Month: June 2008

I have a copy of the study that I’ve been going through.  It makes numerous references to “non-lethal firearms” in the context of getting new shooters, who might be intimidated by firearms, to become comfortable:

Shooting sports programs utilizing non-lethal guns as a means of introducing newcomers are likely to be well-received by non-shooters and even anti-shooters.  By making non-lethal guns available, such programs will reinforce safety and the importance of learning to handle firearms and becoming comfortable with them.

This terminology needs to be banished from even having the chance to enter the shooting vernacular, and I don’t know of any sport shooter or instructor who would use it.  Here I’m thinking they are referring to airguns, but airguns are not “non-lethal” and are, in fact, potentially dangerous instruments that should be treated as such.  I do agree with starting new shooters, who are interested in the shooting sports, but might be afraid of firearms, off with air guns.  It’s a good recommendation.

But if we want to emphasize safety, we should never, ever, under any circumstances, imply a firearm or air gun does not have the potential for lethality.  If you’re teaching new shooters that air guns are non-lethal, you’re shirking your responsibility as an instructor.  This language should never have made its way into an industry publication.

As a sport shooter in International Handgun Metallic Silhouette (IHMSA for short), I will we watching the developments happening at the NSSF summit very carefully.  Bitter has some details which indicate NSSF may be considering recommendations that would marginalize handgun shooters.  I will have more to say about this later, but suffice it to say, I think this would be a significantly stupid move on the industry’s part.

I don’t think there’s anything illegitimate about the handgun shooting sports.  To the extent that there’s a poor public perception of handguns out there, that’s something that our sports can help overcome.  IHMSA, Bullseye, NRA Handgun Silhouette shooters, IPSC, and IDPA shooters are all engaging in legitimate recreational activities with handguns.  Let’s dispell the myths.  Sweeping handgun shooters under the rug and hoping no one notices seems to be to be the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

Apparently the safety improvements are underway at the Blue Trail Range in Connecticut, that we mentioned last week.  Berms and baffles should solve the problem effective.  Again, there’s no need to close shooting ranges to deal with problems like this.  They can be made to peacefully coexist with neighbors.