People shoot people not guns?

[MossRoad]

....I want to ask what members think about training in gun safety. ....

.l....SO here are my questions: How do you feel about gun safety instruction courses? How many have had formal training? How many haven't had formal training, but feel you know and practice very strict safety protocol? Is there anyone who feels that safety is a matter that should be left up to the individual and isn't anyone else's business? In that citizens have a right to drive cars, but only after passing written and field tests, would it make sense to require gun owners to take a class and/or pass any test? What about teenaged hunters? Thank you in advance for your thoughtful replies. Again, I am not trying to stir anything up; I am genuinely interested in your opinions.

I learned to shoot rifle and shotgun at Boy Scout camp back in the early/mid 70's. We spent three days on safety before we were allowed to touch a gun. I then took more lessons at the YMCA and ended up on the rifle team. That was rifle training for shooting range applications. While they stressed the rules about safety, and those rules definately apply to handguns as well, that training did nothing to prepare anyone to actually use a handgun. It did make you aware of the dangers of ALL firearms, but that's where it stopped.

I think any handgun owner would benefit from formal training. Should it be required to get a carry permit? I wouldn't be opposed to it. The analogy about a car is pretty good, except I didn't have to pass a field test, just a written one. I skipped the field test because my driver's education instructor gave me a waiver. And Indiana had no field test for the Motorcycle Operator's endorsement back then, just a written test. So now I am grandfathered in and have never taken a field test for cars or motorcycles. I haven't driven a motorcycle in 14 years, but they say I am still qualified to do so. My point is, who's going to administer the firearms courses and tests and make sure they apply to all? Will people be grandfathered in that already have permits that really are not trained. Will current permit holders be required to go back for training? Will they have to pass proficiency tests on a regular basis?

 

[Soundguy]

Just as a point of clarification.. some civilians can buy selective / auto fire weapons.. just depends on your civil rights status, and laws of your state.

Soundguy

So, which one did you recommend, Bob?

BTW, any rifle you can buy as a civilian in the US is not an assault rifle...no more then any hunting or other sporting rifle.
AR15's, AK47's and such that are semi-auto only are just sporting rifles with detachable magazines.
Assault rifles are selective fire or full auto only.
There's a lot of people (mostly in the news media) who mistake the two.

 

[Soundguy]

I know some states do require a hunter safety course before you can get a hunting license, based on a few criteria.

Also.. again.. many states require formal firearms training before issuing a CWP.

I agree with both of those.

Soundguy

SO here are my questions: How do you feel about gun safety instruction courses? How many have had formal training? How many haven't had formal training, but feel you know and practice very strict safety protocol? Is there anyone who feels that safety is a matter that should be left up to the individual and isn't anyone else's business? In that citizens have a right to drive cars, but only after passing written and field tests, would it make sense to require gun owners to take a class and/or pass any test? What about teenaged hunters? Thank you in advance for your thoughtful replies. Again, I am not trying to stir anything up; I am genuinely interested in your opinions.

 

[Soundguy]

It's already been ruled upon that law enforcement officers have no 'duty' to protect civilians... That's why i own a gun.. so i can defend myself.. etc..

Soundguy

I didn't have the opportunity to look it up and was getting at the general idea. Again, I'm not here to fight. I am interested in your replies and rationalle. How would you respond to those who say that a "well regulated militia is no longer necessary to the security of a free state" because the federal government now has a federal military which is far more effective than a militia could possibly be? This is not meant to provoke you. It is an intellectual inquiry.

 

[Soundguy]

A side issue for sure.. but i thought i remember reading somewhere that due to the right of avoiding self incrimination.. you couldn't compell people to turn themselves in.. IE.. if a felon had a gun.. and missed a mandatory 'turn in' dealine.. that it was not a seperate charge.. beyond of course the first charge.. which would be.. felon in posession of a gun.. etc ??? Just wondering on how the '5th' factors in here..

Soundguy

They also expect you to not commit crimes and turn yourself in if you do, and they expect you to turn in your neighbor if they do something illegal, but that rarely happens, does it?

 

[N80]

Then George, you lost me,,,,,,,,,,,

So what exactly does registering for Selective service have to do with a CC permit?

Well, this 'branch' of the thread has grown cold, which is fine. But much earlier on it was mentioned that if you are not a citizen you shouldn't be allowed to carry a concealed weapon. My thought was that a distinguishing mark of 'citizenship' was having to register for selective service, and therefore the draft. I was totally wrong about that since the selective service says right on the front page of their site that they expect even undocumented aliens to register.

I'm not making any arguments to defend the absurd notion that illegal aliens would sign up for selective service. That's lunacy from the Selective Service, not me.

 

[N80]

They also expect you to not commit crimes and turn yourself in if you do, and they expect you to turn in your neighbor if they do something illegal, but that rarely happens, does it?

Now wait a minute. Why do you think I'm defending or agreeing with the Selective Service on this one???? It is obviously an absurd notion that an illegal alien would register with the Selective Service. It wasn't my idea man! I'm just telling you what the Selective Service web site says. I think its nuts.

 

[LBrown59]

VA Tech was a "gun free" zone. ie No one had a gun to protect themselves. While a tragedy, it should serve to alert people to the fact that anywhere with a sign on the wall that says "No guns allowed" is a good place to consider if mass murder is on your mind.

These Zones are a good place to stay away from if you want to live longer.

 

[LBrown59]

It's the only part of the equation that hasn't changed.. "people'.

We have different tools.. went from stone to copper.. to bronze.. to iron.. to guns to nukes.... still same people...

Soundguy

That's the solution ~ Ban people.

 

[MossRoad]

Now wait a minute. Why do you think I'm defending or agreeing with the Selective Service on this one???? It is obviously an absurd notion that an illegal alien would register with the Selective Service. It wasn't my idea man! I'm just telling you what the Selective Service web site says. I think its nuts.

O.K. We agree, now.