Outdoor
Adventures………….December 15, 2006
My Christmas Wish……….A better understanding of
firearm safety education.
Christmas is just around the
corner. If you are thinking about
buying a youngster a firearm for Christmas, even a BB gun or an air rifle,
please take a couple of things into consideration. Are firearms safe in your
home and can your child be trusted with such a responsibility? What are the pros and cons?
The mother’s basic “BB gun
block,” and the teacher’s and Santa Claus’ “You will shoot your eye out!” from
the movie “A CHRISTMAS STORY” pose a definite concern. But there are many positive things a child
can learn from firearms safety education and especially the shooting sports: safe habits and responsibility that can last
a lifetime.
Proper handling of a firearm
and learning to be a safe shooter teaches responsibility and respect. Self-discipline and control must also be
mastered in order to hit the target.
Learning to hold a firearm steady and to shoot a gun accurately teaches
concentration and helps develop hand-eye coordination. Knowing the shooter
alone is ultimately responsible for his or her performance teaches
self-reliance and builds self-esteem.
Parents should realize a
child’s age isn’t the most important factor when deciding whether there should
be a firearm in the house or if the child should be allowed to be around
firearms. Mindful, responsible parents
know their child better than anyone else.
Can the child follow directions and handle responsibility? Is the
youngster mature enough to make decisions that will ensure his or her own
safety and the safety of others? And
last but not least, does the parent have the knowledge and experience to give
proper instruction in the basics of firearm safety? Ralph’s parents were concerned that he might
shoot his eye out, but on Christmas morning they let him go outside,
unsupervised, with his brand new Daisy Red Ryder and shoot at a target on a
metal backstop. Ralph or an innocent
bystander could have lost an eye when the BB ricocheted off the metal
surface. Or worse.
Flashback, Christmas,
1963. A classmate of mine received a
brand new .410 shotgun for Christmas.
Before night fell, Jimmy was in the hospital with a massive injury to
the side of his head and eventually lost an eye due to a blast from that
shotgun. He recovered, but had to
undergo many painful skin grafts to restore the damaged portion of his face.
Others haven’t been so lucky. Don’t let
such a tragic incident happen.
Supervision and instruction
on the basic firearm safety rules should also have been a part of his Christmas
gift. Hands-on instruction and training,
repeated over and over, along with a thorough understanding of the safety rules
will teach the child that nothing can be taken for granted concerning gun
safety.
If a new gun is on your
child’s Christmas list and you are still apprehensive about giving such a gift,
you might want to have your child sign a FIREARMS RESPONSIBILITY CONTRACT. In this written contract the child promises
to learn and obey all the rules of safe firearms handling.
Get a copy of the Ten
Commandments of Firearm Safety, review them and discuss their meaning. Make it a point to attend a Hunter Safety
Education class if you haven’t already done so, even if you don’t plan on becoming
a hunter. A promise should be made to never play with firearms because they are
not toys, and that includes BB guns.
Where children are concerned,
firearms should be used only with the permission of an adult and under strict
supervision. Treat every gun as if it were loaded and never aim it at something
you do not intend to shoot. It should be
clearly understood there will be an automatic forfeiture of shooting privileges
for whatever length of time agreed upon, if the Firearms Responsibility Contract
isn’t adhered to.
An Automobile Responsibility
Contract may come into play in years to come when a decision is made to turn
the young driver loose with the family vehicle for the first time. Knowing the youngster’s ability to follow directions,
handle responsibility and be trusted will make that decision much easier.
Even if you don’t have any
intentions of buying a gun or having one in your home, chances are your child
will come in contact with a firearm one place or another. Statistics show that
firearms are present in at least one-half of all the homes in
If you do own a gun, always
remember to unload the firearm carefully and completely before taking it into
the house. Never load a sporting firearm
in the home. Always make sure that
firearms are securely stored in a location inaccessible to children. You might even treat yourself to a new gun
safe for Christmas!
Ammunition should be stored
in a separate location, locked up and inaccessible to children. Place firearms in their proper storage
location immediately after returning from a hunting trip or a day at the
range. When you remove your gun from
storage, always recheck it to confirm that it is still unloaded. It is a gun owner’s responsibility to make
sure his firearms are not casually accessible to anyone---especially curious
young people who might be looking for Christmas presents.
For more information on
firearm safety education, programs and events, contact the National Shooting
Sports Foundation, Inc. Tel 203-426-2359
www.nssf.org
Or call Eddie Eagle
1-800-231-0752 for their latest program information.
From the
kitchen of June Bell, Cottonwood Falls,
PHEASANT DIP
1
Can Cream of Mushroom soup
1
C. mayonnaise
1
8 oz. pkg cream cheese
½
small onion chopped fine
1
T. Worcestershire sauce
2
C. cooked, diced pheasant
1
C. minced celery
Microwave
cream cheese on defrost setting for about 3 minutes to soften. Add soup and mayonnaise, Worcestershire and
onion. Mix again, then add pheasant and
celery. Good served at room temperature
or chilled.