Teenage hunters need supervision

The wake of a tragedy is usually awash in questions.

Why did it happen?

Could it have been prevented?

Are adequate safeguards in place?

The same introspection is necessary after the Nov. 24 death of a 17-year-old Bartlett boy who was accidentally shot by a 14-year-old friend while hunting squirrels near Rockford.

The analysis shows this was a sad and tragic accident, pure and simple. The three friends an 18-year-old boy also was in the group broke no laws, possessed all necessary permits and had taken a state-mandated hunter safety course. They had the landowner's permission to hunt on the property.

The hunting outing didn't even break any laws by not having an adult guardian supervising the teens in the field, because as the Daily Herald's Kim Pohl reported Sunday, state regulations carry no such requirement.

And, that's an issue the state must reexamine.

We neither oppose the sport of hunting for young people, nor advocate that youths not participate. Hunting has a rich history in Illinois, particularly in vast rural areas downstate where it is an important part of the fabric of life.

However, that Illinois law allows a youth of any age to tramp through the woods with a loaded weapon without supervision defies some logic.

Supervision is less of an issue for, say, an 18-year-old who is of age to defend his country, but the argument withers when talking about young teens or preteens hunting alone.

“Common sense says not to allow it,” says Jim Kessler, formerly with Americans for Gun Safety. “I don't care how many safety courses you've taken. At 14, you're just beginning to learn responsibility. And even responsible teenagers are often risk-takers.”

Of the 1.3 million Firearm Owner Identification cardholders in Illinois, 49,555 are between the ages of 11 and 20; another 710 are under age 11.

While Illinois is not alone in its position on supervision of young hunters, some states have addressed the issue with reasonable regulations that enhance safety.

Kids under 12 in Iowa can be issued a deer or turkey license, but have to be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter. In Wisconsin, kids between ages 10 and 17 can hunt, but only with an adult guardian who's also a licensed hunter.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and hunting advocates point to the state hunter safety class mandated for everyone born after Jan. 1, 1980. Citing statistics, they stress how rarely fatal firearm-related accidents occur.

That's reassuring, but requiring adult guardian supervision of young hunters is a necessary extra layer of safety to help prevent future tragedies in the field.