South Carolina Bill Creates A High School Gun Class

[Redfairen]

Since the shooting in Newton, Connecticut, some lawmakers have introduced legislation to allow teachers and school officials to carry firearms. But one South Carolina lawmaker is taking the NRA’s “more guns will keep schools safe” argument even further, with a new bill that would teach teenagers how to shoot.

Sen. Lee Bright (R), the sponsor of the legislation, argues that “the more guns we have the safer we are.” “Had there been someone in Newtown with a weapon, had it been a teacher, they could have stopped it early,” Bright explained. His bill would allow schools to offer gun training at an off-site location:

Bright says he got the idea after hearing from older constituents who “remembered the days” when students could join a rifle team or learn about shooting during a school day. “We’ve got football, we’ve got basketball, and we’ve got baseball,” says Bright. “I think if they had a hunting team, it would be a great idea.”

The class, dubbed the “South Carolina Gun Safety Program” course, would focus on learning how to properly use a firearm, safety techniques, and the history of the 2nd amendment and the right to bear arms, according to Bright. “The more training we can get on the history of our nation, the founding of our nation, the better,” he says.


http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/01/22/1476831/south-carolina-bill-creates-a-high-school-gun-class/

[Angry Dragon]

1. How come they always leave out the word 'REGULATED' ??

[hooverville29]

3. Please. It's rude of you even to bring that up.

Nm

[Angry Dragon]

5. Then I have been successful

[hooverville29]

8. If only mentioning it would make them take it up seriously

Nm

[hooverville29]

2. Of course, and what else where else.

[dballance]

4. Well, I actually don't disagree with the larger concept of learning gun safety...

and how to use guns properly. I wouldn't even object to a rifle team if there are actually still high school rifle teams. I think it would be great to expose kids to firearms. Teach them how to responsibly handle those weapons and how to be safe with them. Of course, I will admit as a person who grew up on a farm with guns I was astonished about how ignorant most kids were about firearms when we had a gun safety course in high school I am biased. I do fall on the side of education though.

I don't think it would create any more Adam Lanzas than that are already going to be out there.

What I don't approve of is the implied indoctrination that the Senator wants to include along with the gun safety part of the course. I'm not sure who could objectively write a course to teach the 2nd Amendment. Neither the NRA nor the gun control advocate organizations. Hell, even the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Assoc. Justice Scalia seem to have some differences of opinion on the 2nd Amendment.

[lynne]

6. I'm all for education and guns are no exception -

- let's face it, we teach them how to handle other things that can be dangerous to them. Why not guns?

At the very least it will teach them gun safety, to have respect for the weapon, and remove some of the gun-fantasy that is created by video games and movies. I see that as a good thing.

[hooverville29]

9. You know all 'guest lecturers' and 'assistants' will be from local NRA & gun shops

Nm

[hooverville29]

10. You know very well this'll be a class on 2nd amendment rights and how

to shop for various weapons. There'll be trips to firing ranges to teach 'safety' while getting the kids all fired up, so to speak. If you don't know that, you don't know South Carolina.

[lynne]

11. I know enough about South Carolina -

- to know that quite a few kids are raised around guns without access to gun safety classes. They go hunting or target shooting with dad or big brother and they only learn whatever that person knows or feels is important enough to tell them. The rest of their info comes from friends, TV, movies, and video games.

Gun classes are expensive. I know as I was looking for some for my son. About $90. - $125. for each class where I live. Classes are given on different levels - introductory, basic, and advanced - and for different type weapons. To offer this in school would allow children to get an education on gun safety that they may never be able to otherwise afford.

NRA certified teachers? Probably unless there is a local organization that does the same thing. Don't care as long as they can teach safety. A class on 2nd amendment rights? I'd sure think that would be included as well as local and state gun laws. The 2nd amendment is what it is. SCOTUS will interpret it as they see fit and I would hope that would be taught, too.

[snooper2]

7. remembering some of the idiots that were in my woodshop class, this should be an amazing success

LOL