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NRA dudes recently suggested making gun use classes as part of a requirement to pass to the next grade. There's a thing on Politico about it. I have to say I agree, requiring children to know how to operate firearms does a great deal toward demystifying them and preventing accidental discharge.

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Michael Noire
NRA dudes recently suggested making gun use classes as part of a requirement to pass to the next grade. There's a thing on Politico about it. I have to say I agree, requiring children to know how to operate firearms does a great deal toward demystifying them and preventing accidental discharge.


Yeah, let's teach little Timmy how to fire a weapon and then go play bad cop/good cop. At what age would they be learning such things?
XxRagingHomosexualxX
Michael Noire
NRA dudes recently suggested making gun use classes as part of a requirement to pass to the next grade. There's a thing on Politico about it. I have to say I agree, requiring children to know how to operate firearms does a great deal toward demystifying them and preventing accidental discharge.


Yeah, let's teach little Timmy how to fire a weapon and then go play bad cop/good cop. At what age would they be learning such things?


I dunno. Didn't watch the video. A child has to be able to hold a weapon and read the inscription on the barrel indicating what ammo is necessary. They also need to be able to handle the recoil if there is any worth mentioning. Recoil for handguns is typically much higher for handguns than rifles. Break actions are typically safest for training because 1 bullet is loaded and fired at a time.

I've heard literacy in the written format is being phased out of some schools. Perhaps demanding the children learn Firearms after they learn to write in Cursive? That would certainly make it easy to limit millions from ever holding a gun. But seriously, if the child can't read, they can't read which bullet goes into the chamber, and that means they can cause themselves catastrophic failure, injury, and death. Firearms are measured using decimals and there is the English and metric system in place. A quick scan of google indicates children learn about Decimals in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. Units of Measure start popping up around 3rd grade and converting between them around 6th-8th grade, according to google.

Therefore, the age appropriateness of Firearms occurs after they can read and understand the barrel. The youngest is looking like 9, and the oldest is looking like 13. 6th grade appears in both examples, and coincides with age 11, sometimes 12. Therefore, I would set it at 12, and add firearms data to the problem solving of the child's math education. I think people might have forgotten, but Ballistics is highly educational, and deals with hard sciences.

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Michael Noire


I dunno. Didn't watch the video. A child has to be able to hold a weapon and read the inscription on the barrel indicating what ammo is necessary.


arrow Or maybe the parents should lock guns under lock and key and then when the child is old enough, they might teach them about responsibility.


They also need to be able to handle the recoil if there is any worth mentioning. Recoil for handguns is typically much higher for handguns than rifles. Break actions are typically safest for training because 1 bullet is loaded and fired at a time.


arrow There is nothing safe about a gun.


Quote:
Therefore, I would set it at 12, and add firearms data to the problem solving of the child's math education. I think people might have forgotten, but Ballistics is highly educational, and deals with hard sciences.


arrow Yeah, parents without guns and opposed to their use are going to be signing their child up for summer gun camp.
XxRagingHomosexualxX
stuff


when i went to summer camp, they had guns. I shot them. I guess you live in a country where this isn't how life operates. That would explain much.

As to the idea of a gun and safe, guns are completely safe - as safe as anything else of similar mass and density. A gun with a bayonet may not be very safe, but it's no more dangerous than most metal objects in a kitchen. FYI, a cast iron skillet is a lethal weapon, and so is an iron used for pressing shirts.


The only thing dangerous about guns is bullets. Without access to bullets, guns are just blobs of plastic, metal, and wood. and to be technical, only functional cartridges are dangerous. Bullets themselves are only dangerous if swallowed, although a very heavy bullet might be as deadly as a rock, especially with a sling. In general, Archery is far more dangerous than firearms, if the arrow heads are for hunting. The probability that you can save someone hit by a stray broad head arrow before they bleed out is very low. Meanwhile, a person could, after being shot by a rifle, walk over to the phone, dial 911 themselves, walk into the ambulance, listen to the entire soundtrack of some pop musician, stand in line at the ER, and then wait for the pain killers to be administered. God help you if you get hit with a broad head arrow, because a doctor won't.
http://jacksonville.com/breaking-news/2014-07-28/story/pregnant-fla-woman-killed-admiring-gun-collection

this kind of thing happens because people don't have training. rule #1
assume all firearms are loaded, even if you think they aren't, even if you are a professional

oddly this lesson while drilled into us during my hunter safety course, does not appear in most lists on the internet.

here's the list similar to what i learned
http://thefiringline.com/Misc/safetyrules.html

notice rule 1 is the same as I stated? Right. assume its always loaded and pregnant women wont be shot horsing around with revolvers.
Quote:

RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY

RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET


but look at these other lists I found:

Quote:
1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.


notice that if you begin with the presumption the gun is unloaded, rule 1 is ignored because you assume safety, rule 2 is ignored because you assume its unloaded, and rule 3 is ignored because when she asks he glances at it and says "yeah, its totally unloaded. Go ahead" bang. dead.

then there's this list:

Quote:

