Tri-Cities Metallic Silhouette Association

May 21 2012 06:57:32

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Hunter Education Policy Concerns

April 10, 2012

Sergeant Carl Klein
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capital Way N.
Olympia, WA 99501

Re: WDFW Hunter Education Draft Instructor Policy Manual

Dear Sgt. Klein

This letter presents the Richland Rod and Gun Club (RRGC) Hunter Education Instructor Team’s concerns about the proposed "WDFW HUNTER EDUCATION DRAFT INSTRUCTOR POLICY MANUAL".

Its general tone, when combined with specific points, impugns the integrity, skillfulness and dedication demonstrated in the volunteer work currently performed by certified hunter education instructors and registered hunter education volunteers throughout Washington State.

The Richland Rod and Gun Club initiated Hunter Education Training in the Tri-City area in 1957, shortly after the original law mandating firearms safety training was enacted. Instructors associated with the club have taught classes every year since, successfully training more than 17,000 students, one member has taught for 56 years. There has never been an accidental firearm discharge in our classrooms. Neither to our knowledge has there ever been any accidental firearm discharge associated with hunter education firing range or classroom instruction in Washington State. Overall, the changes proposed in the draft Manual substantially reduce realistic, "hands-on" experience with firearms, compromising effective training to the students’ detriment.

This "Policy Manual" demonstrates a complete lack of trust in certified instructors to teach firearm usage in a safe manner. Additionally, it proposes to confiscate property without just compensation. This is not public property that the WDFW can arbitrarily usurp. These firearms, and related educational materials, have been acquired over the years by the various hunter education teams. They were paid for out of the instructors’ personal funds, other private donations and/or grants from a variety of charitable organizations. They are not the property of the State of Washington

The "draft policy manual" needs to be completely rewritten and a new one developed consistent with common sense and realistic application. The proposed mandates (presented as policies) preclude more than they include. It is a manual of what one may not do when teaching, and what one must do, regarding reports and organization. The "draft policy manual" effectively precludes vital interaction with students. If interaction is necessary or desired the instructor must first reduce the request to writing, have it signed, and then have a second instructor on hand to witness the interaction. Such restrictions are clumsy, impractical, and insulting, needlessly undermining instructor/student trust.

The "draft policy manual" states that the Hunter Education administration will provide all the materials and additional policies and instructions in the next few months. Unfortunately, we have heard this one too many times. We (the RRGC instructors) cannot envision ourselves being able to effectively teach safe firearm handling in the environment that will result from these "draft policies". Hunter Education is not a "for credit" university semester course. It is a 10 hour program tightly focused on safe firearms handling. The "draft policy manual" proposes to micro-manage and control everything from what may be worn, to what may (and may not) be said. It is a draconian solution in search of a problem!

The restrictions and limitations proposed in the "draft policy manual" will result in under-trained students. They will have substantially less "hands-on" experience; less "muscle-memory", and inadequate opportunity to build safe gun handling habits. This will result in increased - and entirely avoidable - frequency of accidents with firearms.

In 2010 the RRGC Hunter Education program boasted the largest team-teaching group in SE Washington: 17 certified instructors and 25 registered volunteers, who were supported by four private organizations and two conservation groups. Since the start of these policies, and the subsequent meetings to include the most recent IST, 10 instructors have already resigned. The registered volunteers feel exposed and decline to participate, the organizations that have supported our team threaten to cease providing critical facilities and materials, including classrooms and firing ranges. Unless the "draft policy manual" is thoroughly revised to be more realistic, practical and oriented to safe firearms handling practices, the members of the RRGC team will withdraw from the Washington State Hunter Education Program as will the RR&GC, the Connell Gun Club, and the Tri-City Metallic Silhouette Association

We (the RRGC instructor team) have attached several proposed revisions. These are intended in good faith as just a few examples of the most important kinds of practical, "real world" changes that will need to be made. We have many other recommendations, but they are too numerous to address in the context of this letter.

Conclusion:

Because the proposed draft policy manual is so controlling and unreasonable it will lead to the resignations of many more hunter education instructors. This will result in the substantial loss of hunter education opportunities for students. The wholesale departure of experienced, qualified instructors will leave many areas of the state without any program. This in turn will lead to the reduced sale of hunting licenses, reduced grant income to the State and reduced support for the conservation and wise use of State resources. Eventually, it will be easier for many to travel to Oregon, Idaho or Montana and take their hunter safety program, receiving better, safer instruction, while obtaining the same certificate. This entirely avoidable loss would be a profound shame!

Appropriate, effective hunter education is too important to our community for us to stand idly by and allow it to occur. We remain ready and willing to help improve the hunter safety education program.

Sincerely,

Jeff Gardner, President
Richland Rod & Gun Club

Gaylord Baker, President
Tri-Cities Metallic Silhouette Association

Don Board, Instructor
Hunter Education

//Original Signed//

Full Text of Letter with Attachment

The policy draft can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/huntered/instructors/index.html for your reference.

April 2012 Club Newsletter

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Upcoming meetings: April 5 & May 3 (all meetings are at the Griggs Hunter Ed room @ 7pm)

Upcoming work parties: April 22 & May 6 (maintenance chair Greg Hagen 545-4705, work parties start @ 8am)

You may have noticed some changes at the range. We have moved the sign in sheet to the Southeast end of the rail car (nearest to the restrooms), and consolidated our storage into the other end. We are now working to dismantle the old clubhouse trailer & remove it from the range.

At the February general membership meeting, the club voted to pursue the sale of our competition metal silhouettes, since they have not been used in many years. We have an inventory of what the club has, and are working on determining their value and searching for possible buyers. We may have an offer to consider at the April meeting. Proceeds from this sale would be used to purchase some other reactive targets for general use.

