A Modest Proposal

[thankGod]

Old School, it's not that I totally disagree that such training should be provided, it's the licensing the right part that I object to.

I do have a counter proposal though.

Include a requirement for firearms training in all school curricula, right from pre-school (What the heck is that? If it's school, how can it be pre-school? It's indoctrination in the guise of organized babysitting, that's what it is.) on up. Start with the simple things, just like you would teaching a kid about a new puppy - "This is not a dangerous thing, but treat it badly and it will hurt you." on up to organized rifle and pistol teams at the high school level (like we useta had) and by college we will be fielding some great Olympic shooting teams.

Most here are probably too young to remember when schools had shooting teams, or when HEARST NEWSPAPERS sponsored the "Hearst Citizen Rifle Teams" but it's a time from yesteryear that we should return to.

No licensing. Good training.

I was on a shooting team in high school. They were only .22 rifles, but the guns, ammo, shooters and the range were all on campus.

Now, a child cannot even point an index finger with his thumb extended. As TAM expressed

what government can grant you, it can also take away.

[OldSchool]

Old School, it's not that I totally disagree that such training should be provided, it's the licensing the right part that I object to.

I can't argue against a sensitivity about licensing.

I do have a counter proposal though.
Include a requirement for firearms training in all school curricula, right from pre-school (What the heck is that? If it's school, how can it be pre-school? It's indoctrination in the guise of organized babysitting, that's what it is.) on up. Start with the simple things, just like you would teaching a kid about a new puppy - "This is not a dangerous thing, but treat it badly and it will hurt you." on up to organized rifle and pistol teams at the high school level (like we useta had) and by college we will be fielding some great Olympic shooting teams.

In a day and age when we can't even have wrestling teams (yes, I lettered in more than one sport), this is gonna be tough. Fortunately, ROTC still seems to be healthy, at least in this area, but it's not enough about proficiency.

Don't get me started on compulsory kindergarten. I never went, because it didn't exist there, then. No one has ever thought I was undereducated because of it. (But that's another long, and probably uninteresting, story.)

Most here are probably too young to remember when schools had shooting teams, or when HEARST NEWSPAPERS sponsored the "Hearst Citizen Rifle Teams" but it's a time from yesteryear that we should return to.
No licensing. Good training.

We didn't have shooting teams, because it would have been too expensive, and most of the interested kids were out hunting every week. Yes, we also had guns in gun racks at school.

I believe I understand what you're saying. Just wasn't sure how to take it.