Political Crossfire Forums

TheGirlNextDoor · Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 22608

Not gun control. Gun safety. As in.. if you are a gun owner what do you do to insure that your firearms are not misused by either yourself or someone else?

How many here have taken a gun safety and/or hunters safety, etc..?

Otacon · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:28 pm Post subject:

I haven't taken any classes. My dad has taught me proper gun safety, so I don't have to worry about it.

Wolverine · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 11048 Location: Podunk, Colorado

I took a hunters safety class two years ago, before getting my lincense to kill. :twisted:

RooK · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 2006 Location: SE Kentucky

Never took a gun saftey course, I was taught use and so on by my Grandfather. I did take a hunter saftey course though, a requirement for obtaining a hunting license in Kentucky if you want to hunt on property besides your own.

I've made it a habit of checking the chamber of every firearm I pickup before I do something with it. Even if it's one I leave unloaded in storage. I also keep all guns unloaded except those I expect I'll need within a short amount of notice. Usually this amounts to a handgun or two, and a small rifle for pest/vermin. I don't have to worry about children or anyone besides family (grown adults who own their own guns) accessing them, so I'm not too worried.

TheGirlNextDoor · Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 22608

I have a gun safe, gun (trigger) locks and I've also taken hunters safety.

I also have children and they both have been taught that guns are not toys. Both of them will take hunters safety when they are old enough - they are 3rd and 4th grade now, so it won't be much longer.

They have a healthy respect for firearms, as should anyone.

Wolverine · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 11048 Location: Podunk, Colorado

TheGirlNextDoor wrote: I have a gun safe, gun (trigger) locks and I've also taken hunters safety.

I also have children and they both have been taught that guns are not toys. Both of them will take hunters safety when they are old enough - they are 3rd and 4th grade now, so it won't be much longer.

They have a healthy respect for firearms, as should anyone.
But but but.... kids + guns = DEATH!!!1111 :duh1:

Thrilla · Joined: 23 May 2005 Posts: 22314 Location: Sin City

Otacon wrote: I haven't taken any classes. My dad has taught me proper gun safety, so I don't have to worry about it. while i see your point.... i would advise you to always worry about it.
along with taking just about every civilian safety course available ( i had to in order to qualify for my licenses) i have been a primary marksmanship instructor, and avid hunter, and at one time .. a competition shooter ( large bore 1000). i have handled firearms for around 45 years.. i started in my youth.. when it was commonplace for a child to know how to handle a weapon properly.

i keep all ,but one, of my firearms under lock and key... all ,but one, have clear chambers.... a clear chamber , and the correct procedure for ensuring this, are of utmost importance... my lone loaded weapon is for home defense..and is kept in plain sight... its been in plain sight for so long its pretty much part of the furniture.....

all of my children have been through safety courses..as well as being taught principles of firearm safety by me...not only are they safety minded.. but they are good shooters.... my 10 year old daughter has a knack for firearms... she is already shooting 3" groups at 150 with her pea-shooter :-D... she even outshoots her old man from time to time :cry:

Winchester · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 7644 Location: Montana

Have taken hunter's safety, all my kids have taken hunter's safety. I also volunteer for the local hunter's safety course.

I do have most of my guns in a safe except my trap shotguns which I leave in lockable cases cause it's handier to get them as I shoot them every week. Ditto for my hunting rifles during hunting season.

lilwolf · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 14445 Location: idaho

Hunter safety courses, all types of useage training classes, trigger locks are a good thing. All my guns have them except my pistol I happen to be using and have ready. I took a lot of military training courses and all as well. Also a long line of Idaho hunters have taught all of us in my family safety.

PricklySponge · Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 9475

My uncle has his guns in a safe.

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 15424 Location: Florida

TheGirlNextDoor wrote: Not gun control. Gun safety. As in.. if you are a gun owner what do you do to insure that your firearms are not misused by either yourself or someone else?

How many here have taken a gun safety and/or hunters safety, etc..?

Well, I keep all of my ammunition locked up. I keep my one loaded pistol in a combination locked guncase under my bed. I learned gun safety from my father, as well as my grandfather (who was a NRA certified firearms instructor), and took two hunter's safety courses--one before the first time I went hunting, the second time as part of a JROTC course.

I have a strict no going in my closet (where the guns are kept) with my boys (also helps keep them out of Christmas presents), and I allow the boys to see and look at the guns (in my presence) whenever they want (and if I have time). They have taken me up on this a few times, and it seems to keep their curiousity factor low.

lilwolf · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 14445 Location: idaho

Perdidochas, Good move on teaching your boys and your method. I did the same thing when my sons were young and it did end their curiosity and taught them about safety. Excellent way of doing it. Wish more people would take the time to teach their children safety and what weapons really are. :-D :-D :-D

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 15424 Location: Florida

lilwolf wrote: Perdidochas, Good move on teaching your boys and your method. I did the same thing when my sons were young and it did end their curiosity and taught them about safety. Excellent way of doing it. Wish more people would take the time to teach their children safety and what weapons really are. :-D :-D :-D

That's how I was taught. One lesson that really brought the danger of guns home, was when my father shot a .410 (fairly mild shotgun round for those not in the know) at a 2x4 about 5 ft from us. The 2x4 was almost cut in half. I was much more careful with it after that.

TNBiologist · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 962 Location: Tennessee

All but one of my guns are stored in a safe. Not expensive but its lag bolts into the wall studs and has two circular locks on the door. The one gun that is not in the safe in in the nightstand next to my bed in a holster. My wife and I don't have kids yet and neither one if us is going to play with it. When we leave town it also goes into the safe.

I have had the state hunter safety course twice (boy scouts and required by my Jr. High School) and both my wife and I are looking into getting our CCW permits which would require us to take a safety class.