New Weapon Bans

**jiaguy** · 11-29-2006, 01:30 AM

A good friend of mine from Columbus Ohio just got shot by a friend who was playing with a handgun... He got hit in the chest but it missed his heart, thankfully, and collapsed a lung. Hes currently starting physical therapy. This is a reminder to other young gun owners: safety matters because it might not be your own life you accidentally take...

**Kenyth** · 11-29-2006, 01:55 PM

Stories like that anger me. Treating deadly weapons with anything but the utmost respect is foolish and results in accidents like this.

If your weapon is not in your immediate possession or on your person, it should be locked up. Keyed trigger locks are pretty effective, but aren't foolproof, especially if not used correctly. Cable locks can be overcome by someone determined enough to do so with a cutting device. Invest in a gun safe or good quality welded steel gun locker. Kids are very clever and guns are fascinating, so high security is a must. If weapons are in unsecured storage, keep the bolts, cylinders, or firing mechanisms seperate from the weapons. You can secure those somewhere else, such as a locked box or the trunk of the car.

Just as important as security is the handling of loaded weapons. It's been said and said and said again and again and again, but a loaded weapon should NEVER be pointed in the general direction of something unless you want to shoot it. Also, be aware of your surroundings beyond the room you're in. Residential walls (with the exception of brick, cinder block, and concrete) are no barrier to small arms fire. Before handling a weapon casually, you must remove the magazine, lock the action back (or open the cylinder for revolvers) and visually inspect the chamber to make sure it's cleared. Remember, the first thing every gun amatuer wants to do is pull the trigger, so this is the condition you should hand the weapon to someone else in, magazine removed and slide locked back so they too can inspect the chamber. If you get a weapon from someone that isn't in this condition, you should immediately remove the magazine and lock the slide back to inspect the chamber.

If you think I ramble on now, I havn't even started into range safety or hunting safety yet!

"I didn't know it was loaded." is a feeble excuse. It's every gun owners responsibility to prevent accidental discharges and shootings. Almost every tragedy like this is due to carelessness. If you don't want to treat deadly weapons with respect and discipline, please don't own them.

**Shelby07** · 11-29-2006, 02:29 PM

I introduced my son to handguns when he was 9. We were camping and I let him pick the shoot site. Then I asked him to explain why the site was a good one. After 3 or 4 attempts he got it right. A large clearing with a mound about 60 feet high as a backdrop. The I handed him an unloaded GP1 and asked him what he was holding. After a few answers, I told him that he was holding "death." The look on his face told me I had gotten the message across. Over the years he has learned to respect guns and the unintentional but irreversible damage they can do, and the initial fascination with them has turned into a healthy respect. He enjoys shooting but does not own, nor does he feel the need to own a gun. At the risk of sounding nonchalant, he thinks of them as no big deal.

It is my opinion that every child should be introduced to firearms at an early age. Teaching that they are "bad" is the biggest factor in building the fascination and curiosity that makes them want to "pull the trigger."

**SmokinDVM** · 11-29-2006, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by Shelby07

It is my opinion that every child should be introduced to firearms at an early age. Teaching that they are "bad" is the biggest factor in building the fascination and curiosity that makes them want to "pull the trigger."

I agree completely. I started taking my two boys hunting with me as soon as they could walk the terrain without too much help. They've developed a very healthy respect for firearms, and have never had the urge to "play" with them.

**cls515** · 11-29-2006, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by SmokinDVM

I agree completely. I started taking my two boys hunting with me as soon as they could walk the terrain without too much help. They've developed a very healthy respect for firearms, and have never had the urge to "play" with them.

I knew you would come poking your nose in this thread.

No harm intended.

**jiaguy** · 11-29-2006, 04:56 PM

well my friend isn't a kid he's 20. Ironically, he hates guns, he gets upset when we played around with bb guns. Hes from a tougher neighborhood, but he dropped out from U of Michigan last year and is attending OSU, hes not a dumb kid hes just unfortunate due to someone else's stupidity.

**cls515** · 11-29-2006, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by jiaguy

well my friend isn't a kid he's 20. Ironically, he hates guns, he gets upset when we played around with bb guns. Hes from a tougher neighborhood, but he dropped out from U of Michigan last year and is attending OSU, hes not a dumb kid hes just unfortunate due to someone else's stupidity.

No one should ever play with guns, or let someone else play with one, especially when it is loaded. They are meant to be used to kill.

**Kenyth** · 11-29-2006, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by jiaguy

well my friend isn't a kid he's 20. Ironically, he hates guns, he gets upset when we played around with bb guns. Hes from a tougher neighborhood, but he dropped out from U of Michigan last year and is attending OSU, hes not a dumb kid hes just unfortunate due to someone else's stupidity.

I understand perfectly. I've seen my share of idiots with guns. From people who keep a loaded gun under the mattress, in their purse, or in a glass gun cabinet with kids around, to hunting buddies with shotguns who keep sweeping the barrel across my midsection as they turn around (I had to leave a hunting outing once because of an argument stemming from this. The guy thought I was being a "wuss".). Last of course are the idiots who point weapons at people for shits and grins thinking it's funny (I left quickly when some friends dipship, drunk, older cousin who was target shooting kept pointing his .22 pistol at me because he found my reaction amusing. He too thought I was being a "wuss".). I also knew someone who blew off a part of his foot, including the big toe, with a 12 gauge while climbing a fence. I'll bet THAT was a fun walk back to the car!

**CoventryCat86** · 11-29-2006, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by cls515

I knew you would come poking your nose in this thread.

No harm intended.

Yeah but he spared us the left-wing spin.

I was waiting for him to blame the Republicans once again like he did when he claimed that the anti-smoking movement was a Republican one and not because of liberal do-gooders.

That was his best one yet!