We are aware of that some members pick up lead at the range. We don’t have an issue with this at all, in fact the more lead members pick up, the better the range looks. We would however like to keep track of how much lead is removed each year. We have added a spot on the sign in sheet for you to tell us how much you have removed. You don’t need a scale, just give us an estimate of the weight, or an idea of the volume so we can keep track. And remember, you pick up lead at your own risk.

Starting with this newsletter, we are going to try to remind everyone of some of the more important safety and range rules each month. If you have a suggestion of an item you think should be included, send it to the contact us page on the club website or give an officer a call. For this month, we will mention hot & cold conditions at the range. Remember that when the range is hot, no one is to be beyond the firing line. When the range is cold, no one is to handle a firearm in any manner (this includes cased firearms). Also remember that when the range is cold, this includes the entire facility, from the CMP firing line all the way to the shotgun area. And finally remember that before the range can be declared hot or cold, everyone on the range must be notified of the change in condition. The horns & strobes are useful for this communication, but don’t assume that everyone heard you unless you get a positive confirmation from everyone.

The Friends of the NRA banquet was another great success this year, and the club again won something. This year it is a hard sided double rifle case, with the NRA logo. This will be raffled off free of charge to a member in good standing at the April general membership meeting, but you must be present to win. So come to the meeting for a chance to win!

March 31 is the last day of the club year. If you have not renewed your membership, you are about to be locked out, the gate combination will change April 1. You can come to the April meeting to renew, or you can renew by mail. Send your check to the club address listed above, ($50, or $25 if you participated in a work party this year) along with proof of NRA membership. We will mail you a new card ASAP.

Hunter Ed classes have started again for the year. We also have some NRA instructors using our range, and we have our usual compliment of 5 different match disciplines. The schedule is getting pretty busy, but we are trying to accommodate general shooting and keep as many days open as we can. Remember that general shooting is always allowed during Hunter Ed classes, NRA instructor classes, CMP matches, NRA Sporting Highpower matches, and Cast Bullet matches. General shooting is NOT allowed during Benchrest matches and Three Gun matches, and remember that the range is closed during work parties. We also want to remind you that additional time is needed for setup before the matches, and all this info is on the club schedule. You can see the schedule on the club website, and it is also posted in the railcar above the sign in sheet.

MATCH REPORTS:

Hunter Bench: (match director Wally Ruff 967-5087)
Upcoming matches: March 31 & April 28 (both are registered matches @ 100 & 200 yd, 7am start)

Results of the February match: HBR: Glenn Sampson 244-6x, Jim McConnell 244-5x, Paul Gylling 239-3x. VFS: Matt Muhbeirer 245-11x, Marlee Parks 245-7x, Mike Fowler 240-2x. The February match was fired in extreme winds, but the scores were excellent! March is the beginning of our registered matches for the year. If you are interested in joining us, please do!

Highpower: (match director Gaylord Baker 628-9044)
Upcoming matches: April 7 & May 5 (7:30 set-up, start shooting at 8:00)

February results: Gaylord Baker 753-12x, Dave Baalman 733-15x, Ryan Bongers 713-9x. March results: Dave Baalman 751-19x, Gaylord Baker 745-11x, Ryan Bongers 728-8x. March Garand match results: Gaylord Baker 451-10x, Dave Baalman 408-3x, Paul Werner 403-2x.

We are back to our usual earlier start time for the spring. If you are interested in joining us, we have a very relaxed match, where we stress the safety rules but little else, so come join us!

Three Gun: (match director Mark Perkins 509-301-9407)
Upcoming matches: April 14 & May 26 (9am start)

March 17 results: Steve: 159.63sec, Dave: 169.13sec, Cliff 272.43sec.

We shoot an interesting version of three gun, where you are just out to challenge yourself, and the times only decide who gets bragging rights, so come out and join us. If you don’t have a needed gun, the Touchet Gun Club has them to loan out. Special thanks to the Touchet Gun Club for co-sponsoring these events.

NRA Highpower Sporting Rifle: (match director Dave Baalman 528-0813)
Upcoming matches: June 13 (that’s a Wednesday night, 5pm start)

February results: Marlee Parks 302-8x, Gaylord Baker 299-6x, Dave Baalman 298-7x. March Results: Marlee Parks 308-12x, Gaylord Baker 306-11x, Dave Baalman 299-4x. This is a new discipline at our club, and we are very impressed with the scores so far. There is also a postal-league in this discipline, which starts in June. Registration ends in May, unlimited teams of 4-6 shooters for each club. If you are interested contact Dave.

Cast Bullet: (match director George Damron)
Our first match of the year is April 8, start setup at 7am. Bring your hand cast ammo & join us!

Saint Patrick's Day Three Gun Challenge

I just wanted to say Thank You to all who attended the Saint Patrick's Day Three Gun Challenge on Saturday. It was cold and windy to say the least!

I am always amazed and impressed by everyone's willingness to help run the range, load ammo for others, pick up shells and clays, setup the targets, run the stages and the camera, coach each other, keep time on the electronic shot counters, and tear down.

I hope that you all had a good time. I know that I sure did. I hope to see all of you again. Spread the word, bring a friend.

Our next one is April 14th!

Photos | Videos

P.S. We want to help promote your events. If you have a flyer we can post it on this page. If you have pictures or videos from your event, we want to show the rest of the club. Please contact the webmaster and we will get these posted for you.

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"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Amendment 2, Bill of Rights,
Constitution of the United States of America

"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men."
Article 1, Section 24,
Constitution of the State of Washington

TCMSA is affiliated with the National Rifle Association and the Civilian Marksmanship Program