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Teaching kids safe handling of guns
- Thread starter peter nap
- Start date
Marco
Regular Member
Lack of proper education = accidents and ignorance.
sparkman2
Regular Member
Yes we should.
Yes we should teach them, but teach them correctly. If we take the time to teach them about gun safety maybe that will take away their curiosity. As someone stated we teach them about pool safety but also playing with fire, driving a motor vehicle and drug abuse. Each in its own if misused can result in a tragedy not only to the individual, but to those who are close to them. We all had to crawl before we learned how to walk.
Yes we should teach them, but teach them correctly. If we take the time to teach them about gun safety maybe that will take away their curiosity. As someone stated we teach them about pool safety but also playing with fire, driving a motor vehicle and drug abuse. Each in its own if misused can result in a tragedy not only to the individual, but to those who are close to them. We all had to crawl before we learned how to walk.
marshaul
Campaign Veteran
Growing up is all about learning responsibility. Shooting sports encourage responsibility, teach the respect of dangerous objects, and help develop hand-eye coordination.
Heck, I was granted an extraordinary amount of liberty and responsibility at a very young age by most people's standards, and I am a better man for it today.
Anxious parents raise good subjects.
Heck, I was granted an extraordinary amount of liberty and responsibility at a very young age by most people's standards, and I am a better man for it today.
Anxious parents raise good subjects.
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alas, shooting sports are 'taught' to today's youth, normally across the country in Boy & Girl scouts, 4-H as well as in 'school' team shooting teams.
the main problem is the parents who do not believe their youngster needs this kinda of education abstain on pursuing the training and leave it up to the school system to provide the drug, sex, education so they don't have interface with their children on those subjects.
ipse
the main problem is the parents who do not believe their youngster needs this kinda of education abstain on pursuing the training and leave it up to the school system to provide the drug, sex, education so they don't have interface with their children on those subjects.
ipse
marshaul
Campaign Veteran
Why not?
Good program for "kids" of all ages.........subject to physical limitations.
Maverick9
Regular Member
There are a few important considerations
1. The kid has to want the training, have the aptitude, have some coordination. So prior to the firearm training have pre-training. Airsoft, BB guns, pellet guns. It should be a pyramid system. Build up to a level don't just go all out giving some small person a .44 magnum.
2. Gotta have the right atmosphere - a good outdoor range, one-on-one training.
3. It has to be fun, but it should not be frivolous.
1. The kid has to want the training, have the aptitude, have some coordination. So prior to the firearm training have pre-training. Airsoft, BB guns, pellet guns. It should be a pyramid system. Build up to a level don't just go all out giving some small person a .44 magnum.
2. Gotta have the right atmosphere - a good outdoor range, one-on-one training.
3. It has to be fun, but it should not be frivolous.
The program as presented starts with BB guns.
There are those that say firearms familiarity training should be mandatory at an early age.
ProShooter
Regular Member
I think its a good idea.....but what the hell do I know about firearms training? LOL
There really is a reason I'm asking. I got a complaint last night from a well established hunting group, not about the Jakes program but something else. I'm just looking for input before I dig into it a little more.
ATM
Campaign Veteran
I submit a recent editorial on the topic from an Indiana lawyer and firearms instructor:
http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/2014/08/28/kids-can-learn-handle-guns/14746411/
I think the following excerpt nicely summarizes the topic:
http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/2014/08/28/kids-can-learn-handle-guns/14746411/
I think the following excerpt nicely summarizes the topic:
davidmcbeth
Banned
First step with shooting learn'in with kids: teach them to assemble and disassemble .. so that they know who the gun works and can disassemble/assemble the gun for maintenance.
POPS VA
Regular Member
I agree 100% that muzzle awareness is numero uno. Know that it is pointed safely and then verify mag well/cylinder followed by checking chamber, but equally important is "keep the booger hooker off the bang switch at all times" I am currently teaching my grandchildren (one at a time, as they come of age) firearm safety just as my father taught me. Then we learn range safety when I feel they are ready to shoot. This is a Virginia tradition as well as one of my own.
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OK, here's the reason I asked. Apparently a VCDL member that from the description, I don't know, talked above his pay grade at an event in Roanoke. He gave the impression that VCDL was against the program and went postal on one of the disabled hunters that sponsors the program. The organization complained to me and I contacted Philip about it.
He assured me that was NOT VCDL's position and that only he spoke for the organization's policies.
I think everyone is satisfied now.
He assured me that was NOT VCDL's position and that only he spoke for the organization's policies.
I think everyone is satisfied now.
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I think of firearm education in a similar manner to sex education. Teaching abstinence as the only safety is futile as sex is human nature (I believe teaching morality covers the concept of abstinence by default), and ignorance to the fundamentals creates accidents. Safety and education is paramount. Children (and adults) should be taught proactively.
My .02
My .02
ProShooter
Regular Member
Don't you love when someone thinks that the VCDL is their own little pet project, and they take liberties with the organization's good name?