1. Always Keep The Muzzle Pointed In A Safe Direction
2. Firearms Should Be Unloaded When Not Actually In Use
3. Don't Rely On Your Gun's "Safety"
4. Be Sure Of Your Target And What's Beyond It
5. Use Correct Ammunition
6. If Your Gun Fails To Fire When The Trigger Is Pulled, Handle With Care!
7. Always Wear Eye And Ear Protection When Shooting
8. Be Sure The Barrel Is Clear Of Obstructions Before Shooting
9. Don't Alter Or Modify Your Gun, And Have Guns Serviced Regularly
10. Learn The Mechanical And Handling Characteristics Of The Firearm You Are Using


again, good rules, but nothing in there is going to keep your pregnant girlfriend alive if you begin the conversation with 'don't worry, its not loaded"...

because "its not loaded', the following changes:
1. any direction is a safe direction, 2. duh, 3. doesn't matter 4. yep, my pregnant wife 5. not applicable 6. N/A 7. lol, why? 8. no reason to 9. N/A 10. agreed.. ok honey, hold still...I'm testing the handling and mechanical characteristics of this revolver

But look at that other rule I mentioned earlier. ALWAYS LOADED... that means you would never want to point a gun at something you didn't want to destroy. You would never proclaim with confidence it isn't loaded, because until you took it apart for cleaning, there could be a bullet somewhere.

One of the things my instructors taught me was kids like to play games. Bad games. One of the games they like to play is putting live rounds in firearms when people aren't looking. This kind of "its not loaded so BANG oh crap!" happens all over. At competitions, at gun shows, and in many homes.

Mandatory gun safety needs to exist because there are people who have to be around their firearms at all times, such as off duty cops, undercover agents, and some kinds of security guards. These people if disarmed can become victims of stalkers or criminal organizations that will attempt to exploit their positions when they are most vulnerable. That's why unlisted numbers exist.

My point is, guns are going to be around the home. When guns are around the home, they are around pregnant women. If the pregnant woman knew the rule #1 I knew, this wouldn't have happened. Some people suspect foul play. Revolvers usually display most of the bullets they will fire, although there's some caveats. If you don't pull out the cylinder that holds the bullets, you might miss a few, especially if the angles are obscured. Cylinders rotate in either clockwise or counter clockwise fashion. Some rotate with the trigger pull, automatically loading the next round. Some may have an action set up so you can only fire and rotate at the same time, but others - though ive never seen this - may allow you to rotate the cylinder in place and c**k the hammer. Every design is a little different. Some even use black powder. Then there's this thing:


I believe it revolves as a function of the blowback gases like an automatic. It's called the Mateba, and it's unusual looks could have many assuming it's a fancy child's toy, like lightsabers and laser pistols.

Shameless Dog

Michael Noire
My point is, guns are going to be around the home. When guns are around the home, they are around pregnant women. If the pregnant woman knew the rule #1 I knew, this wouldn't have happened. Some people suspect foul play. Revolvers usually display most of the bullets they will fire, although there's some caveats. If you don't pull out the cylinder that holds the bullets, you might miss a few, especially if the angles are obscured. Cylinders rotate in either clockwise or counter clockwise fashion. Some rotate with the trigger pull, automatically loading the next round. Some may have an action set up so you can only fire and rotate at the same time, but others - though ive never seen this - may allow you to rotate the cylinder in place and c**k the hammer. Every design is a little different. Some even use black powder. Then there's this thing:

I believe it revolves as a function of the blowback gases like an automatic. It's called the Mateba, and it's unusual looks could have many assuming it's a fancy child's toy, like lightsabers and laser pistols.


Gun owner here. I'm...not going to jump into this debate but I do agree with your post. I live with my mom and dad helping take care of them, and they have to live with my gun hobby more or less. I've taught them what to do around a gun, and to be comfortable around them. I taught them trigger discipline, I've taught them how to clear and safe a firearm, and they've got it. Hell, dad is now a shooter and he loves going out with me to the range to sling rounds at paper.

As we say at work...safety is what you make of it. If you choose to put yourself into positions where your chances of injury are higher, then you can expect to be injured sooner than later. If you choose to work with the safe work methods we teach, then your chances of injury, though not completely eliminated, are drastically reduced.

I want to add that in addition to following the FOUR CARDINAL RULES OF GUN SAFETY, we must also add in an element of training and drill, and that's the safe clearing of a gun. For practically any gun with a magazine, that's pulling out the magazine, racking the slide or bolt back a few times, and visually inspecting the chamber. IF you want extra safe, if your gun has a bolt or slide lock function, you can lock it back and physically finger the chamber to see if there is a round loaded. Do this with EVERY gun you inspect, EVERY TIME you do it even if you had cleared it a moment before, and accidents like the Jacksonville incident don't happen.

Anyways, on the post above, I just want to clarify that practically every revolver that isn't break action you can clear the same way. Double action or single action, whatever. c**k the hammer to half c**k, swing out cylinder, check and clear if needed. If you have a revolver that is a ramrod type, then at half c**k notch to each hole in the cylinder and push the ramrod to clear until you've cleared the whole cylinder. On a break action revolver, open it up and clear if necessary.

