I read an article today from the Post Bulletin in Rochester, Minnesota regarding a program offered by the Southern Minnesota Sportsman’s’ Club that allows youths to learn hunting and firearms safety. To me, this seems like an outstanding program to not only get children involved in hunting, but also to teach them proper firearms safety and more importantly, the benefits of good conservation. I recall getting my hunting permit in Kansas when I was 14, but the path was much more mundane and did not include any hands-on experience. Looking back, it now seems like a joke to me that those wanting to receive a hunting license need only pass a written test and withstand a few lectures from a worn out city park ranger.

The benefits of being able to handle a shotgun or pistol first-hand and to actually see how they work in action (participants were given the opportunity to fire several rounds of .22 caliber at fixed targets) cannot be overstated. The field exercises were preceded by several indoors classes where experts were given the chance to teach the boys and girls in attendance the safe handling of firearms, conservation and local and state hunting laws. Those in attendance who passed the written exam AND the field test, were given the privilege of carrying a hunting permit. So, hats off to the Southern Minnesota Sportsman’s Club. I can only hope that my city would adopt such a proactive stance on firearms safety and conservation.

What do you think of this program? Does your state or a private entity offer something similar?

Below are some additional resources related to this post:

Get Your Federal Firearms License 2009
Teens and Rural Sports: Rodeos, Horses, Hunting, and Fishing (Youth in Rural North America)
Benjamin Firearm Safety FSN-1 Firearm Safety Net

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