RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29763, 5 March 1962, Page 22

RANDOM REMINDER

SHOTS IN THE DARK

Firearms are as easily mis-handled, and as dangerous, as mothers-in-law or fast cars. Many of those who use them simply take them for granted, but there is every reason to suppose that the Safety With Firearms national campaign which begins today is not only desirable but highly necessary. There have been many tragic accidents with guns. To interest the public in this important business, there will be a display of antique arms in Christchurch, and there will be safety films and demonstrations by representatives of the Army, in the Civic Theatre, and at some of the secondary schools. It is a campaign into which considerable thought and effort have been put, and it should be eminently worth-while.

As an instance of some of the hazards of firearms, one might pay in

passing a tribute to the Post Office. It is a common misconception that Post Office employees handling package mail fire the parcels about like footballs. At least one Christchurch man does not subscribe to that belief. He is a gunsmith, who received a rifle for repairs, from the West Coast. It reached him safely, although the owner had wrapped it up and posted it loaded, with a bullet, as the shooters say so succinctly, up the spout. Someone recently filled a book with shooting stories, and if it was an admirable and enjoyable work, it might give the impression that nearly every shooter is an expert. He isn’t. There were the Christchurch men w’ho went hunting for deer. Their elephant crashing through the bush meant they never sighted a deer. Not a shot was fired. So back at the camp, before they

returned home, they had some target practice, with tins on a fence. They used up all their ammunition. And as the sound of the last shot rolled away, a large stag emerged from some scrub, eyed them disinterestedly, and sauntered slowly by. If another instance on the inexpert is required, one could cite George, who went with a friend to shoot near the Lewis Pass. In the half-light of morning they set off for the tops. George moaned and groaned about bringing too much gear. Then he stopped, as he withdrew a fine, red 71b brick from his sleeping bag—a present from an apprentice at his work, ho, not all hunters and shooters are experts, and even the best of them can become careless. And that is why the Safety With Firearms campaign deserves attention and support.