zfk55
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Need help-effects of youth being taught about guns?
- Thread starter Cal-gun Fan
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Taurus 617 CCW
Member
You may want to take a look at this book. I haven't read it yet but it's on my list. It may discuss some relevant topics that you are interested in.
http://www.amazon.com/Gun-Proof-Chi...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315933116&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Gun-Proof-Chi...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315933116&sr=1-1
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Point out that the guns at the display were handled under the direct supervision of police officers, and that they are (in theory at least) professionals who understand how to safely handle those sorts of firearms.
Depending on how much time you have, call the local police dept. and interview one of the SWAT cops responsible for the demonstration. Getting a statement on safety directly from someone who was there should go a long way to shutting the critics up. If you want to be a jerk about it, drop subtle hints in your article that those who are critical of the cops are anti-law enforcement.
Write something to the effect of "Would you rather that kids learn about gun handling from video games, or under the supervision of a trained professional who really understands how to use them safely?"
Point out that there are plenty of high-school aged competitive shooters who handle and shoot guns all the time without anything bad happening.
For an example, you could use Molly Smith, who is high school aged and a professional shooter who competes with Team Smith and Wesson.
If you want to keep it safe, draw comparisons between learning safe firearms handling habits and learning how to safely operate a car in driver's ed.
If you want your article to be edgy, compare learning how to handle a firearm safely to learning about safe sex in sex ed.
Take a look at the NRA's Eddie Eagle information, but don't directly reference it in your article. Eddie Eagle is a program designed for children who are under ten years old, and high school students are going to take one look at something like that and make fun of it.
Depending on how much time you have, call the local police dept. and interview one of the SWAT cops responsible for the demonstration. Getting a statement on safety directly from someone who was there should go a long way to shutting the critics up. If you want to be a jerk about it, drop subtle hints in your article that those who are critical of the cops are anti-law enforcement.
Write something to the effect of "Would you rather that kids learn about gun handling from video games, or under the supervision of a trained professional who really understands how to use them safely?"
Point out that there are plenty of high-school aged competitive shooters who handle and shoot guns all the time without anything bad happening.
For an example, you could use Molly Smith, who is high school aged and a professional shooter who competes with Team Smith and Wesson.
If you want to keep it safe, draw comparisons between learning safe firearms handling habits and learning how to safely operate a car in driver's ed.
If you want your article to be edgy, compare learning how to handle a firearm safely to learning about safe sex in sex ed.
Take a look at the NRA's Eddie Eagle information, but don't directly reference it in your article. Eddie Eagle is a program designed for children who are under ten years old, and high school students are going to take one look at something like that and make fun of it.
oneounceload
member
Or that Kim Rhode won Olympic Gold at the age of sixteen ( and 3 Olympics after that)
MD_Willington
Member
Sounds like those kids nor their parents have ever been to an Air Show...
At 9 years old I was sitting in the pilots seat of on an A-10 on display, pilot says,
"that's the trigger for the gatling, give it a squeeze!"
!!!! Oh the humanity !!!!
In "Gun Controlled" Canada no less...
At 9 years old I was sitting in the pilots seat of on an A-10 on display, pilot says,
"that's the trigger for the gatling, give it a squeeze!"
!!!! Oh the humanity !!!!
In "Gun Controlled" Canada no less...
Curator
Member
I have coached a JrNRA rifle team for the past few years. Boys and girls ages 14 to 20 who want to learn 3-position small bore rifle shooting. I use their interest in shooting to "trick" them into becoming responsible young adults. Shooting demands self control and attention to detail. I make the team members organize the shoots, plan the practices, bring targets and backing, line up the car-pooling. They make their own sand bags, shooting mats, ankle rolls etc.
I have had several ADD cases that learned to control themselves without Ritilan. Parents have commented that once their son or daughter joined the team their grades went up and their attitude about helping around the house improved. Is it a magic pill? No, but it does make a difference in many of their lives. The kids also know that none of their high school class mates have the opportunity they do. Being politically incorrect while having fun and finding real success from their own efforts doesn't hurt them either.
I have had several ADD cases that learned to control themselves without Ritilan. Parents have commented that once their son or daughter joined the team their grades went up and their attitude about helping around the house improved. Is it a magic pill? No, but it does make a difference in many of their lives. The kids also know that none of their high school class mates have the opportunity they do. Being politically incorrect while having fun and finding real success from their own efforts doesn't hurt them either.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
Until about the 1960s, it was common for high school students to take their hunting guns to school so they could hunt right after it let out, yet, amazingly, there wasn't a rash of "school shootings." But I know of no study that substantiates this, just anecdotes (my older brother being one). And the US population was smaller and more rural then.
bergmen
Member.
Along these lines I was allowed to bring my bolt action .22 rifle to my high school wood shop to make a new walnut stock for it. This was in 1966, Homestead High School in Cupertino, California. I asked the woodshop teacher if I could do this and he had no problem with it whatsoever. We kept it in the tool locker the whole time and I worked on it for weeks, bedding the action and rough shaping the exterior. Not an eyebrow was raised by anyone.
Those were the days.
Dan
Dnaltrop
Member
"No I don't know the combination"
The very words that taught me how to pick padlocks and find failsafe keys for safes built with backup plans before I was 10.
The safety rules were always well ingrained but they were too alluring as a child for me... My kids don't even think about touching them except to ask when the next range trip is.
~~~ Edit~~~ Lone, My old man was one of those kids shooting .22's in the high school Gym in Seattle as part of the Boy Scouts....
Miss the trap, and you had to go dig your round out of the bleachers.
The very words that taught me how to pick padlocks and find failsafe keys for safes built with backup plans before I was 10.
