Kids learn how to handle firearms safely at shooting range

The Connecticut Post ^ | 5/9/2004 | Puppage

[Puppage]

Ten-year-old Michael Cantafio of Milford never handled a real firearm until Saturday.

Shannon Anderson, 9, of Fairfield had, but was interested in learning more about firearm safety.

The two got what they were looking for and more during the first free children's firearms safety course at the Bridgeport Shooting Range, 1918 Stratford Ave.

"Our role is to educate as many people as possible on the safety of firearms," said Jamie Keever, the range manager. "I always say it's not the gun that hurts people, it's the people behind the gun."

So on Saturday morning, Keever and Jeff DiStasio, a firearms instructor spent more than an hour with the two fourth-graders showing them how to safely load, point and fire a revolver, semiautomatic and a rifle. They began the course using plastic bullets.

"You always want to keep the muzzle pointed away from everything," DiStasio told Anderson. "So what should you do when you come upon a gun?"

"Tell a grown-up," Anderson replied.

"And if there's no grown-up around?"

"Contact the police," she said.

Before long Shannon moved from the classroom to the range where the plastic bullets were replaced with .22 caliber live rounds.

"Shannon's shot before," said Roger Anderson, who frequents the range. Anderson pointed out that his wife, Cathy, shot in competition "when she was Shannon's age."

"I think it's very important that children realize guns aren't toys and how dangerous they are," Anderson said. "But if you are taught how to handle them safely, you can enjoy them in a competition."

Safety was on Phyllis Cantafio's mind. She brought Michael to make sure he understood how dangerous a gun can be.

"I don't like guns. I don't want them in the house but I want him educated on how to handle them safely," she said.

Michael was itching to shoot the three weapons. Unfortunately, he had to get a rain check because he had a scheduled baseball game.

Shannon twice fired the semiautomatic but shied away from the revolver and rifle.

"We'll probably conduct the [children's] course every three months or so," Keever said. "If more people are interested, we'll do it more often."

Persons interested can contact the Bridgeport Shooting Range at 330-9772.

[Puppage]

Great idea, and it was actually reported objectively. If the left says that education is what's needed to stop drug abuse, aids, etc. then why do they hem & haw when it comes to implementing that very same reasoning to guns?

[G.Mason]

Better watch out! Common sense isn't politically correct.

[Blood of Tyrants]

"I don't like guns. I don't want them in the house but I want him educated on how to handle them safely," she said.

At least she is so rabidly anti-gun that she puts her children at risk should they ever get around a gun.

[VoiceOfBruck]

Michael was itching to shoot the three weapons.

Her son seems to have turned out normal anyway.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Ain't that the truth.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I started my kids at 4 or 5. Pellet guns then 22 cal. then on up. They can safely disassemble, clean, and shoot most any firearm. My 24 year old daughter can hit a gnat at 50 feet with any of my handguns or rifles. My 23 year old son is a good shot too.

[dd5339]

Ping!

Semper Fi

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Very important stuff, especially in this age of paintball and AirSoft, where kids get the idea it's a good idea to point and shoot at each other. That's all great fun, but respect for firearms needs to be instilled, rather urgently.

A friend's 12 year old recently took his AirSoft, pointed it at his mom and clicked the trigger as a joke. She barked at him, of course, but he just smirked and said "It's not even loaded." bzzzzzt ...Wrong answer. First, all guns are loaded. Second, if this kid respects nothing else, get him to respect firearms. His next "joke" might not be so funny.

[theDentist]

Tsk tsk tsk. What's next? Teaching children to avoid the casual use of drugs?

[Puppage]

she is so rabidly anti-gun..

My wife was the same. However, she was intelligent enough to decide to come shooting with me and actually learn about guns, shooting, etc. She found (like most I take shooting for the first time) that she actually liked it. So much so that now she has a CCW.

[Shooter 2.5]

Teaching kids High Power Rifle at my gun club. Yes, those are AR's with .223 ammo at 100 yards.

[Joe Brower]

[Shooter 2.5]

The girl's 11 years old and she beat some adults at steel plates. She's shooting an IDPA stage in the picture. I was the range safety officer but I gave that job to her dad so I could take the pictures. She's shooting a Browning Hi-Power in 9MM with full loads. No wimpy stuff for her especially for the plates.

[Conspiracy Guy]

The picture is a RED X. When my daugher was 12 she bagged her first whitetail with my Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 Mag.

[Shooter 2.5]

Right click and hit view image. I changed hosts so I could post more pictures.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Still nothing.

[Vigilantcitizen]

I see the pic.

[Shooter 2.5]

Can you delete this post? The picture is too big. Thanks.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Must be a photobucket image. My firewall doesn't like photobucket images.