MO Hunter Education Course/Concealed Carry Class: Very Different Indeed
Lee Vogel Co-Founder, Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation, Inc.
Today a very good friend and loyal supporter of MHHF forwarded an article about U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (Colo) and her strong promotion of concealed and open carry rights. My response was supportive so long as there is adequate education for those not yet knowledgeable about firearm safety. He noted that he’d taken a concealed carry course years ago and found it helpful.
This got me to thinking about the distinction between Hunter Education and Concealed Carry. For those who know the difference, I hope you find this article interesting. For those who do not, please bear with me and read on.
In Hunter Education, as in the Missouri Hunter Education Certification classes we include in our MHHF clinics, we focus, among other things on how to safely operate a firearm so hunters do not unintentionally injure themselves or others. This includes KNOWLEDGE about the basic firearm actions, sights and safeties and SKILLS that come with practice before the hunt. We also discuss a hunter’s ATTITUDE. If someone does not respect the potential lethality of the firearm they hold and act in a careless manner, all the knowledge and skill won’t keep an accident from happening. The history of reduced hunting-related firearm incidents nationwide after implementation of required hunter education courses speaks for itself.
The Concealed Carry class focuses on, among other things, the legal ramifications of “brandishing” a firearm, the legal ramifications of shooting another person in defense of person or property, whether you should “shoot to kill”, the procedure you need to follow after an incident as in regard to contacting and communicating with law enforcement and, what might be considered justified self-defense in a jury trial and the difference between legal and civil suit following the incident.
Concealed Carry is NOT hunter education, though like hunter education certification I personally believe it is an interesting and valuable class to attend.
I know of folks who considered purchasing a personal defense firearm and after taking the class, chose not to make that purchase. I respect that. After all, isn’t our country all about choice?
The young people who participate in MHHF clinics are there because their parents have an expressed interest in introducing them to the shooting sports and hunting. They are looking for an engaging way to make that happen and, more importantly, a safe way. They could easily try to take on this role themselves. Instead, they choose MHHF because they know we will carefully and conscientiously provide an experience that can lead to the creation of another Missouri hunter. Whether the youth takes the next step and embraces Missouri’s outdoor way of life, is up to them. That will be their choice. And if/when they do, we can be proud that we’ve provided them the education and skills necessary to be successful.