ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

UNDER THE  RIGHT CONDITIONS,  KIDS AND FIREARMS DO MIX

AUBURN,  June 11---In the aftermath of the tragedy in Littleton, Colo., some Americans are convinced kids and firearms are a deadly combination.

Yet, a group of 4-H professionals and volunteers are working to dispel such notions. Under the right supervision and encouragement, they believe, kids and firearms can be an effective means of teaching valuable lessons in discipline and personal responsibility.

Covington County Extension Agent Charles Simon is one such believer.  As one who has been exposed to firearms all of his life, he believes there is another side to the story that seldom is told.

“Media accounts typically don’t show the discipline at adult-supervised target shooting, they don’t show legitimate hunting, and they don’t show the artistry of long-rifle building.”

“In fact, the media often seems preoccupied about only one facet of firearms: killing.  No wonder there are problems with 'kids and guns': when it comes to firearms, kids are exposed to no other images but these.”

Sam Gladden, a Chilton County 4-H adult volunteer who has been involved with the Alabama 4-H Shooting Sports Competition for the past six years, agrees with Simon. He is a passionate believer in the value of children becoming involved in adult-supervised shooting sports.

“I’d be more concerned to see a kid sitting around in his spare time playing a video game or watching a violent video, such as Natural Born Killers, than to see a group of kids interacting in a supervised activity such as shooting sports,” Gladden says.

“This violence we’ve seen in places like Littleton stems from kids who seldom interact with adults and other kids in supervised settings.”

Gladden believes shooting sports is a perfect means to help youngsters grow up to become responsible adults.

“Shooting sports can benefit a young person in a variety of ways besides marksmanship,” he says.   “For example, during the six years I’ve been coaching kids in 4-H-sponsored events, I’ve even seen their grades improve.”

“After all, there’s so much to shooting sports besides firing a gun. It teaches discipline and concentration – you’ll never be able to use a firearm until you’ve acquired these two traits.”

Along with discipline and concentration comes teamwork.  In 4-H shooting events, kids serve together on teams, and Gladden believes this fosters a stronger sense of cooperation among young people.

On top of the personal skills, he says volunteers even manage to squeeze in some physics and other forms of science.

“A firing range is the perfect physics laboratory,” Gladden says.  “Everything you do in shooting sports relates to physics.  You even get a little about biology, because when you’re teaching kids position shooting, they need to know how bones and muscles relate in the body.”

In addition, Gladden says, the section on black-powder muzzle loading teaches a thing or two about chemistry, since the youngsters must know the right chemical combination of powder to make the shell fire.

One youngster who seems to have profited from shooting sports is Kari Baldwin, a senior at Chilton County High School.  Baldwin, whose interest in shooting first began with 4-H sports competition, already has garnered several national championships and has even broken a few shooting records.

Under the right conditions, she says, kids and firearms not only mix but also can profit a young person immensely.

“It really all depends on the person,” Baldwin says. “The kids who abuse firearms are the ones who talk back and don’t show  respect to adults.  As for me, I respect adults, and I respect people around me – I’m responsible.”
 

SOURCE:  JIM LANGCUSTER, Extension communications specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-5686.