The Mateba Unica-6, and also the Chiappa Rhino function exactly the same as other double action revolvers. Mechanical action inside the revolver rotate the cylinder as it cocks the hammer. It's pretty much impossible to get a gas powered action in a revolver...and even semi-automatic pistols without having them as huge as the Desert Eagle.
ah, my bad. it uses "recoil energy" to revolver the cylinder, according to the article. A thorough firearms course covers many different kinds of firearms, including poking at the action and chamber to see if its loaded, in addition to a visual check. My biggest concern is even if a gun is unloaded, someone can come along when you aren't home or whatever and load it. Guns are like having a Murder Porn channel on your cable service. Even if you lock them, the simple fact that it's locked means people are going to find a way to unlock them, even if its your kids. I've seen videos of children breaking into gun safes.

Safer than a gun safe is a safety course. Kids don't run around stabbing themselves and each other with kitchen knives that are just as deadly, unless they are crazy. Neither locks nor safety courses will cure crazy. Only solution for crazy is padded cells and asylums.We've known that for centuries.
XxRagingHomosexualxX
Michael Noire
NRA dudes recently suggested making gun use classes as part of a requirement to pass to the next grade. There's a thing on Politico about it. I have to say I agree, requiring children to know how to operate firearms does a great deal toward demystifying them and preventing accidental discharge.


Yeah, let's teach little Timmy how to fire a weapon and then go play bad cop/good cop. At what age would they be learning such things?


I started before I could walk, learning that one does not touch guns without a parent around and permission, and about the time I got ready to start school I started shooting my .22 after I learned how first to clean it and properly handle it, treating it with respect.
Sticking your hands in your ears and going 'lalalalala!' doesn't change the illusion the media and politicians (both sides want a nation of disarmed people. They're just scared to lose voters who actually KNOW why we have a second amendment) lie through their teeth attempting to scare the ignorant into believing they have your best interests at heart.
XxRagingHomosexualxX
Michael Noire
NRA dudes recently suggested making gun use classes as part of a requirement to pass to the next grade. There's a thing on Politico about it. I have to say I agree, requiring children to know how to operate firearms does a great deal toward demystifying them and preventing accidental discharge.


Yeah, let's teach little Timmy how to fire a weapon and then go play bad cop/good cop. At what age would they be learning such things?


I learned around 12.
In my country, people are required to provide a reason for needing a gun license, and then only those who have a gun license, can carry a firearm. You cannot just go buy a gun from a shop like that. My grandfather was the only one in my family that owned a gun and he only got a gun license because he was a consul in the Brazilian embassy. If the laws weren't so strict here, all hell would break loose.

Sparkling Man-Lover

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KimberlyAriel07
In my country, people are required to provide a reason for needing a gun license, and then only those who have a gun license, can carry a firearm. You cannot just go buy a gun from a shop like that. My grandfather was the only one in my family that owned a gun and he only got a gun license because he was a consul in the Brazilian embassy. If the laws weren't so strict here, all hell would break loose.



Pray tell, what lovely country is this you speak of?

Shameless Dog

Michael Noire
My biggest concern is even if a gun is unloaded, someone can come along when you aren't home or whatever and load it. Guns are like having a Murder Porn channel on your cable service. Even if you lock them, the simple fact that it's locked means people are going to find a way to unlock them, even if its your kids. I've seen videos of children breaking into gun safes.


I still don't see this as a problem. As long as you do a clear drill each and every time you pick up a gun it won't matter if it is loaded. This plays right in with the most important rule that you treat all guns as loaded...a clear drill will make it unloaded if it wasn't already.

I mean, I keep loaded guns at home. They are my defense tools, and what's the point of a gun if it isn't in a state where it can be used? But loaded or not I know a clear drill will keep me safe when handling them outside of a defensive situation.

Also, I stand corrected. The Unica-6 is indeed recoil operated. That's awesome.

Fanatical Zealot

KimberlyAriel07
In my country, people are required to provide a reason for needing a gun license, and then only those who have a gun license, can carry a firearm. You cannot just go buy a gun from a shop like that. My grandfather was the only one in my family that owned a gun and he only got a gun license because he was a consul in the Brazilian embassy. If the laws weren't so strict here, all hell would break loose.


Really, what makes you think people would just start killing everyone?

Do you really believe that your fellow countrymen are so insane and violent, with such little regard for human life that them possessing a weapon would make them more likely to kill; and if so, how do guns change their mind, specifically?

Fanatical Zealot

Michael Noire
NRA dudes recently suggested making gun use classes as part of a requirement to pass to the next grade. There's a thing on Politico about it. I have to say I agree, requiring children to know how to operate firearms does a great deal toward demystifying them and preventing accidental discharge.

Yeah, I think maybe when you should do that when you go to buy a gun, so once every couple of years in some type of license or whatever, or so that information is put on your license or ID card, on your name, so it's not forced on everyone. It seems a bit more practical, and more likely to be passed.

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