imported post
I teach Hunter Education classes, a good part of which is devoted to firearms handling and safety. I also act as a range safety officer at apublic range. That doesn't make me a great shooter, but it's given me some insight into what happens when shooters have no training.
Forty years ago a great firearms instructor I knew told a group of us that if we handle firearms enough, wewill experience an ND or AD or something with a gun we didn't expect to happen.Over a goodly number of years, I'veseen many things, and found out for myself he was pretty much correct.
Two experiences of my own: I bought anew rifle many years ago, took it from the gun store to the range, closed the bolt on a cartridge, pushed the safety off, and the gun fired... without me touching the trigger. Sear problem. Same kind of thing happened with a new DA/SA pistol. Another sear problem. Both times muzzle was pointed down range, no one hurt, only great surprise.
Somemight think safe muzzle control is so basic, everyone would do it. Not so. It's likely we've all seen someone point a gun (hopefully unloaded!) at someone else.
Of course I recognize if we ever have desperateneed to fire a gun, it's likely we may not have glasses on. But the only people I've seen hurt when a gun was fired, had their eyesight saved because they were wearing glasses.My training, and also what I teach, is that glasses (and ear protection) should be worn when shooting. This is a new idea for some people whose only training is what they've seen on TV.
So my experience tells methat a person who carries and/or keeps a gun SHOULD get at leastsome basic training.
HOWEVER, I do not believe in MANDITORY tests or training to own or carry a firearm.