Armando Lopez
02/09/2012
Gun Safety
The number
one rule about guns was to always treat a gun as if it was loaded. Never aim a
gun at someone even though it’s not loaded because you never know what can
happen. This is how we end up with all these accidents we hear on the news
today. Everyone has their own opinions about owning a gun or carrying a gun on
them. Many people believe guns are terrible weapon that creates crime as oppose
to deters them (I previously held this belief). After some experience with a
gun, my opinions of them changed drastically. If we had the proper training
about guns and the proper use, guns would really come in handy if we were
involved in certain situations like burglary, robbery, rape or even protecting
another.
In the state
of Illinois offers a training courses to residents that wish to obtain a
firearm must have a permit. Knowing the rules and regulations of the state you
live in are vital, especially when it comes to something as dangerous and
something with such heavy consequences. One of the guidelines of ownership is
to be 21, but if you are under 21 you must have a written consent from parent
or legal guardian. If there was a weapon on you with no permit or written
consent from a parent or legal guardian you can be arrested and fined.
One of the
stories that inspired me to write about gun safety is a story about a classmate
of mine that I went to high school with that was killed by her boyfriend. Ryan
Fantasia was the boyfriend of two years or so accidently shot Hayley. On a Friday
afternoon noon Hayley had a break from the college she went to visit her
boyfriend prior to the shooting. Ryan claimed he wanted to learn about guns on
how to take guns apart and put them back together. Ryan’s story changed several
times between the immediate report and the later interrogations. He also had illegal
possession of the handgun and was 20 years of age at the time. Either way if he
actually knew the proper safety measures safety of the fire arm he had the
supposed accident would not have happened. Nineteen year old Hayley was
standing in the way as Ryan’s gun fired and hit Hayley in the chest. My
question is what was Ryan doing with a gun and who was the owner to that gun
because he was only twenty years old? There are a lot of questions that want to
be answered. Ryan was only charged with 2 counts of obstruction.
Here is a link for more information: http://chicagoheights.patch.com/articles/heights-police-fantasia-was-trying-to-be-a-gun-guy
Accidents
can happen, but people need to always be careful when cleaning and shooting a
gun even though they have had practice and classes on using a firearm. Proper gun
safety is the best way to prevent shootings like in Hayley Pelocks story. There
should be more instruction and practice in these classes that Illinois offers. When
owning a gun make sure you know all the rules and a reminder of the number one
rule is always treat a gun as if it was loaded.
Being the only state to not have a conceal and carry law and being an advocate on the matter I find this very interesting. Given that the law has not prevented any gun crimes (and it probably would not have prevented all that many had it existed, still)but i digress. I think it is very important that gun knowledge be stressed though. So much so that I think it should be a requirement. I know as most of our age group now (born after 1980, 81?) has to participate in a hunters safety course before being able to legally hunt in Illinois. I think the same should be required to own a weapon. To many that will seem ridiculous, and to that I say, if a short inconvenient class is all that stands in the way of a conceal and carry law, I say bring on the class. Especially since it will educate more people on guns and gun safety, making their use more safe. Its something I would be on board with, especially if it can prevent accidental deaths such as you discussed.
ReplyDeleteGun safety classed should definitely be something that anyone with a gun or purchasing a gun should have to go through. When i was 12 my dad put me through my first hunting safety class which was essentially a gun safety class. Since then i have been around guns and so have all three of my sister. We know the rules and how we should and should not handle them. A lot of this is basic knowledge even if the gun is not loaded, like you said, you NEVER point it at anyone. My class was not even that long and i think it was very benificial because if it came down to me having to use a gun to defend myself during a burglary or what not i would know what to do and wouldnt have to think twice about it.
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe that gun control and gun safety is important. People should have to not only go through training courses, but they should have to continue their education of guns if they want to keep their license. While this won't solve all problems, it will definitely help to keep some guns out of the wrong person's hands. I also agree that you should have to be 21 to have a gun...18 is just too young (unless of course you're in the military and have that experience).
ReplyDeleteI once heard that a good amount of gun shootings result from the person's own gun, not the gun of another. If people are educated, this kind of thing is less likely to happen.
I think its nuts how anyone who is 21 can purchase a gun without going through any safety course. I absolutely believe everyone that wants to own a gun should go through a gun safety class. People buy guns thinking they can handle them and know everything that they need to know but freak accidents happen more often then you think. It wouldn't hurt to take a weekend out of a person's life who wants to be a gun owner so they can learn about gun safety and everything about their gun. It could save many lives and even their own.
ReplyDeleteThis is one subject that needs more attention. Guns can and will kill innocent people in the wrong hands of an untrained individual. Treating a firearm as if is always loaded is very good advice. No one should pick up a gun if they have never had any experience with a fire arm. Special training must always be given to any individual that wants to know more about them. Guns are not toys, they are weapons they can kill you in a heart beat. I too owne several fire arms and shooting is my best stress releaver. I have been shooting since I was 16 years old, and gun safty is always very important.
ReplyDeleteI too had a friend of mine killed by a hand gun, that he was playing with. This is a very serious subject that needs more attention. I would go as far to say that a class needs to be given about gun safty in High Schools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!