33rd yr of Youth Firearm Safety Class

ElyBoy

This is my 33rd year of teaching Minnesota DNR Youth Firearms Safety.
We are midway into our class, with Sat. being the final day.
We have 70 kids and their Moms, Dads, and Grandparents this year.
I have six other Instructors working with me, who I have worked with for about three years. This year, I figure that they are ready to teach on their own, so I have found reasons not to be there all of the time. {I run the Pistol League on Tues, and help with the theater production right down the hall from my class. No guys, I'm just the bouncer.}
I figure that if I can give the guys some room, they will realize that they can do a great job on their own, without me. This way, in the coming years, I can eventually hand it all over to them.
So far, the guys are doing a great job, and I like what I see.
After so many years, it would be nice to just hang around and let someone else take over the rains.

Last night, after the Pledge of Aligiance, I asked the kids WHY I have them say our Pledge. Nobody could answer. I was mortified.
I spent the next 15min explaining what the Pledge means, and why use gun owners and hunters are so lucky to be living in the USA.
I mentioned you Aussies Vince, and how you pretty much lost all of your gun rights.
I then told the adults that if MY kids where asked that same question, they would STILL be giving examples of why they say the Pledge.
You could have heard a pin drop after I was done.

Eric

Vince

Wow....33 years, that aswesome Eric. Its a good idea that you ensure that your off-siders are capable of, and interested in, taking over before you start to wind down. That way you are ensuring the continued excellence of instruction.

Mate, you are correct in that we lost so much via our Govt. It is unfortunate, but we don't have a Constitution like the US. Means the Govt does what it wants, when it wants, for whatever reason it wants.

Cheers, Vince

Morax

great to hear you are sending the right message out there!! it dont matter as per the piece of paper called the constitution, they do as they want when they want anyhow, we can complain about it but things still pass through.. the silence after your explanation of the pledge of alegance, was it understanding or just the blank stares of WTF this guy talking about?

ElyBoy

Blank, confused stares Morax.

Eric

Morax

ElyBoy wrote:

Blank, confused stares Morax.

Eric

probably the first time someone explained it all to them.. shame a real shame...

tracker

Eric,

Those people are lucky they have you man. Keep up the good work, I think its especially important that you're gearing up to hand things off. 33 years of service like that deserves commendation.