Carelessness with Firearms 



One of the reasons that firearms are of use is 

 that they are dcingerous. 



Of course we all know that the gun lover is 

 always a man who spends as much time as he can 

 in the "open." 



We know that hunting is a sport that builds 

 character, makes strong muscles, red blood, and 

 instills in us a love of nature. But with his first 

 gun the boy begins the transformation that ends in 

 manhood. For the first time his parents show con- 

 fidence in him, and knowingly allow him the use of 

 a man's weapon. 



Now, to me, one of the most powerful reasons 

 for training boys in the use of firearms at an early 

 age, is, that most of the accidental slaughter com- 

 mitted with firearms is due to men who have not 

 been given an opportunity to use guns in their youth. 

 I am not going to argue, here, on the " didn't know 

 it was loaded" man. He, as a rule, only hurts 

 himself ; and a little early training will soon instill 

 into boys a fear of every gun. To me, the greatest 

 crime committed with firearms is the shooting of a 

 fellow human being in mistake for game. Any man 

 who has ever committed 

 this fault, no matter what 



^,M#A 



