Natural Resources Education this year included 212 youth participated in our 4-H Shooting Sports Program. This program emphasizes Safe handling and storage of firearms, A mandatory Kentucky Hunter Education Class, Wildlife Habitat, Conservation of Natural Resources, First Aid, Outdoor Survival, and Ethics.
Every Butler Co. 6th Grader has recieved 15 + hours of instruction in this program. This was our 20th. year. We can never be certain of individual situations, but, in the 20 years before we started teaching this program, thier were 5 fatal firearms accidents in Butler Co. Since we started this program, only 1 (that involved a 44 year old shooter who was had never participated in the program).
Although many other factors have no doubt had an impact upon this stastict (public awareness, laws making Hunter ed. mandatory, etc.), we are extremely proud of an 80% reduction in firearms accidents.