I have had a thread on here the last two years about taking guns in to my daughters Christian school to show the history class. Most of you have read it, but we have a lot of new members so I will tell about it again.
The history teacher is pretty cool and I asked him if he would be interested in my bringing in several guns used in various conflicts by our military. He was very interested. Worked it out with the Principal also. I checked with our county Sheriff, who is a good friend of mine, and he said it is perfectly legal as long as I had the schools permission. Also called the local PD to advise.

I opened by telling the students this is highly illegal if not done with the schools permission. Then I told them there are three things to keep in mind when handling guns. Asked if anybody knew what they are. Nobody had the right answer. I told them #1 is Safety. Asked if anybody could guess what #2 is? Nope. Told them #2 is.......Safety. Asked if anybody would like to take a wild guess as to what #3 is. Girl raised her hand and said "Safety!".
I then told them about the Four Rules of gun safety. Said I would demonstrate #1. Held up a M1911 Colt pistol, locked the slide back and had a guy come up. I told him to look in and tell me if it was loaded. He looked, said no. I told him to check again, just to be sure. He did. Not loaded. I told him to sit down, and that he was wrong. It was fully loaded. I pulled the mag and showed it and said "as you can see, there are no cartridges in this magazine". Held back the slide and said "as you can see, there is no cartridge in the chamber. However, it is still FULLY loaded. Rule #1 is Treat all guns as if they are loaded. I don't like that one. I change it to there is NO SUCH THING as an unloaded gun. Even if you have checked, and double checked as I always do, and there are no cartridges in it, it is still loaded".
Rule #2: Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
Rule #3: Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on your identified target and you have decided to fire.
Rule #4: When firing, be absolutely sure of your target and what is behind it.

Then I showed them the following guns, which I described in great detail, along with the conflicts they were used in:

Trapdoor Springfield .45/70
Krag Jorgenson .30/40 Krag rifle
'03 Springfield
M1 Garand
M1 Carbine
Colt 1911 .45 ACP
Colt 1911A1 .45 ACP
4" S&W Military and Police Revolver
2" S&W M12

The 1911A1 is the only one I know was used in combat. My Dad bought it from a guy who told him it was used by a Phillipine Guerrilla fighter in WWII. He had painted it black for covert missions. Paint is still on there, but well worn. Really wish it could talk.

They asked a lot of good questions, and seemed very interested. The one plus is my daughters boyfriend was there. Gave him my best steely eyed looks.
Even got an apple pie for payment.
Jim

I think you've got a bunch of future gun collectors there.

That sounds cool. I would have liked that in my school. Personally, I think the rule that there is no such thing as an unloaded gun is incorrect. Yes, if you're uncertain, treat it as if it's loaded. But if you're certain it isn't, it's unloaded...

^^^^^ Never argue with the teacher. ^^^^^

__________________
S&WHF 366

Times have changed, haven't they? When I was a junior in high school, we had to do an instructional speech. I demonstrated how to reload a .243 cartridge with a hand press.

Now 45 years later, same town, a six year old got suspended this week for making his fingers into an "L" shape and pointing it at someone. The newspaper didn't say if he said BANG.

__________________
Some collect art; I shoot it!

Times certainly have changed. I carried a pocket knife from the 4th grade on, but then that was 65 years ago. In high school I often had a rifle in the trunk when planning a hunt after school.

__________________
State of Jefferson
Jim

The only time I consider a gun unloaded is when it has been taken
apart on my cleaning table. Once reassembled, I consider it loaded.

Stu

__________________
NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

Great work! When my oldest was in Jr High, the class was studying WWII & had to do reports. My son approached his teacher about his being on the M1 Garand & was approved. After clearing it through the teacher & Principal, I brought to his class when he gave his presentation.

On the assigned day, I picked up my visitor badge at the office before returning to my truck to get the rifle. When I came back inside, the principal was waiting & said "I think I need to inspect it"-with a big ole grin on his face. He even sat in on the kid's presentation. He told me later he wouldn't approve the same for just anybody.

Treating them as if they are loaded all the time has always kept me and those around me safe.

I guess I never thought of it, but I do teach that way as well. I do however - use the term "unloaded" - I just don't point the business end at anything that bleeds.

I have seen shotgun "instructors" look down the barrel of a shotgun (from the muzzle, at the shooter holding the shotgun) to see where the shooter is looking with their eyes. Even though the shotgun is unloaded, it makes my skin crawl.

It's important to note that these are not NRA-certified Instructors.

Back in 1958 as an eight year old...I bought my Uncle Tommy to Class as my "Show and Tell" subject. He was A local Police Officer. He came in full uniform with nightstick, cuffs, service and off duty revolvers. He did a gun safety message before allowing us to individually handle them.

I occasionally recall that day and imagine the news coverage it would get TODAY.

FN in MT

I understand. I use that demonstration because it gets their attention. Obviously, after I inspect a gun, I know it is not loaded. The point is the mindset needs to be it's always loaded, and it needs to be treated as if it were. When I am handling a gun, I do not handle it any differently, whether there are cartridges in it or not.

This was just an extremely positive experience, for me and the students. The teacher asked if I can come back again next year, even though this is my daughters last year. I said sure.
I think it really opens their eyes about history, as I told them the wars each one was used in.
Jim

Probably best to teach at a school that rule, but I've just seen that rule posted before and like I said, I can agree that if you are unsure its best to treat it as loaded but if you are sure then its different.

Just talked to my daughter. Asked what the reaction was to my presentation. Guess I am officially "Cool" in the eyes of her friends.
I'll take that.
Jim