Firearm safety speech.

[Vanguard]

...The worst that could happen is that they say no (or tackle you and taser you multiple times until you soil yourself).

Sounds like my wedding night.

[xibunkrlilkidsx]

ok, that's a good idea - if you can get the police to come it that'd be cool. and then if any of the class gets unruly about it they can taser *them*.
would want to make sure I knew what the LEO was going to say about the entire subject though, before I put him on the stage...
megan

lol. DONT TAZE ME BRO DONT TAZE ME!

[reidnez]

This is a very common theme that keeps coming up. We keep hearing about people at School's being concerned when guns are mentioned. With all of the gun violence that has been brought on to campuses in the recent past do you really expect to hear a different answer? (even if it is a toy or cardboard) It's too controversial, so be realistic here. It's not important to know how a gun works if you don't like guns or ever want to touch one. I mean, I don't need to know how a sewing machine works (not because I don't like them), but because I don't care about them. If you a gun (not sure how) tell them leave it alone and call the Police. Don't mess with it just because you think you know about it. That is how we add another person to the list of "accidental" shootings, so that is not a good reason in my book. Would you really be able to teach an effective class with a toy or card board example? You may be doing more harm than good.

Stick to cookies, you will have a sweeter time all around!

I hate to say it, but I agree with this post. In a perfect country, everyone would be a shooter and have the training to competently handle firearms. But that isn't going to happen, and for the average person who has never handled a gun and isn't about to take up the sport...I would rather they know nothing and maintain a healthy dose of fear, than know a little and stupidly believe themselves capable of safely handling a weapon, by virtue of having received a 5-minute demonstration X number of years ago

We teach kids that if they find a gun, to leave it alone and tell a grownup. Well, the same thing really applies to grownups when you think about it! Leave it alone, tell the owner if known (and smack the **** out of him) or call the cops as it could well be a crime gun. There's really no reason to pick it up, and many potential reasons not to. In all likelihood, if someone comes across an unsecured gun it's going to be in someone's home whom they know, and they should simply tell the owner to be more careful. And if you should randomly find a gun discarded in an open field or on the side of the road? it's probably a crime gun and you should do the police a favor by not putting your greasy mitts all over their evidence!

Again, I would love it if everyone took an interest in the shooting sports. I think it would do our society a great deal of good. But I would rather someone remain ignorant and fearful of guns than thinking they know what they're doing. A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing!

[locosway]

This is a very common theme that keeps coming up. We keep hearing about people at School's being concerned when guns are mentioned. With all of the gun violence that has been brought on to campuses in the recent past do you really expect to hear a different answer? (even if it is a toy or cardboard) It's too controversial, so be realistic here. It's not important to know how a gun works if you don't like guns or ever want to touch one. I mean, I don't need to know how a sewing machine works (not because I don't like them), but because I don't care about them. If you a gun (not sure how) tell them leave it alone and call the Police. Don't mess with it just because you think you know about it. That is how we add another person to the list of "accidental" shootings, so that is not a good reason in my book. Would you really be able to teach an effective class with a toy or card board example? You may be doing more harm than good.

Stick to cookies, you will have a sweeter time all around!

I do not agree with this at all. The students are to give a presentation on one of their interests. Would the staff at the school call the cops if someone spoke on Marijuana? No, they wouldn't. Guns are 100% legal, no matter how controversial. If he wants to speak on their safety and how they work, I say go for it. Just make sure you follow the school rules with their "weapon" policy.

[joepamjohn]

I do not agree with this at all. The students are to give a presentation on one of their interests. Would the staff at the school call the cops if someone spoke on Marijuana? No, they wouldn't. Guns are 100% legal, no matter how controversial. If he wants to speak on their safety and how they work, I say go for it. Just make sure you follow the school rules with their "weapon" policy.

What a surprise..you don't agree... You really need to come to your senses and decide if the effort and anguish to do this are really worth the scorn you will bring upon yourself after the project is over with. This "excercize your rights" at all costs is just plain foolish. There is a time and a place to voice your rights and to me this is not the place to do it.

