Offer courses with firearm purchase

In Mr. Simoneaux’s Sept. 30 column, he suggested education as prevention to further reduce gun related incidents. While a sage suggestion in the quest to solve our current firearm violence conundrum, it begs a couple of questions.

I have had many hours of firearm training from multiple agencies, yet there is a scar on my right thumb from a shooting incident. It was a lesson learned the hard way, but not a tragedy. Further reduction of incidents through education is attainable, still, incidents will continue as long as humans are involved. Wouldn’t an enhanced accountability for those responsible for tragedies be a more focused and fruitful endeavor?

Mr. Simoneaux models his suggestion after the education and test taking process used to attain a hunting, or driver’s license. But these activities are privileges, owning a firearm is right. A very large legal fight would surely ensue if the government were trying to prevent a citizen from owning a firearm do to refusal to take a firearm education and safety course.

Perhaps such a course could be offered with each firearm acquisition. If refused, without proof of prior education, a box on the registration document could be checked, thus creating an accountability data base. Wanton disregard and such. Lawyers would love it. In the case of an acceptance, if the acquirer demonstrates an unfitness to possess or use a firearm, couldn’t that also be included in the data base?

Tom Thuerk

Everett