cuchulainn
Member
http://www.freelancestar.com/News/FLS/2003/012003/01212003/836970
from the Free Lance Star (Fredericksburg)
from the Free Lance Star (Fredericksburg)
Gun safety is beyond the capacity of young children
Larry Hodge ["Adults must be responsible for their guns and children," Jan. 1] seems to be mixing apples and oranges.
Previous readers suggested that a toddler is just that--a toddler. Many toddlers are still in the process of being potty-trained and learning which shoe goes on which foot.
I find it unfortunate that any parent thinks that it benefits a toddler to observe a hunting scenario, whether they shoot the gun or not.
What about the other hunters within shooting range who may not be instructors or a members of the National Rife Association and who have never taken a class on gun safety?
Mr. Hodge stresses the importance of safety and admits that others who are careless and ignorant about safety cause accidents. But how would Mr. Hodge protect his 3-year-old from being shot accidentally by those hunters?
Of course, if his son were 16 years old, this scenario could still take place, but I ask myself, why would he place his toddler in that position to begin with?
He stresses that his 3-year-old knows that guns are not toys, but can he be absolutely certain that his child's curiosity, which he claims has lessened, will not cause a detrimental incident for either one of them?
His child cannot participate in any NRA competitions under the youth division, nor can he fully comprehend the basic fundamental NRA rules for safe-gun handling, which include:
Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. (What does a 3-year-old know about what a safe direction would be?);
Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot (What a temptation for a 3-year-old.); and
Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. (Would you like your 3-year-old loading a gun?).
Mr. Hodge wrote that he finds it hard to believe that a 2-year-old took a shooting stance. I find it hard to believe that taking a 3-year-old hunting is the most beneficial activity that the two of them could participate in together.
I agree gun handling is an American heritage, but I find it incomprehensible that a child, who has been alive for only 1,095 days, is participating in this heritage.
Jennifer Fishel
Dahlgren
Date published: Tue, 01/21/2003