Although shooting related injuries are majorly outweighed by walking injuries, there still needs to be some form of safety measures that you adhere to. The problem is many people have no safe place to shoot. Guns can be dangerous, but by implementing a few safety precautions, it is likely you will never experience a shooting accident.
The problem is when you don't have a place of your own that is set up for safe shooting, most just head to state land. There are many reasons why shooting in such an area is a bad idea. What can be done or is there anything that could be done to rectify the situation?
We all learned in hunter safety course that you must be sure of your target and what is beyond it. The problem with this is that most people consider what is beyond as what they can see. If it looks safe, they shoot. This is the type of mistake that could cost someone their life.
You could blame the shooter because he or she is fully responsible for every trigger pull, but that's only half the issue. If they don't or can't afford to be a member of a gun club and have no land of their own, it's likely they will head to state land to shoot. This is a dangerous decision as I know of no safe shooting ranges in our state forest areas. This column is in response to my non-hunting girlfriend's worries of being shot while hiking off the beaten path on state land.
Another issue is that trees are used as targets in these areas. Besides the danger of deflections or ricochets, many trees are damaged or killed in the process. Some places used to have signs that designated the area as a no-shoot zone. Not sure if it was for safety purposes or to protect the trees, but they get ripped down and the shooting continues. You may ask why the state would have such a vested interest in the trees? Here's a hint, it's not for environmental reasons or that they produce oxygen.
The fact is it's all about money that we will never see. Our local state forest areas have been extensively logged for many years now. Rather than look up where the state says the money goes, I decided to ask as many people as possible where they thought it goes. Not a single person could start to explain where it went. The truth is almost all of them expected it had been divvied out to places or programs that reflect nothing outdoor related, or downright pocketed somehow.
The revenue generated by state logging is in the millions, yet we as the people that pay taxes to ensure the land is there for us to use, benefit in no way! The state could argue that the trees help ensure the land stays open, but I say hogwash. Hunting and fishing license sales alone generate enough annually to keep all land open, have shooting ranges on them, and ensure a safe and fun outdoor experience for the hiker and hunter alike.
Many other states have set up numbered stand locations so that hunters don't cross each others paths too much. They also have a check-in station with an official that makes sure everyone is safe and knows exactly where they are going. You may also check in and use the supplied safe shooting ranges with bullet traps to prevent stray bullets. I have seen nothing of the sort in our area, and think it's about time to rally the troops and force the state to do so. It is our money, not theirs by the way!
