My buddy was shot Friday night

[Crawdaddy]

Been doing some thinking and I'd like to hear some of your views.

A Friend and coworker was shot Friday night (accidentally) by one of his best friends. The friend was showing off his newly bought shotgun and BAM right in the gut. My buddy is gonna be OK and is resting in the hospital as I type while they watch for any infection. I haven't talked to him personally because I would rather let him rest than feel like he has to explain to me what happened (I'm sure he's getting enough of that) but I did speak to another coworker this morning who had talked to him last night. I can only guess that it must have been bird shot since he's saying no major organs were damaged.

So to my point and what I'd like everyone's feedback on.

It may be emotion talking from my friend's unfortunate incident but I'm wondering why we have so many special interest groups rallying behind the cause of taking our freedoms and liberties, and specific to this case, our guns, but I have never heard one of these entities argue for better education and safety class availability when it comes to firearms. It would almost make one think that incidents like the one I described above actually help their cause of scaring the hell out of the public and makes the general non-firearm owner deathly afraid of an inanimate object, especially when the story always includes the standard response from the shooter, "it just went off", making the casual observer who knows no better believe that guns are unpredictable and inherently dangerous even in expert hands.

So what I would like to know is would any of you think it a good idea and politically expedient for the NRA or other pro-rights group to take the lead in getting legislation brought up to require a gun safety class before someone is allowed to purchase their first firearm. I don't think this infringes on our rights and would, I believe, place gun owners in a better light, showing that as a group we are responsible citizens.

As I said, I may sound like a Lib here, don't know. Emotion overload does folks that way and I may feel differently tomorrow.

Paul

[Juker]

I'll have to respectfully disagree.

There is more than enough legislation, child safety warnings, OSHA regulations, etc. etc. to go around. As a society we're choking on it. A lot of gun owners take it upon themselves to get professional training. Some learn in the military. But by and large, I think it's handed down, or learned along the way. The percentage of accidental shootings versus the number of firearms is minute.

The government is obsessed with telling people what they can and can't do for their own good, because "they" know best. I'm for liberty and freedom. I'm truly sorry your friend got shot, and delighted he'll recover - but I don't want anyone telling me I have to go through more B.S. to buy a gun, or a chainsaw, or a car, or a steak knife. I'll bet more people are injured with yard tools each year than guns.

[Alpo]

No. Definitely not. What part of "the right of the people" are you having problems with? If you have to take a class before you can exercise a "right", it is no longer a right, but is "government permission".

Now, should people get training before they mess with guns? Sure they should. Just like they should get training before going swimming, driving a car, chopping down a tree or climbing a mountain. People that do not get any sort of training before attempting something that has the potential of killing them or others are foolish.

But, should there be a law requiring training? Not just no but HELL NO!!

[joncutt87]

I don't think that a hunter safety course would be a bad idea

[lawdawg]

I agree with Juker and Alpo on this one. We have enough legislation as it is.


.

[Double D]

UHHHH,NOT NO, BUT HECK NO. NO FLIPPIN WAY.

[Crawdaddy]

Originally Posted by Juker

I'll have to respectfully disagree.

There is more than enough legislation, child safety warnings, OSHA regulations, etc. etc. to go around. As a society we're choking on it. A lot of gun owners take it upon themselves to get professional training. Some learn in the military. But by and large, I think it's handed down, or learned along the way. The percentage of accidental shootings versus the number of firearms is minute.

The government is obsessed with telling people what they can and can't do for their own good, because "they" know best. I'm for liberty and freedom. I'm truly sorry your friend got shot, and delighted he'll recover - but I don't want anyone telling me I have to go through more B.S. to buy a gun, or a chainsaw, or a car, or a steak knife. I'll bet more people are injured with yard tools each year than guns.

Respectful disagreement noted, Juker, and I reply with same. I think my post is more involving recruiting to our side of the cause, which I think we can all agree would be a good thing. My belief is that the less the citizenry fears firearms, the more potential firearms owners, but we don't need a hippie who's never held a gun deciding that all of the sudden its cool and ends up shooting his own friend because he doesn't know that when he can see red by the safety it means it's off, which is what happened in this case.

And BTW, sans blue shoulder, I definitely fit in the "more people are injured with yard tools each year than guns" category.

[Crawdaddy]

Originally Posted by joncutt87

I don't think that a hunter safety course would be a bad idea

And Jon that's part of my point, in the are I live in , hunter education was part of the high school sophomore curriculum. Thanks to the Lib agenda, that is no more. Granted, in a rural area like this, most of us, even the girls had handled guns before we ever took this class, but I believe that to be the case less and less as the years go by.

[Crawdaddy]

I'd also like to say that I don't disagree with any of you who think its a terrible idea and I thank you for not basting me over hot coals for it so far. Really I've just been thinking alot lately about the poor SOB who one day might have to break down my front door because some A-hole told him to. I know it won't end well for him and its unlikely it'll end any better for me, but my main concern is my kids, I know what I'll do if faced with the scenario, but that won't stop me from trying to find ways to avoid it. Don't mean to offend anyone.

[carver]

Originally Posted by Juker

I'll have to respectfully disagree.

There is more than enough legislation, child safety warnings, OSHA regulations, etc. etc. to go around. As a society we're choking on it. A lot of gun owners take it upon themselves to get professional training. Some learn in the military. But by and large, I think it's handed down, or learned along the way. The percentage of accidental shootings versus the number of firearms is minute.

