Gun Gal: Always put safety first


While watching a young man and his father at an area gun range this week, a serious thought crossed my mind: Why can’t schools or local groups teach gun safety to school-aged kids as part of a standard education? It could be a program that parents need to sign a permission slip for, just like with some other events offered. I’m sure the local sheriff’s department might consider sponsoring. What better time to teach safety?

 The course wouldn’t need to include a shooting lesson, but it does need to teach how simple knowledge about gun safety can mean the difference between life and death.

While at the range I was challenged with keeping my mouth shut. For those of you who know me, this wasn’t an easy thing to do. I watched a father intimidate his son (a boy about 8 years old) by heckling him into trying to shoot a 12 gauge shot gun that was clearly not a youth model and designed for home defense, not hunting. He kept telling the child that girls could shoot the gun; and therefore, he better not let a girl show him up. What is this, the 1800s?

I was outraged by the panic in the child’s eyes and the bully tactic his father was using. I hope this isn’t a common event for young folks when learning how to shoot a gun. (No offense, men, but sometimes being cool and tough are more important than being smart and calm). The man was erratic, loud, and a perfect candidate for someone getting hurt around him — and he was teaching his son the same terrible habits he had acquired. It was heartbreaking and frightening.

Basic range safety:

Rule number one: Always treat a gun as if it is loaded and ready to be fired.

Rule number two:Always point the barrel of a firearm at the ground when walking or waiting.

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