Should weapon training be taught in high school?

PFC David Gettman — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:18:37 -0400

My dad, standing second from the left, and his Walla Walla High School ROTC rifle team c1930. He also attended CMTC where marksmanship and military skills were taught to the students. None of these kids grew up to be mass murderers. My dad proudly served in three hot wars and one cold one during his 37 year military career and this photo shows the foundation of that honorable life.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2017 1:20 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:20:17 -0400

High school JROTC is where I had my first weapons/hunter safety course.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2017 1:22 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:22:48 -0400

Yep, I think it is a great idea! Fortunately my kids go to a school that is not scared of weapons and actually has a Trap and Skeet Team that practices every Saturday morning, is coached by the principal and takes part in shoots, both locally and regionally. All the kids have to complete the Texas Hunter Safety course and are certified at the Fort Bliss Rod and Gun Club, where they practice, prior to being allowed on the team.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Oct 5 at 2017 1:29 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:29:22 -0400

I'd vote for it except when I think about who is teaching all subjects in American schools these days. Now, it they want to hire vets who have experience in weapons training, that's another matter.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Oct 5 at 2017 1:31 PM

SGT Jim Arnold — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:31:58 -0400

absolutely. that would help with the fear of guns

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Oct 5 at 2017 1:49 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:49:22 -0400

Only if they are taking hunters safety.

Response by SrA Vern Cox made Oct 5 at 2017 2:15 PM

SrA Vern Cox — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 14:15:44 -0400

My Church helped teach my kids to fire rifles at Church Camp. They daughter earned the name "Dead-eye Roxy" for getting perfect scores.

Response by SSG Tom Pike made Oct 5 at 2017 2:44 PM

SSG Tom Pike — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 14:44:03 -0400

Many people are shocked to find out that about a dozen high schools in the Washinton DC area have rifle teams, including one in DC.

Response by SFC William "Bill" Moore made Oct 5 at 2017 3:09 PM

SFC William "Bill" Moore — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 15:09:06 -0400

In my honest opinion, removing firearms instruction from the schools was the beginning of the liberal affect in our schools systems. I know that I was taught firearms safety in Grade School and High School. I also know we did not have the inadvertent killings back then either. But, if a person really researches the statistics of firearms deaths from the '70s compared to that of 2017, combined with the amount of firearms in America and population of each era, you will get a surprising result. Firearm deaths have been on a steady decline for many decades, whereas the number of firearms, ownership and population have grown. Unfortunately, those numbers give the grabbers statistics to block teaching in the schools. Fortunately, if they were to use those numbers, they would loose the argument that guns are an issue.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2017 5:25 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 17:25:02 -0400

Most definitely, I was on the rifle team for my JROTC program and loved it.

Response by SPC Brett Curry made Oct 5 at 2017 5:29 PM

SPC Brett Curry — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 17:29:01 -0400

Yes....they will gain respect for the damage a weapon can do... and it will teach them responsibility

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Oct 5 at 2017 7:19 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 19:19:50 -0400

Honestly, I would like that assuming it was done in a safe, non-agenda pushing, constructive way. One of the things I look forward to as a parent is when my girls are old enough so that I can pass down the knowledge and skills the Marine Corps has given me.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2017 1:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 13:28:47 -0400

Absolutely NOT, Instead we need to teach our youth to coexist and respect everyone regardless of race, color or whatever and even that learning path should start from kindergarten. If we all did that , then today there would be no need to have guns.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Oct 6 at 2017 1:40 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 13:40:35 -0400

I think we should teach basic mechanical/auto skills, how to cook, plant a garden and do your laundry and other simple stuff like balancing a checkbook as well as how to shoot a rifle since apparently most of the current generation is clueless about this stuff.
Now all you kids get off my yard :^).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2017 3:12 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 15:12:01 -0400

America's greatest generation grew up like that. Up until the mid '90's it was OK to drive to high school in many small towns with a rifle in the gun rack of your truck. I grew up during that transition period, and even found out that my high school had a defunct indoor rifle range in the basement. Teaching people how to safely handle a firearm is all part of maintaining a "well regulated militia".

Response by Lt Col Mark Avery made Oct 6 at 2017 3:57 PM

Lt Col Mark Avery — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 15:57:57 -0400

Adding the shooting sports to elementary and secondary school curricula would be a great enhancement. Shooting teaches discipline, focus, concentration, precision, and many other desirable characteristics. Our experience has been that young students benefit greatly in their academic pursuits when their extracurricular activities include the shooting sports. Unfortunately, the knee-jerk reaction to school shootings and the systemic brainwashing of the academic community have made restoring such programs extremely difficult. Not long ago in Arizona where I grew up, legislators bucked the trend and restored shooting as an essential element of learning required for graduation, or at least that was how it was proposed. That legislation ought to have been taken nationwide by clear-thinking states, leaving only those driven by emotions and propaganda as places where growing citizens would be denied the core experiences that were essential to the birth of this nation.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Oct 7 at 2017 6:50 PM

LTC John Griscom — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 18:50:03 -0400

Definitely. the sooner the better. Had my first rifle, a 22, when I was 12. Boy Scouts have marksman training as a merit badge requirement and one of our local explorer post competes on a national level. The experience gives them a respect for weapons.