Firearms seem to be at the core of many issues.  Many laws have been enacted to try to put a stop to unnecessary gun violence.  We have seen how gun control legislation has impacted gun violence... it hasn't.  It simply places firearms in the hands of the people who disregard the law and leaves those who follow it, defenseless.  It is imperative that we stop children from taking up arms to harm their peers.  While legislators are working on solutions, we need to institute a firearms safety week for 5th grade students to instill within them proper firearms handling and correct clearing techniques. 

     If children learn these invaluable skills early, there is reason to believe accidental discharges will be significantly reduced.  Furthermore, with students seeing the severity of what firearms are capable of, drastic occurrences will happen less frequently.  No one wants to think their child is going to a school that could potentially become a war zone.  If students know how to deal with firearms, we have more people capable of handling and clearing them if friends expose their weapons to their peers.  The more exposure and familiarity students have with firearms, the less mystery they hold.  Less mystery leads to less fear.  Less fear from the masses leaves less room for a potential shooter to hold an entire building captive with one gun.   

When is it a bad idea to teach children how to create a safe environment?  Regardless of political agenda, people need to learn how to properly unload and secure a firearm, and they should learn how to do so at a young age.  If children are knowledgeable about unloading, safely handling, and securing firearms, then we have exponentially increased the number of people who are looking for safety hazards surrounding firearms.  We need to protect our children, and keeping our weapons secured works at home.  However, our children may encounter weapons in a friend’s house.  Though children should never touch someone’s weapon, they would at least know what to do to increase their chances of safety in such an event if this were taught in schools.  Education makes for a safer community.    

     I acknowledge that teaching proper firearm training isn't ideal for everyone, however as with sex education, parents can opt their children out.  Also, firearm safety training can invite individuals who wouldn't have been interested in weapons before to potentially take up arms.  As with everything, there are risks.  However, the rewards here greatly outweigh the risks. 

     Presently, of the people I know, the individuals with firearm training feel that training is needed.  Those without any firearm training feel that legislation is needed.  Those without knowledge need laws.  Why do we need a law to tell us how to handle guns?  It hasn’t worked in the past, why should we think it will work now?  We need TRAINING!  We need knowledge!  Knowledge is power.  Let us empower our kids to dare to be safe!