Kids and Guns The Reason for 4-H Shooting Sports
A 4-H member is injured by a firearm at a 4-H shooting event. Annual 4-H Shooting Sports enrollment of 300,000 Annual 4-H Shooting Sports enrollment of 300,000 Reached over 3 million total youth last year Reached over 3 million total youth last year Operating since 1980 Operating since 1980 Over 5 million member/years of 4-H member contact over 25 years Over 5 million member/years of 4-H member contact over 25 years 1980 – 1999 Over 81 billion person hour contacts 1980 – 1999 Over 81 billion person hour contacts Only one documented injury Only one documented injury American Income Life insures shooting sports at the same rate as regular projects American Income Life insures shooting sports at the same rate as regular projects 4-H Shooting Sports injury rate compared to organized sports injuries 4-H Shooting Sports injury rate compared to organized sports injuries
Annual Youth Sports Injury Data Ages 5-14 Data from American Academy of Pediatrics Data from American Academy of Pediatrics 30 million youth participating in sports 30 million youth participating in sports 3 million youth get hurt per year 3 million youth get hurt per year 775,000 are treated in a hospital 775,000 are treated in a hospital
Annual Youth Sports Injury Data Ages 5-14 Bicycling373,000 Bicycling373,000 Basketball193,000 Basketball193,000 Football186,000 Football186,000 Baseball116,000 Baseball116,000 Soccer 85,000 Soccer 85,000 Trampoline 68,000 Trampoline 68,000 4-H Shooting Sports* 0 or.04 4-H Shooting Sports* 0 or.04 * Only 1 injury reported to a state 4-H Office in 25 years 3-4 deaths year
You want to set up a mobile shooting range at your county fair. The fair board is concerned about liability and safety. Make your case. Explain your state 4-H Shooting Sports policy on the use of mobile ranges Explain your state 4-H Shooting Sports policy on the use of mobile ranges Know and communicate to the fair board the state and local ordinances regarding use of firearms in public places Know and communicate to the fair board the state and local ordinances regarding use of firearms in public places Explain what you do to make it a safe activity Explain what you do to make it a safe activity Explain liability and insurance related issues Explain liability and insurance related issues
Won’t we be enabling a Columbine situation to happen in your state with a 4-H shooting sports member The chances of this happening is extremely remote because of the life skills developed in the project AND –Significant adult in a young persons life other than a parent –Positive group and peer associations
The Purpose of 4-H Shooting Sports The firearm is only a vehicle to get us to positive youth development The firearm is only a vehicle to get us to positive youth development We want to create champion kids—not necessarily champion shooters We want to create champion kids—not necessarily champion shooters The development of life skills is the driving force behind the 4-H Shooting Sports program The development of life skills is the driving force behind the 4-H Shooting Sports program
Can’t you do positive youth development without a firearm? Yes. But you will miss some kids that are interested in hunting and shooting Yes. But you will miss some kids that are interested in hunting and shooting Make the most of family interest in hunting and shooting Make the most of family interest in hunting and shooting 4-H Shooting Sports will enhance the gender ratios of members and volunteer leaders of your state 4-H program 4-H Shooting Sports will enhance the gender ratios of members and volunteer leaders of your state 4-H program
Questions? Thank you for listening