The safety rules were always well ingrained but they were too alluring as a child for me... My kids don't even think about touching them except to ask when the next range trip is.
~~~ Edit~~~ Lone, My old man was one of those kids shooting .22's in the high school Gym in Seattle as part of the Boy Scouts....
Miss the trap, and you had to go dig your round out of the bleachers.
texasred777
Member
My dad started teaching me to shoot an old single shot .22 rifle just before I was 6 years old. I got to shoot it quite often under his supervision. I knew to NEVER even pick the gun up unless told to do so. I knew that if I did something rash I would lose the priviledge of getting to shoot the gun. I was given a bb gun for Christmas when I was 8 years old. In the mid '50s I even carried a bb gun to town and into the stores. I always left it at the register, uncocked, and knew that the cashiers would not let anyone touch it. At night I would go out and shoot birds from the trees at a couple of places that were lighted. One of the sheriff's deputies picked me up several times and took me to the county courthouse. I was told that the pigeons and sparrows were keeping the sidewalks around the courthouse messed up with their 'poop'. They would sit on some of the ledges on the sides and roost at night. I killed enough that I was asked to put them in a paper sack to be disposed of because of the stench. I remember killing 84 one night. When I was ready to leave, I would walk around to the corner where the sheriff's office was located and say that I was ready to go home. They would even take me home. Most of the boys that I grew up with had guns (mostly .22s and .410s) before they were out of middle school. I've never been trouble with a firearm, have a CCW license, about a dozen mixed caliber guns, and go out 'plinking' as often as I can. Teaching a child about gun safety is a great way IMO, to help them learn responsibility and respect for firearms. I have three grown children, two girls and a boy, who were taught about guns at an early age and got into little or no trouble while they were growing up. I wish you a lot luck with your paper and hope this possibly sheds some 'light' on the subject for you.
blue_ridge
Member
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- Nov 8, 2009
- Messages
- 222
I think you should try the argument, "Is ignorance ever preferable to proper knowledge" of a subject?
If you don't teach kids about guns, they remain ignorant and when they do come in contact with guns it may be in an unsafe situation. Much better to make sure they understand the danger, understand that a muzzle is always pointed in a safe direction, that guns aren't toys etc...
More than likely the people protesting it are ignorant about guns too. Tell them to join their kids for a demonstration.
If you don't teach kids about guns, they remain ignorant and when they do come in contact with guns it may be in an unsafe situation. Much better to make sure they understand the danger, understand that a muzzle is always pointed in a safe direction, that guns aren't toys etc...
More than likely the people protesting it are ignorant about guns too. Tell them to join their kids for a demonstration.
CoRoMo
Member
My safe has no failsafe keys for backup access. If they don't know the combo, and believe me they won't, they'll have to tear the thing apart to get inside. They won't be doing that either though.
xfyrfiter
Member
And if (God forbid) that child needs to enter the safe for his or her own self defense they won't know how. I would much rather have the youngster know and not need than need but not know.
hermannr
Member
My dad's guns were never locked up, but they were no mystery and not touched unless dad was there and said OK.
I was given a boy's 22 single shot at age 12 (stated with dad at 6) and that was my gun, and unless I shot something I should not, I was free to carry it anywhere.
The carrot and the stick were, if I showed responsibility with the single shot, I could have a repeater for my 14th birthday (still have that Marlin Model 80) it is leaning in the corner by the front door. The stick was: If I was not responsible with the single shot, it would be taken away.
I think all children should be taught what a firearm is, and what it can do (including allowing them to handle the weapons under supervision) at a very young age. They should also be taught that they can handle and fire (never play) the weapons if they ask, and mom or dad are with them.
I got a report about our youngest daughter's middle boy, at the neighbors, and "playing" with the neighbors son and the dad's gun. (the boy is 7). I asked my youngest daughter if he had been properly trained in what to do...no! I also asked her what she remembered from when she was 7? Better start training that boy before someone gets hurt.
My own idea about how to handle this problem is to have firearms training in school, and compitition (shooting teams). I know, most teachers do not know one end of a firearm from another, but those need to be trained too. One generation and the mystery and worry about firearms would be gone.
I was given a boy's 22 single shot at age 12 (stated with dad at 6) and that was my gun, and unless I shot something I should not, I was free to carry it anywhere.
The carrot and the stick were, if I showed responsibility with the single shot, I could have a repeater for my 14th birthday (still have that Marlin Model 80) it is leaning in the corner by the front door. The stick was: If I was not responsible with the single shot, it would be taken away.
I think all children should be taught what a firearm is, and what it can do (including allowing them to handle the weapons under supervision) at a very young age. They should also be taught that they can handle and fire (never play) the weapons if they ask, and mom or dad are with them.
I got a report about our youngest daughter's middle boy, at the neighbors, and "playing" with the neighbors son and the dad's gun. (the boy is 7). I asked my youngest daughter if he had been properly trained in what to do...no! I also asked her what she remembered from when she was 7? Better start training that boy before someone gets hurt.
My own idea about how to handle this problem is to have firearms training in school, and compitition (shooting teams). I know, most teachers do not know one end of a firearm from another, but those need to be trained too. One generation and the mystery and worry about firearms would be gone.
BADUNAME37
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site, or
cite?
cite?
CoRoMo
Member
Okay, poll time. Which would we place a higher likelihood upon...
- Child opens the safe, alone, for their own self defense.
- Child opens the safe, alone, for reasons of mischief/curiosity.
Until they are adults, my kids will not be given the combination to my gun safes. If they need to access a firearm for self defense, within my home, while alone, I've already FAILED COMPLETELY to protect them.
CoRoMo
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