4-H shooting sports teaches safety

Maybe it is the authoritative symbolism they represent, or how they are associated with adults, or perhaps it is simply the destructive power and loud boom. Whatever the reason, youngsters are attracted to firearms. However, sometimes parents of children interested in guns may not know where to turn for safety instruction. In Vernon County, an increasing number of parents are turning to the Vernon County 4-H Shooting Sports program.

After the holiday season too often there are children with newly acquired pellet guns or other gas propelled firearms. "I call it the Red Rider syndrome," said David Rutledge, county coordinator for the 4-H Shooting Sports program for the past 20 years. "We encourage parents to bring their kids into shooting sports, whether they know about shooting sports or they just bought their kid a BB gun to play with. Enroll them in the Shooting Sports Program, where they can get the proper training and supervision."

Rutledge, who also teaches hunters education, says that he gets a lot of children in his class that know very little because they have not handled firearms before and their parents are not hunters but they have friends who are. "We want them to learn from qualified professionals and learn it right, rather than from peer groups."

Rutledge said that the Shooting Sports Program is the largest project in Vernon County 4-H and the third largest project in the state. Children interested in 4-H shooting sports can start anytime but things get rolling after the first of the year.

Also, the cost is fairly minimal. It costs $10 a year to belong to 4-H and there is no equipment to buy. "As far as the shooting part goes, they need no equipment to come into our program. We have sufficent equipment, so Mom and Dad are not out the cost, if Johnny or Mary want to get involved in shooting sports," said Rutledge.

In the Shooting Sports Program there is no horseplay allowed but, surprisingly, this is not much of a problem, said Rutledge. "Firearms are not toys to play with. They are taught right up front that these firearms must be handled carefully and to always keep their muzzles pointed in a safe direction. You do not get a second warning because once you pull that trigger there is no pulling that bullet back. But believe it or not, in the 20 years I've been in the program there has not been an accident," he said.

Interested parties may contact the University of Missouri Extension Office at (417) 448-2562 or David Rutledge at (417) 667-5378.