Should firearm safety be taught in public schools?.....

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El Mariachi

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I'm writing this at the same moment that two So Kali schools are currently in lock down, whilst the authorities search for a student that 'sposedly brought a handgun to school today. So it got me to thinking that perhaps exposing our kids to firearms early (by qualified instructors in a controlled environment) might not only save a few lives and dispel a few myths, but help to remove the stigma of 'evil' guns....and perhaps get some new blood interested in our mutual hobby?

Just an idea.....
 
The school districts that need this most (inner cities, etc.) are the least likely to adopt it. Rural districts are the most likely to adopt the idea, but need it the least.
 
100% alexander

Here in Chicago the "authorities" are as anti gun as you can get. One alderwoman suggested that we at least teach firearm safety. OMG the press, mayor etc. had a stroke. No surprise, being Chicago.
 
You'd have to change Federal Law to get that close to a school with a gun to teach a real Gun Safety program!!

And I shudder to think of the outcry from liberal anti-gun parents at the mere mention of it!

As for doing it?
Heck yes if you can get away with it.
See this:
http://www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/

There have been protests at the mention of using the NRA Eddie Eagle program in some schools though.

rc
 
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Why would you want the current public school system to teach your kids something that important? The public school systems has a long track record of offering terrible, one sided ill informed education. I do not trust the current public school system to adequately teach my son about history let alone firearms.

Honestly I'd rather see more kids in Boy Scouts and the like.
 
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You'd have to change Federal Law to get that close to a school with a gun to teach a real Gun Safety program!!
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You actually don't need a gun to teach gun safety. You need a gun to teach marksmanship, but in actuality you should have the safety parts pretty well down pact long before you're using a real gun.

I think it would be a good idea to offer it as an option, but as mentioned, the places likely to offer it are the places where gun familiarity is already common. When I was growing up I didn't even know there was such a thing as an anti-gun movement until I got to college. It came as just as much of a shock as if I'd learned that there was a large group of people out there desperately trying to outlaw pumpkin pie.
 
Gus McCrae
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Why would you want the current public school system to teach your kids something that YOU as a gun owning parent should be teaching them. I do not trust the current public school system to adequately teach my son about history let alone firearms.
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Because this way, millions of more children of non-gun owners or antis would gain exposure to firearms, in very large numbers, very quickly. Think of it as an e-mail blast from your favorite store.....:D
 
Depends what you mean by taught.

The NRA instructors out there know that the most effective teaching is going to be part lecture (you tell the students about safety), part demonstration (you show them safe gun handling) and part supervised activity (you watch as they demonstrate safe gun handling).

If it's just a lecture, it may just be a waste of time. But I'm open to the possibility that I'm underestimating the worth.
 
I am not saying that education is not needed, it clearly is. But the public school system is the last avenue I would choose to accomplish this vital task. Would the class be mandatory? Or would the parents be allowed to decide who will attend?
 
You actually don't need a gun to teach gun safety.
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I'd have to disagree with that.

I was a NRA certified Kansas Hunter Safety instructor for years.

And I can't imagine teaching it without a firearm present.
Preferably several, of each action type.

I also don't think it is the responsible gun owner's kids who cause the majority of accidents.
It's the friend they have over who never touched a real gun before.

rc
 
http://www.azleg.gov/ars/15/00714-01.htm

15-714.01. Arizona gun safety program course

A. In addition to the voluntary training in the use of bows and firearms prescribed in sections 15-713 and 15-714, any school district or charter school may offer as an elective course a one semester, one credit course in firearm marksmanship that shall be designated as the Arizona gun safety program course.

B. A pupil shall be deemed to have satisfactorily completed the Arizona gun safety program course by demonstrating that the pupil has the ability to safely discharge a firearm as defined in section 13-3101.

C. The course of instruction prescribed in this section shall be jointly developed by the Arizona game and fish commission, the department of public safety and private firearms organizations and may include materials provided by private youth organizations. At a minimum, the Arizona gun safety program course shall include each of the following:

1. Instruction on the rules of firearm safety.

2. Instruction on the basic operation of firearms.

3. Instruction on the history of firearms and marksmanship.

4. Instruction on the role of firearms in preserving peace and freedom.

5. Instruction on the constitutional roots of the right to keep and bear arms.

6. Instruction on the use of clay targets.

7. Practice time at a shooting range.

8. Actual demonstration by the pupil of competence with a firearm as defined in section 13-3101 by safely discharging the firearm at one or more targets.

