Colorado middle school teaches gun safety

[mysticmac]

Source: Guns brought into Colorado City classroom to promote gun safety

COLORADO CITY -
Students at Craver Middle School in Colorado City spent the past two days learning everything about safely handling guns -- where they've come from, why we have them, and how to shoot them.

"We're teaching them about the firearms so they are familiar with them, they can be safe with them," program coordinator Jim Heath said.

"It's a lot of guns to have in a school, especially because you don't have this many just at your house or something," 8th grade student Courtney Proctor said.

Heath, a state coordinator of Project Appleseed, brought the three day program to Craver Middle School. The course aims to teach people across the country how to fire weapons accurately and safely, with a foundation of American history.

"I think that it's better for them to have a respect for it [and] know how to handle it," Heath said. "Not that they should, but that they are aware about the firearm. It's not, 'Oh, what's this? What can we do with this?'"

Many students like 8th grader Courtney Proctor already had experience. "I feel OK, because I've been shooting a lot when I was younger with my parents," she said.

Volunteers from Project Appleseed and the NRA worked with the students to eliminate the element of fear associated with guns. It's the group's third consecutive year bringing the program to Craver Middle School.

"I think it's pretty cool, it's something that you don't get to see everyday. It's something that you just get to come in and say 'Wow, look at all these just nice, awesome firearms,'" 7th grade student Tristin Baker said.

Baker said only halfway into the class he had already taken away an important message.

"You should never be afraid of a gun, never, ever," Baker said. "You should have confidence around the guns, you should say, 'this is a gun, we've gotta be careful with this.' Even though we should never trust guns, we should always be careful with them."

These skills will be put to the test tomorrow as students will spend the entire day at a gun range, this time, with loaded guns.

 

[ThatOneDude]

That's outstanding, education is the key to fixing a lot of problems.

 

[mysticmac]

I remember I doing archery in gym class in middle school and high school. The school provided bows were cheap plastic recurves for the most part. My middle school did have a handful of Indian compounds though which is what my dad got me started with.

Once a year, my middle school would allow us to bring in our own bows for a school wide tournament. I grew up in a very rural area, so a lot of us were already into hunting (we had buck pools). At this point, I already had a bigger compound. I was probably pulling around a 45 lbs draw. All three years of middle school, the finals of the tournament were me and my friend. I finally got him in 8th grade.

They didn't let us do firearms though.

 

[Lord Vutulaki]

That's outstanding, education is the key to fixing a lot of problems.

@Sp!inty when a topic involving guns appears here

 

[BJTT_Pella]

I think this program is a great idea. I have had firearms in my home since before my kids were born. It is just something they have been around since they were born.

Like any parent, I was worried about what could happen. My son was very curious, my daughter, not so much. I figured that the best way to take care of that curiosity was to involve them in everything. Especially cleaning. My son could strip and clean my AR by the time he was eight. Anytime he asked to clean them it was always one of those moments i didnt want to pass up and I really think it paid off.

 

[KiminCO]

We are the Colorado state coordinators for Project Appleseed, which put on this event. We are a nationwide non-profit group that teaches traditional rifle marksmanship skills, but mainly we teach about our shared American heritage through stories of April 19, 1775, the battles of Lexington and Concord, the shot heard ‘round the world, and brave individuals that sacrificed to secure our liberties.


This was our third year at Craver Middle School; the community and parents support this curriculum. The school runs an “intensives” week. The students this year had about 7 choices for their intensive. This class, the most popular, turns away students each year. The parents must opt their child into the class.


We teach American history and include hands-on activities to engage the students. They heard about the foods of the time and got to make and eat hardtack. They heard about medical care of that time and got to do an “amputation.” They learned of the flags and their symbolism and were able to create their own flags representing what’s important in their lives. They learned that kids were often tasked with the job of making cartridges and were able to make cartridges with wax bullets and coffee grounds (for powder). Some of us wore historic costumes.


Yes, we did bring guns into the classroom, both historic and modern, which is permitted for educational purposes. No ammo was brought into the room. Gun safety was discussed repeatedly. For a short period of time they were allowed to handle the guns, which were then cased and put away. The student had to ask to see one. The instructors handed the firearm to the student, showing them it was clear and the student had to check it. They had to take it from us and demonstrate that their finger was off the trigger. They were allowed to dry fire after asking permission to do so, all while we stood right over them and the muzzles were in a safe direction. They then handed the firearm back to us and we opened the action and confirmed together that it was clear before laying it back on the table. They were taught that they should never handle a firearm unless an adult demonstrates it is clear before handing it to them and that the muzzle always stays in a safe direction, even if unloaded.


At the range, the safety rules were discussed over and over. You would have been proud to see how these kids took to those rules. We had a large number of instructors and volunteers on top of the kids, almost a 2:1 ratio, and had donations of ammo from the community.


Please check out Project Appleseed and get your family to an event. It is appropriate for the new shooter and for those that have been shooting 40 years. All will learn new skills. Project Appleseed Home

 

[KiminCO]

This is the follow-up story: Middle school students practice shooting loaded guns

 

[Team Bisping]

This is a step in the right direction, though the sooner guns are completely outlawed the better

I did fencing at school and uni, i've a mean lunge. Though i'm fucked in a street fight.

 

[Jesus X]

I remember our school teaching us golf with metal clubs ,3 people went to the hospital.