Thread: Gun safety classes hope to lower number of kids shot

Gun safety classes hope to lower number of kids shot | Newshub

Video in the link

Gun safety classes are being offered to children in the United States. Credits: CBS

In the United States last year a child died in an accidental shooting every other day, many of whom shot themselves or were killed by another child.

Classes are now being offered to teach kids about gun safety.

A class called First Shots is designed for children as young as eight. The goal of the two-hour lesson is to teach safety while still satisfying young curiosity about firearms.

Gun owner Paul Risen took his son Brody to learn how to load and fire a .22 calibre handgun.

"I think the younger you are, the more you're comfortable with it around them, the better they are able to handle them," Mr Risen told CBS.

Less confident in gun safety lessons are Julvonnia and Byron McDowell. Their 14-year-old son JaJuan was fatally shot by his younger cousin in 2016, who got his hands on an unsecured handgun he thought was unloaded.

"Even if they go through safety classes, that's not going to prevent them from saying, 'Look what I can do', and just that quick, life can change," Ms McDowell said.

Psychologist Sherry Hamby studies the impact of guns on children. She told CBS that most children don't have the impulse control and maturity to safely handle a firearm until they're much older.

"Impulse control and maturity and cognitive capacity are all somewhat different things. The more we know about brain development, the more you would really have to say mid- 20s," Ms Hamby said.

Gun control continues to be a controversial issue in the US. In 2017, the country suffered a mass shooting - the death of four or more people - almost every day.

In October 2017, a gunman killed 58 people in Las Vegas, the deadliest shooting in American history.

Newshub.

Whilst the effort to educate kids is applaudable, the media just cannot stray from their narrative.

Originally Posted by Newshub / CBS

Gun control continues to be a controversial issue in the US. In 2017, the country suffered a mass shooting - the death of four or more people - almost every day.

Every day? I wonder where they get this statistic from? I'd almost bet that if true, they're in places like Chicago or Baltimore etc.

Originally Posted by Newshub / CBS

In October 2017, a gunman killed 58 people in Las Vegas, the deadliest shooting in American history.

Modern American history. Wounded Knee 1890 was the worst but does not quite fit the narrative so is almost always overlooked.

Originally Posted by systolic

Psychologist Sherry Hamby studies the impact of guns on children. She told CBS that most children don't have the impulse control and maturity to safely handle a firearm until they're much older.
"Impulse control and maturity and cognitive capacity are all somewhat different things. The more we know about brain development, the more you would really have to say mid- 20s," Ms Hamby said.

Sure kids have less impulse control than adults, but ... so ... don't teach and train them?!? Whaaat? O-:>

as a young fella, got brought to nz by parents and grandparents (mothers side) who believed enoch was right. (ok now the non political stuff)
we lived in a forestry village, we walked to school across farmland, got home and then we would break out airguns for a bit of target fun, later on we would walk into the forest and shoot possums.
sometimes we were allowed to take air rifles to school, there was allot of competition to who would be the best target shooter for the week, then walk home with the airguns.
as was the 70's there were fights at school ! trust me i got beaten the crap out of several occasions, but sometimes the bully got the shock of his life and was left embarrassed and bleeding.
at no stage did i ever use a weapon, ever threaten to use a weapon or tell my friends "i'm gonna shoot that bastard"
at possum shooting time, both of us would be armed but with respect for what firearms/air guns could do. there was never ever an issue.
I believe every child in nz should be taught firearms safety, even if they dont take up the sport its vital that they understand not to play with them, leave unsafe stored ones alone etc. and most of all treat it as a tool not a toy.

@gonetropo. He was right wasn't he.

Ok. That's all.

This training of kids is cool and all, but they still give fucktards like Andrew Hore back his license after repeat offences. They are ignoring the ape in the paddock as it were

Originally Posted by Pengy

@gonetropo. He was right wasn't he.
Ok. That's all.

He would take no pleasure at all at being now proven right. He spoke out to prevent just that.

Took a few seconds to connect Powell to those comments.

Some training maybe required, going by some of our customers,
" my gun will not fire, you need to take the safety of madam"
The mag extension you sold me will not hold 7, correct sir you are using 3 1/2 in cartridges
Only one barrel will fire ? Test it with a bump to the floor second trigger sets ok, O I have never fired it, only played with it in the bed room, I have been planning to get out, but have been to busy for the last two years.
I can,t see the lazer at 600mtrs ,
Will these bullets fit my gun ? I don,t know sir ? What gun do you have ?
Just a few of this Christmas questions, don,t start me on air rifles

My 11 year old can shoot the shotgun, the AR, the pistol, can load them all and make them all safe. He likes shooting but doesn't really show any interest in the guns themselves.

If I had to guess it's because of the exposure he has to them. No fascination with them as guns themselves.

Originally Posted by MaW

My 11 year old can shoot the shotgun, the AR, the pistol, can load them all and make them all safe. He likes shooting but doesn't really show any interest in the guns themselves.

If I had to guess it's because of the exposure he has to them. No fascination with them as guns themselves.

@MaW

You seem to have got it across to him that it's not manly to be unsafe. Pat yourself on your back.

He's probably not going to end up being a shooter then I would say.

Originally Posted by Carlsen Highway

He's probably not going to end up being a shooter then I would say.

@Carlsen Highway

LOL. No, he won't be a shooter with his gun on 'safe'. Or did you mean to say something silly?

I think I meant that if he is not interested in firearms themselves as a boy, he will probably not be a passionate shooter as an adult.

Originally Posted by Carlsen Highway

I think I meant that if he is not interested in firearms themselves as a boy, he will probably not be a passionate shooter as an adult.

Yep. Figures. Anyone keen at something will also have a keen interest in the tools to do it with.