How long, or ever, since you took a firearms safety course?

[Trey Veston]

New draconian anti-American gun law goes into effect in Washington state; some parts January and others in July.

It states that before being allowed to purchase any semi-automatic rifle, the purchaser must provide proof that they had attended, within the past 5 years, an approved firearms safety course...

(2) In addition to the other requirements of this chapter, no dealer may deliver a semiautomatic assault rifle to the purchaser thereof until: (a) The purchaser provides proof that he or she has completed a recognized firearm safety training program within the last five years that, at a minimum, includes instruction on: (i) Basic firearms safety rules; (ii) Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety; (iii) Firearms and suicide prevention; (iv) Secure gun storage to prevent unauthorized access and use; (v) Safe handling of firearms; and (vi) State and federal firearms laws, including prohibited firearms transfers. The training must be sponsored by a federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, a college or university, a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training, or a firearms training school with instructors certified by a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training. The proof of training shall be in the form of a certification that states under the penalty of perjury the training included the minimum requirements;

I haven't attended any type of training since 2007 when I attended Gunsite in AZ. Before that, I had to take a CCW course when I applied for a CCW in Iowa in `94.

Before that, it was US Military in '88, then Hunter Safety back in the 80's as a kid.

Just curious how many people here could legally purchase a 10/22 once this idiotic law goes into effect...

 

[taliv]

i'm not aware of any course that meets those requirements. but lots of "firearm safety" courses. so i doubt your poll as written will reflect reality

 

[Zerodefect]

Yeah, pretty big violation of our rights.

But no professional training in years is kind reckless unless you have available excellent ranges, or constantly compete.

I have one mostly unsupervised range where we can train like real. Draw, move, close CCW stuff, barriers etc. etc. Big boy rules. It's extremely dangerous. People are not inline, downrange, etc. etc.

Easier to just go to a class to brush up on that. For timed draw practice, I have to arrive very early. When people do agree to line up, close or far, at the same time, it's ok then. Because we're inline, just like a class.

My class covered all of that. No booze and guns, no antidepressants, blah, blah, blah. If you wake up groggy, keep your weapon far enough away that your awake to get it.

 

[somethingbenign]

Hunter's safety this past year and CCW the year before but I'm also just starting out.
Technicality my range has all of this information available through pamphlets they have on the counter where they also have complementary kurig. I have a few of each of them so if a friend or co-worker is in need I can pass one on easily.

 

[FL-NC]

Safety is a priority in the US mil, and since I spent over 23 years there with umpteen ranges that I was on either training others or training myself, with a safety brief prior to each and every session, I would say I have had more safety training than most people in general. Then, as a contractor for 4 more years, pretty much the same thing.

 

[berettaprofessor]

My last "training" was quite a while back. But I'd hate to see the system in Wash. State instituted here, for a couple of reasons. First, as long as you're using them, firearms training doesn't really go away because you're reinforcing those habits and skills every time you shoot safely. Second, it will probably become just another piece of crap without real benefit and require loss of time from more important things. When I started my career, I was handed a set of keys to my office and told to go to work. Now orientations here take two days and there are also periodic and really BORING training sessions required by every bureaucrat in the system. Just today, I got notified that I need to renew "safety compliance" training (every 3 years) for Fire Safety, General Ergonomics Training, Office Ergonomics Training, Safe Lifting Training, Fire Extinguisher training and Hazard Waste Awareness. The first four are online sleepers and the latter two must be attended IN PERSON. EVERY THREE YEARS!

This brought to you by the people who once put up maps for fire, and active shooter evacuation from the building for every room open to the public. One map, 3 feet from an exit door, directed you to run into the building, out through a back entrance 3 hallways and 300 feet away instead of the door you were standing next to.

How much time is my state-government taxes paying for all state employees to do this instead of their jobs every three years? Are any of these repeated sessions cutting injury or other hazards in real life? Will I forget how to aim a fire extinguisher, pull the pin and push the handle?

Rant over. Can anyone tell it's a pet peeve of mine?

 

[AlexanderA]

Hmmm... I think the only "firearms safety course" I ever took was at Boy Scout summer camp, when I was in junior high school, back in the late 1950's.

