side discussion adds to the OP’s overall intent which was to ask if safety training should be mandated.

So please allow me to restate my remarks in a way that (hopefully) won’t offend you.

It has been my overall experience that the type of person that would benefit from safety training will seek it out on their own anyway and the type of person that would not benefit wouldn’t put any of what he/she learned in the class into practice anyway.

I believe the potential for abuse far outweighs any perceived benefit.

Good day.

I was not offended. (?)

I was trying to be constructive, as I was not sure that your flip, oversimplified statement was. (I was thinking of the overall thread subject...mandatory training, not the specific incident)

I'm not the forum police, I was just expressing my opinion. I also agree with your perception of people and training in general.

 

[we are not amused]

I am against mandatory training unless it is done in the Public schools, but as a condition to own or buy a gun, no!

I am very much in favor of getting training, but not as a way to make it more difficult to own a weapon, which despite all the good intentions on the part of some, are the purpose of many.

Besides, it will be like a lot of Hunter Safety courses, a small amount of useful information, swamped by a huge amount of BS.