Letter of the Day: Teaching gun safety

<p class="bold allcaps">Teaching gun safety</p> <p>EDITOR: Years ago, while a member of a Bay Area police department, I recognized that young people have a strong interest in guns. My concern was that a young person would find a gun in their home, or someone with no firearms experience would let them handle a weapon.</p><p>I contacted local merchants, and they donated ten .22-caliber rifles to the police department's Hunter Safety Course. The National Rifle Association furnished targets, diagrams of various types of guns and pamphlets on safety. We gave at least four hours of instruction before we let them handle the rifles.</p><p>After the classroom instruction, we let the students fire the guns under strict supervision. The Hunter Safety Course still exists at the department. I really don't see the need for a young person to handle any type of assault weapon.</p><p>RON SULLIVAN</p><p>Windsor</p>