From: hes@unity.ncsu.edu (Henry E. Schaffer)
Newsgroups: rec.guns,talk.politics.guns
Subject: Firearms safety training for children (Was Re: Dressed for Rape)
Date: 5 Jan 93 03:28:43 GMT
Followup-To: talk.politics.guns
Organization: North Carolina State University

In article <1i9ocjINNguh@transfer.stratus.com> cdt@sw.stratus.com (C. D. Tavares) writes:
# ...  I read in a recent HCI mailing
#that the NRA is promoting an education package that includes the (gasp)
#"handling and firing of live firearms!"
# ...

  Once again I gave up a day of my own at the range and took
several children there for firearms safety training, familiarization
and a *very* small amount of marksmanship.  These were from 3
different families, 4 children in all (ranging roughly from 8 to 14)
and the 3 fathers were there also.  We spent about 3 hours at the
range, and at the end the children were very happy and the fathers
all were very happy at what their children did (and yes, I did let
the fathers do a little shooting too.)  Two of these families were
*very* anti-firearms when I first started discussing the topic with
them.  The convincing argument which I used was that even if they
were very careful to never have a firearm in their home and even if
they never had a toy gun in their home - would their children know
what to do (and what not to do and when to leave in a hurry) if
they were in someone else's home when someone discovered/produced
a firearm, or what if one were found in a car, or a vacant lot ...!
My argument was that "forbidden fruit" is very attractive to
children (and adults), and that familiarization would take some
of the allure away, and that safety training would add to their 
childrens' chance of survival.

  Both of these families have found shooting to be "lots of fun",
and their emotional anti-gun fervor has really died away, with one
family starting to think about what gun(s) they might even want to
buy.

  When teaching children I have two techniques which may be of
interest (they aren't limited to children.)

  First - I always start out with *my* .22 rifle.  This is an old
(60+ years old - it was passed one to me by an older cousin, when I
was about 10) single shot bolt action rifle.  It even has manual
cocking.  There is nothing about its state which is at all automatic
or obscure.  No hidden rounds, no cock on close/open, nothing like
that.  It is as simple a gun as possible, so there is the minimum
of distracting operational detail.  I also like having the rifle
barrel (compared to a handgun) since it is so much harder to have
the student swing it around and point it in a bad direction - such
as at me.  Furthermore, after the one shot it is *totally* safe -
so no matter what the excitement level there can be no accident.
For the same reason, when I switch to hanguns I only allow one
round to be loaded.  I only allow filling the cylinder after I have
developed some confidence in the student.  I also stand very close
to the student, typically immediately to the side-rear of their
right shoulder which gives me a quick grab with my right hand if
I need to do it, and gives me a good view of their technique,
posture, etc.

  Also, I interleave shooting with lecture, and keep on coming back
to safety aspects.  Muzzle direction is my main safety issue, with
loaded vs. unloaded guns next, and watching out for other people
being a big issue.  The children are more receptive to safety
lectures when they are short, and when more shooting will come
next.

  Second - I always start out *close* to the target (I use plinking
targets such as soda pop cans/bottles so they can see the movement)
so that the probability of hitting the target is *high*.  This, in
my experience, really improves the motivation.  (As positive 
feedback is well known to do.)  Afterall, my main purposes are to
develop a sense of safety and an enjoyment level - after they
decide to shoot competitively is time enough for them to start 
trying to hit a target 25 or 50 yards away.  This does require
a range where you can control the target distance - in this case
I took sole posession of an outdoor utility range at my club
and moved the target line up quite close to the end berm.

  I could have had an enjoyable session at the range, instead of
working *very* hard for 3 solid hours.  On second thought, I did
have an enjoyable session at the range.

--henry schaffer

[MODERATOR:  Thanks to Henry for report of another success.  I have 
talked with him on several occasions about techniques for promoting
safe firearm handling --- which includes imparting technical knowledge,
practical skills and above all proper attitude for safety --- and know
he has had consistent success with his approach.  Education is where
its at, folks.  More light, less heat.]