Well, many people were not blessed with a father that taught them gun safety and hunting skills. I never had to take a hunter safety course, but looking back I can see where it would have been worth while when I was a kid. At 14 I had my own 12 gauge pump and a Ruger Single Six. Looking back I'm lucky I didn't kill someone. My father was not a gun person, neither was my mother. I was cut loose to learn on my own. I used to ride out to the fields with my 12 gauge in a case across the handlebars of my bike and go blast anything that flew. I am sure there are more kids like that than we would like to believe. So are you saying it is not a good idea to have then take a class ?
Please understand I am not trying to start an arguement, just curious about people's opinions. Like I said , this probably needs to be another topic, so I'll start one in a while, and we can all discuss it there.
I'm not saying that it shouldn't be available. I am saying that it shouldn't be a requirement. For instance, if I am taking my son hunting or shooting for the first time, I'll teach him. For those who don't have the experience, they can go to a class or seek out an experienced friend or relative. It should be a choice.