1. INTRO TO FIREARM SAFETY!

2. What percent of the US population hunts?9%
SW 17

3. What percent is against hunting?
11%

4. 11%
80%
Neutral 9%

5. What are some actions by hunters that could cause neutral people to turn against hunting?

6. Actions that make hunters look bad to non-hunters
Law violations
Over the legal limit
Killing protected species
Hunting out of season, or Poaching
Hunting accidents
Drinking “in uniform”
Displaying game on your hood

7. Reasons to be concerned about public opinion
Non-hunters are the majority of voters
Un-informed voters may support bad laws that affect hunters & hunting

8. Reasons to be concerned about public opinion
Fewer family farms = fewer places to hunt, so we need the goodwill of voters and land owners alike

9. Introducing Hunter Education
What agency in Minnesota is responsible for managing and protecting wildlife, regulating the taking of game animals, and sponsoring the hunter education program?
Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources
SW 17, #4

10. Two Primary Objectives of Hunter Education
1. Prevent accidents
Hunting
Tree stands
Target shooting
Firearms at home
SW 17, #6

11. Injury rate for different outdoor activities
Sport
Participants
Injuries
Injuries per participants
Football
17,800,000
418,260
235.0
Basketball
29,900,000
512,213
171.3
Bicycle Riding
43,100,000
485,669
112.7
Baseball
14,200,000
155,898
109.8
Fishing
43,300,000 
63,026
14.6
Golf
24,700,000
34,382
13.9
Hunting
20,900,000
903
0.4
Sources: Participants - National Sporting Goods Association, 2005.

12. SM pg 33

13. 2. Ensure the future of hunting
Obey laws and regulations
Support passage of good laws
Develop Personal Ethics

14. Ethical Hunting 1. Respect for Self 2. Respect for Others
3. Responsibility for Actions
4. Respect for Resource

15. Major Funding for Firearm Safety
Pittman – Robertson Act of % tax on sporting goods to help protect habitat, wildlife, water and to help fund hunter ed. Programs (collect $3.5 million/day)
Others: Duck Unlimited, Pheasant Forever, Sportsman club, IHEA, NRA =National Rifle Association, state/federal agencies, firearm/archery manufacturers, You.

16. Firearm Safety
Main outcome of Firearm Safety is to prevent firearm and hunting accidents and to ensure the future of hunting and shooting sports through the compliances with laws, regulations and ethics. (Accident data!)

17. Epidemiology Firearm Injury Statistics
1968 to 1991 study, firearm-related deaths in 1991
exceeded the number of motor vehicle related deaths
in the United States.
Firearm related injuries are the second leading cause
of death for children ages yrs.
It is estimated that the number of children sustaining
non-fatal firearm injuries is four to five times greater
than the number of children who die from such
injuries each year.
Handguns account for the majority of firearm related
Everyday 11 people under 19 are killed by firearms.
injuries in the United States.

18. Epidemiology Cont’d Firearm Prevalence Statistics
Approximately 50% of all US homes have a firearm.
Over 50% of handguns are stored loaded or with the ammunition
Keeping a gun in the home increases the chances of a homicide by three times and increases the chances of a suicide by five times.
A gun kept in a household is 43 times more likely to kill someone that the family knows than to kill someone in self-defense.
77% of violent deaths in schools are caused by firearms.

19. Firearm Facts in Children
Children watch an average of 45 violent acts on TV each day.
Playing with toy guns may contribute to unintentional shootings.

20. Cost to Healthcare
In 1994, the mean cost per injury due to gunshots was approximately $17,000.
The injuries due to gunshots in 1994 alone, created a projected $2.3 billion in medical costs over a lifetime.
Of the $2.3 billion, $1.1 billion will be paid by taxpayers.

21. Cost of Prevention Not having a gun in the house $0
Trigger locks for guns $10
Lockable cabinet $30 -$50
Home firearm safety training $50-$100
Fire-resistant safe $1500
Preventing a child death Priceless

22. Keep Children Safe Parents and gun manufacturers need to
take responsibility for safety.
Research shows that telling children not to
touch guns does not work.

23. Firearm Safety Tips
Don’t buy a gun unless you know how to use it safely.
Store it unloaded and locked up.
Lock it out of children’s reach.
Lock up ammunition separately from the gun.
Keep trigger locks on your guns for extra prevention, or disassemble your gun completely.

24. The 10 Commandments of Firearm Safety

25. 1. Treat Every Gun as if it were loaded!

26. 2. Control Your Muzzle!

27. 3. Know your target and what is beyond!

28. 4. Never point a Gun at anything that you do not intend to shoot!

29. 5. Unload Guns when not in use!
Note:
Action open

30. 6. Store guns and ammunition separately!

31. 7. Unload before Crossing obstacle!

32. 8. Be Sure barrel is clear of obstructions!

33. 9. Never shoot at a hard, flat surface or water
9. Never shoot at a hard, flat surface or water! Make sure you have a safe backstop!

34. 10. Never mix guns and Alcohol!

35. Remember…