Kids and Guns

1
Kids and Guns

• The Reason for
• 4-H Shooting Sports

2
A 4-H member is injured by a firearm at a 4-H
shooting event.

• Annual 4-H Shooting Sports enrollment of 300,000
• Reached over 3 million total youth last year
• Operating since 1980
• Over 5 million member/years of 4-H member contact
  over 25 years
• 1980 1999 Over 81 billion person hour contacts
• Only one documented injury
• American Income Life insures shooting sports at
  the same rate as regular projects
• 4-H Shooting Sports injury rate compared to
  organized sports injuries

3
Annual Youth Sports Injury Data Ages 5-14

• Data from American Academy of Pediatrics
• 30 million youth participating in sports
• 3 million youth get hurt per year
• 775,000 are treated in a hospital

4
Annual Youth Sports Injury Data Ages 5-14

• Bicycling 373,000
• Basketball 193,000
• Football 186,000
• Baseball 116,000
• Soccer 85,000
• Trampoline 68,000
• 4-H Shooting Sports 0 or.04
• Only 1 injury reported to a state 4-H Office in
  25 years

3-4 deaths year
5
You want to set up a mobile shooting range at
your county fair. The fair board is concerned
about liability and safety. Make your case.

• Explain your state 4-H Shooting Sports policy on
  the use of mobile ranges
• Know and communicate to the fair board the state
  and local ordinances regarding use of firearms in
  public places
• Explain what you do to make it a safe activity
• Explain liability and insurance related issues

6
Wont we be enabling a Columbine situation to
happen in your state with a 4-H shooting sports
member

• The chances of this happening is extremely remote
  because of the life skills developed in the
  project AND
• Significant adult in a young persons life other
  than a parent
• Positive group and peer associations

7
The Purpose of 4-H Shooting Sports

• The firearm is only a vehicle to get us to
  positive youth development
• We want to create champion kidsnot necessarily
  champion shooters
• The development of life skills is the driving
  force behind the 4-H Shooting Sports program

8
Cant you do positive youth development without a
firearm?

• Yes. But you will miss some kids that are
  interested in hunting and shooting
• Make the most of family interest in hunting and
  shooting
• 4-H Shooting Sports will enhance the gender
  ratios of members and volunteer leaders of your
  state 4-H program

9
Questions?

• Thank you for listening