Calls out for training

Our government addresses many problems through education and training. A wastewater operator is required to get a certain amount of training each year in order to keep their wastewater operator’s license. Similarly, our government likes to educate our children on things it thinks are problematic, believing the education will mitigate the problem. One example would be student engagement “too early” and “too often” in sex. The government’s answer to the problem is to teach students how to engage in sex safely and to delay engaging in sex. Sometimes sex education is taught in a separate class, and sometimes it is taught as part of other classes. There are many other areas where the government uses education and training to mitigate perceived problems.

An issue we hear about often, especially at the national level, is the improper use of guns and the potential for young people and adults to use guns in an unsafe manner. I believe a great way to improve gun safety and reduce the instances of improper use of guns would be to develop classes in gun use, marksmanship, maintenance, and safety in our school system. The issue of arms is unique in that the right to own and bear firearms is guaranteed to U.S. citizens in the Second Amendment to the Constitution. The arms classes should cover the Second Amendment, the Federalist Papers, and other documents from the signers of the Constitution showing all the reasons behind the Second Amendment. A comparative study should also be included in the class showing how dictatorial and autocratic governments differ from the U.S. in the freedoms they allow (don’t allow) their citizens with regard to owning firearms. A good course in the proper use of firearms could go far in reacquainting citizens with their rights regarding firearms and it could shed light on the real reasons some here are calling for our rights regarding firearms to be abridged and taken away.

ALFORD DRINKWATER

Bigelow