The government is obsessed with telling people what they can and can't do for their own good, because "they" know best. I'm for liberty and freedom. I'm truly sorry your friend got shot, and delighted he'll recover - but I don't want anyone telling me I have to go through more B.S. to buy a gun, or a chainsaw, or a car, or a steak knife. I'll bet more people are injured with yard tools each year than guns.

I'm with Juker! I have had enough of the Government, at any level, telling me what I can, and can not do!

[Juker]

Originally Posted by Crawdaddy

Really I've just been thinking alot lately about the poor SOB who one day might have to break down my front door because some A-hole told him to.

On the upside, that particular SOB may not have undergone any required firearms training.

[Crawdaddy]

Originally Posted by Juker

On the upside, that particular SOB may not have undergone any required firearms training.

+1 Juker, lookin at the bright side are ya?

[Juker]

I do try. Gettin' harder and harder these days. "Come, Lord Jesus."

[BlackEagle]

Originally Posted by Juker

I'll have to respectfully disagree.

There is more than enough legislation, child safety warnings, OSHA regulations, etc. etc. to go around. As a society we're choking on it. A lot of gun owners take it upon themselves to get professional training. Some learn in the military. But by and large, I think it's handed down, or learned along the way. The percentage of accidental shootings versus the number of firearms is minute.

The government is obsessed with telling people what they can and can't do for their own good, because "they" know best. I'm for liberty and freedom. I'm truly sorry your friend got shot, and delighted he'll recover - but I don't want anyone telling me I have to go through more B.S. to buy a gun, or a chainsaw, or a car, or a steak knife. I'll bet more people are injured with yard tools each year than guns.

First, I also am sorry to hear about your friend and hope he makes a speedy recovery. Glad it wasn't worse.

I don't think government-imposed education will do much to prevent plain old stupidity. Please understand, I'm not saying your friends were stupid. Accidents happen. But there are a lot of people out there who can just about walk and chew gum at the same time who don't believe "it" (whatever bad thing "it" is) will happen to them.

Despite (or because of?) government-imposed sexual education classes STD's and pregnancies have gone up. Drug education has the same results.

Joining a good gun club that practices safety is one way around that.

Just my 2 cents' worth.

[Crawdaddy]

Originally Posted by Juker

I do try. Gettin' harder and harder these days. "Come, Lord Jesus."

Amen brother, i do think its gotta be tuff for the Illini these days, keep up the good fight man.

[Dirtypacman]

MA has a mandatory safety course you have to take prior to be issued any sort of license. It is worthless in my opinion. Of course there is also a mandatory Hunters Safety course if you want a hunting license.

I had to pay for the safety course, happy I don't have to pay for the Hunters Safety.. actually I am paying for it in licensing fees and hunters license fees now that I think of it.

I am happy your friend was not injured worse and hope the "friend" that had the negligent discharge learns rule #1 - don't point the gun at anything your not ready to destroy.

Maybe we can just do a citizens course on common sense and we can leave the .gov out of all of it.

[Crawdaddy]

Originally Posted by Crawdaddy

I'm wondering why we have so many special interest groups rallying behind the cause of taking our freedoms and liberties, and specific to this case, our guns, but I have never heard one of these entities argue for better education and safety class availability when it comes to firearms. It would almost make one think that incidents like the one I described above actually help their cause of scaring the hell out of the public and makes the general non-firearm owner deathly afraid of an inanimate object, especially when the story always includes the standard response from the shooter, "it just went off", making the casual observer who knows no better believe that guns are unpredictable and inherently dangerous even in expert hands.

So do you guys at least think I'm on to something here? Would you agree that their lack of action on the safety front proves that the folks that wanna take our freedom have no real interest in the "public safety" that they claim is their #1 agenda?

[H-D]

Rule 1 every gun is loaded always, rule 2 don't point guns at people

[BlackEagle]

Originally Posted by Crawdaddy

So do you guys at least think I'm on to something here? Would you agree that their lack of action on the safety front proves that the folks that wanna take our freedom have no real interest in the "public safety" that they claim is their #1 agenda?

Their #1 agenda is manipulation and control of everyone else. The ones manipulating the sheeple don't care about safety. They only care about their own power trip. IMO.

[raven818]

Easiest reply is no, to the OP's question.

[norahc]

I'll support mandatory gun training right after they implement mandatory parenting classes and the issuance of a permit to have kids. Till then, I agree with the rest that there is way too much reliance on the government to run our lives.

[Crawdaddy]

Originally Posted by norahc

I'll support mandatory gun training right after they implement mandatory parenting classes and the issuance of a permit to have kids. Till then, I agree with the rest that there is way too much reliance on the government to run our lives.

Point well taken, all in all the issue does boil down to responsibility, which unfortunately is in short supply these days, IMO.

[cpttango30]

My last time to the range I meet plenty of people teaching themselves now a days.

So many are not handing the knowledge down for one reason or another.

[BETH]

i would think anyone in their right mind who did not know anything about guns would go and find out who could show them or if there were classes. In Ct. we have to take an NRA safety course before getting permit and i am very glad i did.

[cycloneman]

Does the guy who accidently shot his buddy monkey around power lines?

he must know not to put his hand in a live breaker box? Then why would he not know to treat a weapon as tho it were loaded? Why would he point the thing at his friend? That is lack of common sense. Aint no class gona teach you that.