Published Sept. 5, 1999

A hunter education course was recently held in Troy to teach novice hunters the importance of hunter safety.

Most of the rules of hunting are simple and safety is usually a matter of common sense. Still, it is important for us not to take this for granted. Many kids and adults today aren’t familiar with guns and have decided to take up shooting sports and hunting. It is imperative that they receive the same training that others who were exposed to it all of their lives had.

A course in safety can’t prevent all accidents, but if one person from last week’s group remembers to activate a gun’s safety at a crucial moment or to unload before getting in a vehicle, it will be effort and time well spent.

Guns have been villified by polticians and select members of the media, but the fact is that guns can’t kill without someone standing behind them.

It is important for us to make sure that shooters understand that guns are dangerous things to be treated with care and enormous respect.

The law requiring hunter education is a good one. At times the law may cause some inconvenience and the course may be well below the learning curve for a long-time hunter. But if one life per year is saved as a result of the course, then the law is a good one.