This requirement sounds like an additional "profit center" for NRA-certified instructors.

 

[MikeInOr]

It was about 30 years ago that I went through safety training for my concealed carry permit. I am an active enthusiast and train on my own regularly... but it wouldn't hurt for me to take a refresher class. I have offered to take the safety class with a couple relatives / friends that were interested in getting their concealed carry permit... no takers yet.

Being required to take a safety class within the past 5 years does definitely rub me the wrong way! In Oregon a refresher course isn't even required to maintain my CCP when I renew.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

OK, my firearms safety training started long time ago with summer camp, Boy Scouts,hunter safety, NRA junior small bore club and then Navy boot camp. Later when I became an NRA basic pistol instructor there was a lot stress on safety in that course. Then, between teaching the basic pistol course and then also CCW courses safety was a big part of the content.

 

[Jack B.]

The indoor range that I go to has an instructor that is usually giving some training to some new shooters. I try to take the lane next to them and listen to the training session and pickup what I can. Usually stuff I already know. I don't know if this counts or not.

 

[<*(((><]

Had to take a course a couple of years ago to get an out of state permit for Oregon, it required specific training including firearm and legal.

 

[George P]

Never have; took a Hunter Ed once, not safety, but about the rules in a new state; FL CWFL class are jokes, so I would fail the criteria.

Guess you better give yourself an early Christmas present

 

[bassjam]

If these politicians really wanted to save lives they'd force an automobile driving safety course every 5-10 years on everyone with a license. There's not even a pesky Constitutional Amendment to get in the way of doing that.

 

[Skgreen]

no dealer may deliver a semiautomatic assault rifle to the purchaser

Leaves quite a few other firearms available w/o 'training',,,
Wondering when it will be changed to 'all' firearms.

 

[George P]

I guess Fully Automatics are exempt then, eh?....

 

[Legionnaire]

I've been through lots of training. I was a certified hunter safety instructor. Took my last CCW class less than five years ago. None of the classes I took covered everything in the OP's hypothetical(?) law.

 

[theotherwaldo]

1973.

 

[DDDWho]

My Father and an Uncle gave me a most detailed firearms safety course for all of the years I hunted with them starting when I was 9 years old. Every time my gun was pointed in an unsafe direction or I had my finger on the trigger I was yelled at. Or "check your safety" "be sure you know whats beyond your target".
Oh, my firearms safety course was well given and well received.

 

[Steve S.]

Hunter safety course with/ when my son was 13 years old and a firearms safety course with my wife in Missouri. I was granted a CCW from Florida before my Missouri course because I am a veteran. All were fun courses that I did not mind taking plus I always learned something new.

 

[EIB0879]

I'm a NRA certified instructor and RSO. I don't know if that counts or not. I'm glad I live in Texas where we don't have stupid rules.

 

[Shimitup]

Same here, once to get my RSO credentials, my dad had engraved the rules in my brain long before that.

 

[Bama59]

Dad taught me when a kid , took a NRA basic course a few years ago when bought my M&P for CCW. Instructor really helped with my grip and stance

 

[DeepSouth]

Years ago I took a course to be able to get a hunting license. It was mainly firearms safety related. If that counts, then it’s been 25+ years, if not it’s never.

 

[Trey Veston]

All were fun courses that I did not mind taking plus I always learned something new.

I've had multiple people ask me to teach them how to shoot, but I am a horrible instructor. My brother is a local Detective and SWAT team member and an excellent instructor. I refer them to him and accompany them to watch. I always seem to learn something new or remember something I had forgotten. It's good to go over the fundamentals every now and then.

 

[tarosean]

(i) Basic firearms safety rules; (ii) Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety; (iii) Firearms and suicide prevention; (iv) Secure gun storage to prevent unauthorized access and use; (v) Safe handling of firearms; and (vi) State and federal firearms laws, including prohibited firearms transfers.

Sounds like you need to contact NRA instructors and ask how soon they will change their curriculum.

Cannot say that I have ever attended a class/training that touched on all those points. particularly the suicide part.