[locosway]

What a surprise..you don't agree... You really need to come to your senses and decide if the effort and anguish to do this are really worth the scorn you will bring upon yourself after the project is over with. This "excercize your rights" at all costs is just plain foolish. There is a time and a place to voice your rights and to me this is not the place to do it.

I agree, there's a time and a place for everything. Give that they're to speak on a topic of interest, I see no issue with bringing up guns. I'm sure many other students will bring up something else controversial as well.

Now, if this was a church rally, then no. Leave the guns at home. However it's not. As soon as people become afraid and complacent with their fear then they've literally lost their right.

I'm not saying to strut in their with a AK on his back. He should use common sense and have a goal at educating the people, not just making a statement about showing off guns. If done right this could be a good thing for all involved.

[joepamjohn]

True, but the same thing can be said about hamburgers, and sewing machines, and .... cookies."


On a side note to OP: You said that you spoke to the campos police. Are they legit police (with firearms)? Why don't you ask them if they can come to your class. You can go through all the safety procedures without a firearm, show photos, etc. But maybe an officer can bring a unloaded or simulation (training) firearm and he can be your "Vanna White" and display firearm while you describe properties, safety, and handling.

You of course are assuming that a campus cop actually knows how to properly demonstrate the gun himself. Don't be so sure that the cop has anymore experience in proper handling of a gun that anyone else in the class.

[joepamjohn]

If done right this could be a good thing for all involved.

That is going to be the hard part. You could have Massad Ayoob in the class and someone would probably find it offensive. Besides his teacher is not going to allow it, so it is a moot point anyway.

[locosway]

That is going to be the hard part. You could have Massad Ayoob in the class and someone would probably find it offensive. Besides his teacher is not going to allow it, so it is a moot point anyway.

Like I tell the anti breast feeding camp, there is no law against offending someone. You can't go your whole life and never offend someone. People need to learn it's ok to be offended or to disagree with a view. Just because someone is selling cookies doesn't mean you have to learn how to bake them.

[caldude]

Boy times have changed. When I was in High School, one guy did a speech in English about scuba diving. At a 'dramatic' part of his speech (I think it was about fighting off a shark), he stabbed a diving knife into the podium. Teacher thought it was great.

[Jon Se]

Well... if all else fails you could always whip up a powerpoint presentation with detailed pictures of real firearms detailing the safety features and functions of each. The main safety rules of handling a firearm can be explained without a prop. It's probably the closest thing you can get to an actual firearm on a public campus.

[halifax]

Well... if all else fails you could always whip up a powerpoint presentation with detailed pictures of real firearms detailing the safety features and functions of each. The main safety rules of handling a firearm can be explained without a prop. It's probably the closest thing you can get to an actual firearm on a public campus.

This is the way to do it. Use a real gun in the privacy of your own home or at a range. Make a video. Your "speech" would then be your presentation of the video with commentary and Q&A.

[joepamjohn]

This is the way to do it. Use a real gun in the privacy of your own home or at a range. Make a video. Your "speech" would then be your presentation of the video with commentary and Q&A.

The point here is, why put yourself on the radar screen? If the teacher does not want the OP to do the "gun" presantation then why fight it and become a focal point at the school? Sure, go ahead and say, "he has the right to do what he wants", and he certainly does have the right to fight for those rights but why not take the "high road" and do something else creative instead?

Excercise those rights elsewhere with selective voting and becoming active in the NRA and other PRO-2A areas, not in homeroom at school. It's wasted energy.

[locosway]

The point here is, why put yourself on the radar screen? If the teacher does not want the OP to do the "gun" presantation then why fight it and become a focal point at the school? Sure, go ahead and say, "he has the right to do what he wants", and he certainly does have the right to fight for those rights but why not take the "high road" and do something else creative instead?

Excercise those rights elsewhere with selective voting and becoming active in the NRA and other PRO-2A areas, not in homeroom at school. It's wasted energy.

From the start the OP said they would get permission. If permission is granted your statement is untrue.

[joepamjohn]

Boy times have changed. When I was in High School, one guy did a speech in English about scuba diving. At a 'dramatic' part of his speech (I think it was about fighting off a shark), he stabbed a diving knife into the podium. Teacher thought it was great.

You are exacty right....."times have changed," and the sooner you realize that and adapt to the "current times", the better off you will be.