Back when I was in junior high, kids could shoot .22 rimfires in the basement rifle range of the school. When I was in high school, there was actually a rifle team that competed against other schools. I would also routinely hunt small game on school grounds after school, and some teachers even enjoyed the fact that I hunted on school grounds!
Those days are gone, replaced with fear and misunderstanding about firearms. But there's a chance fear can be eliminated and misunderstandings can be corrected with hunter safety training in schools. It's a big topic, but one that has been suggested by a member of our local school board. I fully support it.
Check out my March 2 column in the Jamestown Gazette, "Hunter Education... in Schools?" It's a big topic, from individual firearms understanding and safety to the job hunters do in helping manage wildlife for the public. Think about it. The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, and it would help people to appreciate what hunters do for wildlife. Don't say it can't work, because some schools are already doing it!
To read other blog posts from MISSION: HUNTER, CLICK HERE to go to www.EverydayHunter.com.