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Juniors learn firearm safety
Published: February 28, 2007
GUN CLUB INSTRUCTOR Steve Finigian works with 10-year-old Kasey O'Brien of Sonora on the indoor range.
By CAMERON PARKINSON
The Union Democrat
With firearms and hunting common in Tuolumne County, education about these subjects has become increasingly important and something that instructor Steve Finigian has focused on for quite some time.
Finigian heads the Junior .22 Rifle Safety Program, a semi-annual class as the Mother Lode Gun Club in Jamestown aimed at teaching firearm safety for kids.
"When you have guns in the house where you have curious kids and they can get hurt, this kind of class can really help avoid those kinds of accidents," Finigian said. "It pains me to see some stoppable accidents happen when all they need is a little education."
Finigian said firearm safety classes should be everywhere to help cut down on misuse and accidents.
"If you don't want your child to drown, teach them to swim. If you don't want your kids to have accidents around firearms, teach them how to be responsible with them," he said. "I'm not teaching them how to become experts with a gun, I'm teaching them how to be responsible around a gun."
The kids in his program range from 10 to 16 years old, with one class in the fall and another one under way since January.
"We encourage them to play safely while there is some friendly competition," Finigian said. "They get a chance to shoot and get to learn some camaraderie."
Finigian has seen all kinds of characters in his class, but the kids quickly realize that it's serious.
"Sometimes kids come in as the class clown, but then they suddenly realize we're not here to have fun in that way," Finigian said. "We're here to have fun shooting and to learn personal responsibility and responsibility toward others."
The classes are held on Tuesday nights for eight weeks.
"This type of program makes a big difference for the kids," Finigian said. "There has been countless times where I've had parents come up to me and say how their kids' behavior has changed across the board, how the kids now understand responsibility."
Finigian has been running the safety class for the past 18 years.
"I love the kids because they are at an age where they are starting to develop real personalities and becoming individuals," Finigian said. "If I can get into their head for just a minute and teach them how to be responsible with firearms, then down the road some of these impressions will stick and hopefully they won't become another statistic."
Contact Finigian at 532-4926 for program information.
Published: February 28, 2007
GUN CLUB INSTRUCTOR Steve Finigian works with 10-year-old Kasey O'Brien of Sonora on the indoor range.
By CAMERON PARKINSON
The Union Democrat
With firearms and hunting common in Tuolumne County, education about these subjects has become increasingly important and something that instructor Steve Finigian has focused on for quite some time.
Finigian heads the Junior .22 Rifle Safety Program, a semi-annual class as the Mother Lode Gun Club in Jamestown aimed at teaching firearm safety for kids.
"When you have guns in the house where you have curious kids and they can get hurt, this kind of class can really help avoid those kinds of accidents," Finigian said. "It pains me to see some stoppable accidents happen when all they need is a little education."
Finigian said firearm safety classes should be everywhere to help cut down on misuse and accidents.
"If you don't want your child to drown, teach them to swim. If you don't want your kids to have accidents around firearms, teach them how to be responsible with them," he said. "I'm not teaching them how to become experts with a gun, I'm teaching them how to be responsible around a gun."
The kids in his program range from 10 to 16 years old, with one class in the fall and another one under way since January.
"We encourage them to play safely while there is some friendly competition," Finigian said. "They get a chance to shoot and get to learn some camaraderie."
Finigian has seen all kinds of characters in his class, but the kids quickly realize that it's serious.
"Sometimes kids come in as the class clown, but then they suddenly realize we're not here to have fun in that way," Finigian said. "We're here to have fun shooting and to learn personal responsibility and responsibility toward others."
The classes are held on Tuesday nights for eight weeks.
"This type of program makes a big difference for the kids," Finigian said. "There has been countless times where I've had parents come up to me and say how their kids' behavior has changed across the board, how the kids now understand responsibility."
Finigian has been running the safety class for the past 18 years.
"I love the kids because they are at an age where they are starting to develop real personalities and becoming individuals," Finigian said. "If I can get into their head for just a minute and teach them how to be responsible with firearms, then down the road some of these impressions will stick and hopefully they won't become another statistic."
Contact Finigian at 532-4926 for program information.
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