Gun handling = more responsibility?

[badshotbob]

I started a thread recently on the weakness of today's kids to hopefully uncover a fewtruths - one being the obvious as the question was posed out of total curiosity. The other being the basis of responsibility, which I had hoped to develop a stimulating bit of conversation beforecertain events <EDIT> shut the place down. I try to refrain from getting bitter out here, but after reading through six pages of relevant discourse superceded by pure crap (nothing against youCP or AJ), I thought I'd throw this thought out here once again to get feedback.

So, with that said, the point of this thread:

I also believe that kids that hunt or learn to handle firearms from the proper source are more likely to obtain a higher level of responsibility than say kids who are not challenged by much more than a video game. I'd love to see some stats on that.

What do you think - can proper firearm/hunting traininglead to a more responsible life? I think so.

Another reason I pose this question is to gain more understanding on why the "hunting crowd" among us see things so differently - in other words, where does teaching responsibility originate?

[boysda]

interesting, Bob. I gotta say yes, it does teach more resopnsibility. anytime we can rip our kids away from the damn xbox and teach them to be responsible hunters, and to handle firearms respectfully, it makes them a better adult. same goes for any responsibility we teach them, whether it's getting homework done on time, or blocking out the defensive tackle on a dive.

our character is the sum total of our accumulated responses.

[Mastevt]

I've been working with both my kids now for about 3 years on the safety of gun handling. I take them to my gun range and let them shoot the 22, and once in awhile the 22-250, I'm very strict on the range, and they do their absoulute best behavior when there. My oldest is 12 and has ADHD, but does much better than his younger brother of 8 on consentrating of handling the gun, and being safe, but both are very safe and responsible. Does it make them a better person, hard to say, Both are getting almost straight A's at school, but I don't think it's related to my teaching them gun safety. Will they ever pick up a gun at home? I hope not, and hopefully there won't be an opportunity to do so because I keep ALL my guns locked up at ALL times, because of friends of theirs that come over. No need to take chances. I also believe it's part of the childs maturity. My oldest has gone hunting with mesince he was 7, He took his first turkey then, but I don't think his younger brother is quite there yet on the maturity level, but is close, I will be taking him this year for his first turkey hunt. So it all depends on the child, how much they absorb, and are willing to practice it, but I'm not sure if it will carry over in the real world, hopefully the patience I have in instilling the importance of safety in gun handling will spill over in their lives and use it somehow with everyday life. Too bad we can't just try both ways by turning back the clock and analizing which was the best way to teach our children, and then choose the one that was best, all we can do at best is choose a path and hope it holds merit and hits some grey matter along the way. Scott.

[hillbillyhunter1]

Bob,

I apologize for my part in that other thread.


As far as resposibility,Safe handling of firearms teaches andhelps add to the overall responsible attitude of kids when in the field and of course this is critical. But I'm not sure it teaches responsibility in other areas.

One thing it does do though, as I believe someone else might have inferred, is create more "rounded" individuals as far as their self-confidenceand abilities throughout their life. Kind of like learning to drive a stick-shift car or operate farm machinery. Because I was taught that at a young age, I am confident I could drive about any piece of equipment in a "have to" type situation and that is something that is good to have as you never know when those abilities may be called upon. Same with guns, if you're taught to use them responsibly, then you'll never be "Afraid" of them and will be able to use them effectivelyas the tool that they were intended.