Need examples of gun myths for gun safety presentation!

[mbpautz762]

I am doing a 45 minute gun safety presentation at my college at the end of March. not wanting to get into that story of the professor calling the cops on a student for a similar presentation, I've already cleared the idea with my professor, and she actually thought it was a great idea. it's a first aid class, and every student must do a presentation on something having to do with injuries or preventing injuries.

anyway....

I believe wholeheartedly that most gun accidents are caused by ignorance of what guns are, how they work, or what they actually do. therefore, I'm starting my presentation off with a series of 'gun myths' to dispel any pre-existing misinformation anyone may have about guns. I have a few in mind, but wanted to see if anyone out there had some other ideas. here's a partial list:

-guns don't just go off by themselves
-similarly, a modern gun won't go off if you drop or throw it
-hollow points don't explode! <----we can thank CSI shows for this little gem
-myths about so called 'armor piercing' or 'cop killer' ammo
-myths about so called 'assault weapons'

please don't suggest anything about the politics of guns, as this is purely an informational presentation, and if I cause a debate in the class, I'll probably lose points! Also, please don't suggest the 4 rules, as I'm already planning on devoting a large portion of my presentation to those, since they form the backbone of gunsafety. please let me know if you can think of anything else!

 

[TX1911fan]

http://gunfacts.info/

 

[mbpautz762]

I almost forgot! I also want to compile a list of youtube videos that are good examples of what NOT to do with guns to go in the presentation. this includes videos that show the shooter violating any of the 4 rules, being stupid/careless, etc. I only have a few videos so far, so I figured I'd ask the people that know best what not to do. thanks!

 

[DHJenkins]

Here's one - if you take out the magazine, the gun is unloaded.

 

[Claude Clay]

live rounds can explode in a fire and kill.

plastic guns can escape detection in metal detectors

 

[TAB]

live rounds can explode in a fire and kill.

that one is actually true, but the chances of it happening are very, very low. Generally the case splits , but some times they throw out bitts of brass.

 

[mbpautz762]

thanks guys - these are exactly what I'm looking for. on a side note, I've accidentally built a campfire on top of some live ammo that was partially buried in the ground. they went off a lot like firecrackers. scared the crap out of me! I imagine they can kill, although like TAB mentioned, it would be very difficult to die from. unless, say something really big went off right next to your head for some reason.

 

[X-Rap]

Civilian Semi Autos are easily converted to full auto.
Gas tanks will blow up if shot (excluding steel core or incindiary)
Empty steel drums will deflect bullets and are safe cover.
Its possible to accurately shoot two pistols at the same time.

 

[X-Rap]

A loaded gun in a fire can cook off and deliver the shot at velocity, its all about containing and directing the presure.

 

[Mike OTDP]

Let's see....

Holding your gun sideways is an effective way to shoot.

The average crook is an expert shot.

Guns never run out of ammunition.

 

[Lewis130]

Here's a good clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMaQfTs72XA&feature=related
It illustrates a couple of points and should raise a laugh too.

 

[eye5600]

I'm not sure how you phrase it as a myth, but the non-shooter does not realize how hard it is to hit a target with a handgun.

Myth: buckshot disperses, so you hardly have aim a shotgun.
Myth: the bad guy will fall down when shot.
Myth: small caliber guns aren't dangerous.
Myth: a 22LR won't go as far as "real rifle."
Myth: a bullet shot in the air won't hurt anyone.

 

[KBintheSLC]

+1 for gunfacts.info

Their myth-busting publication tackles the majority of the garbage that is floating around these days.

One of my favorite gun myths is that of "knock-down power". Like in the movies that show a guy get shot with a shotgun and he does a triple back flip through a steel exterior door and lands about 20' from where he got shot.

 

[Claude Clay]

""Its possible to accurately shoot two pistols at the same time.""

your mythtaking--train it and you may be able to also. i find it easier with a pair of 1911's (3 to 7 yards) than my cowboy guns.
i am shooting 8" pie plates--not trying for tiney groups, just that they are all on the plates

 

[Gungnir]

Bad things to do...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am-Qdx6vky0

Cop shooting himself with his "unloaded" Glock 40...

 

[Hoxviii]

This might fall under your "assault weapons myths", but this misconception or ignorance that semi-automatic= machine gun.

The other one I often come across is trying to explain that "Glock" is no more than a brand name. There are a lot of people that think it's some type of weapon due to the way it's portrayed in the media/culture and that "it" is somehow more dangerous than a "normal gun".

 

[lukepriebe]

Dropping a bullet makes it go off.

 

[Delaware_Dan]

I would mention that the assult weapons ban was not a ban on machine guns (which were illegal anyway)and that it was a costly and ineffictive ban on cosmetic attributes of rifles and other firearms.

 

[BHP FAN]

The old 'you can fit ours in theirs,but not theirs in ours' .30 caliber myth.The best way to dispel this one is to show someone the cartridges they're mindlessly blathering on about Show them a .30-06,and a 7.62x54r,and show them a 7.62x39 and a 7.62 NATO.

 

[PRM]

Myth 1. Large calibre handgun rounds will knock a person down.

Basic Physics, How about equal and opposite reactions. If the round had that much power it would knock the person down shooting it. Hit a large bone or diasconnect the central nervous system, they will drop - but the power of the round knocking them down, not happening.


Myth 2. Military rounds are effective because they tumble end over end in flight.

Someone with a title said it, it must be true.

 

[edrice]

Here's an excellent one on cop killer bullets -

http://www.guncite.com:80/gun_control_gcgvcopk.html

Ed

 

[Superlite27]

You can make a bullet curve.

Bullet impacts will "knock" a person back.

Shotgun recoil will knock people back several feet.

Hollow point bullets are solely for killing people (like FMJ is for tickling them)

High capacity magazines are only for people intent on killing. (It only takes 1 to accomplish that)

Bullet poof vests will stop anything. (They have ratings) I also believe I've read an article about some highschool kid killed because he and his friend "tested" a bullet proof vest. One took a 20 gauge blast from about ten feet. Didn't penetrate, but the impact stopped his heart.

 

[desert gator]

You should find the article that shows a swimming pool at the house is 100 more times more likely to kill a child than a gun at the house.

 

[doc540]

Myth: guns are for men

 

[X-Rap]

""Its possible to accurately shoot two pistols at the same time.""

your mythtaking--train it and you may be able to also. i find it easier with a pair of 1911's (3 to 7 yards) than my cowboy guns.
__________________
How accurate? I guess the picture in my mind was some hollywood Matrix, flying cartwheel double gun shooting.

Standing flat on the ground thumbs touching I would say getting a few on target would work but doable but that group will spread by the time the mags run dry.