D. School districts and charter schools shall arrange for adequate use of shooting range time by pupils in the Arizona gun safety program course at any established shooting range.

E. Pupils who satisfactorily complete the Arizona gun safety program course shall receive a certificate of accomplishment.

F. A person who is currently certified as a firearms safety instructor by the Arizona game and fish department, the national rifle association, a federal, state or local law enforcement agency, a branch of the United States military, a federal agency, the reserve officer training corps, the junior reserve officer training corps or the civilian marksmanship program is qualified to teach the Arizona gun safety program course.

G. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or expand the liability of any person under other provisions of law.
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Now to get this on par with Drivers Ed, and we'll see a positive outcome. As for guns in schools, here at least...

http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/13/03102.htm&Title=13&DocType=ARS

13-3102. Misconduct involving weapons; defenses; classification; definitions
A. A person commits misconduct involving weapons by knowingly:...12. Possessing a deadly weapon on school grounds...Subsection A, paragraph 12 of this section shall not apply to a weapon if such weapon is possessed for the purposes of preparing for, conducting or participating in hunter or firearm safety courses.
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Yep, we're covered.
 
We have a couple of Community Colleges that offer handgun courses in CA. It starts in the class room with lectures and explanations and moves off campus for the live fire sections...I believe they give partial credit if a student chooses to just attend the classroom sessions. The largest hurdle to overcome isn't the political attitude, but the liability insurance cost.

I could see this starting in the lower grades with introduction to handgun safety, much like they present fire and posion safety and think it would be a good idea...exposure is the first step toward alleviating fear of an object...with actually shooting being an extra curricular activity.

When I was attending high school, in San Francisco CA, we had a Smallbore Rifle Team than competed against other high school teams. It was administered through the ROTC and replaced the mandated Gym class. We had a range in the basement of the school
 
yes.


edit to add: I grew up on Eddie Eagle, in fact in the 4th grade I took the vid to school, along with a pellet gun and did a demonstration of proper gun handling for show and tell. Then again it was a very rural school that holds a annual 100 yard shoot just behind the playground. Kinda wish they would update eddie though, looking a little retro
 
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There have been protests at the mention of using the NRA Eddie Eagle program in some schools though.

rc
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Hey, I remember that from first grade! It was a good program. Was used at eagle hills elementry school in eagle, Idaho. Fine program.
 
Yeah, but you would need to come up with a class that works for antis as well as pros. The pro families will most likely teach their children anyway, so it needs to be capable of accomodating all.

Right now, the universal teaching is "don't touch it". Which is actually good for most kids, particularly without parental supervision. But as they grow older, these kinds of teachings lead to temptation. So perhaps having a safety class in high school for sure, no different really from sex education. There are antis about that too, but it is important enough to teach.

With all the laws and lawsuits, decreased education funding and urban settings, it makes it almost impossible for schools to have ranges and such like they did way back when. But having a .22 marksmanship and safety course as an option, I think that is a great idea. Perhaps even having it off campus would be possible, or perhaps treating it like a sport --which it is-- and doing it after class.
 
rcmodel said:
You'd have to change Federal Law to get that close to a school with a gun to teach a real Gun Safety program!!

And I shudder to think of the outcry from liberal anti-gun parents at the mere mention of it!

As for doing it?
Heck yes if you can get away with it.
See this:
http://www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/

There have been protests at the mention of using the NRA Eddie Eagle program in some schools though.

rc
Click to expand...

While I was in school.. which albeit wasn't incredibly long ago but has been a while.. most schools in my area had a "school resource officer". The SRO's (depending on the area) varied from local PD officers to State Police (as some areas didn't have a local police force aside from county sheriff/deputies and State Police).

Provided they establish a curriculum the officer can use teach proper firearms safety they're a half-way decent candidate for doing the job..
 
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