NSSF Urges Support of Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act in Senate

This article appeared today from the National Shooting Sports Foundation...

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, is encouraging all sportsmen, gun owners and firearms enthusiasts to contact members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works today and urge them to support the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (S. 1249 / H.R. 3065). This bi-partisan legislation will give states greater flexibility in using their Pittman-Robertson.  (Money received from fishing and hunting licenses, guns and ammo)

A recent survey by the Responsive Management Company has shown that the biggest obstacle to participation in hunting and the shooting sports is access....

 In addressing this concern, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act will not only help sportsmen and target shooters, but wildlife and conservation efforts as well. Active participation in hunting and the shooting sports means increased production of firearms and ammunition....

By allowing the states more latitude in determining how excise tax dollars are used to enhance and develop public shooting facilities, wildlife conservation funding will increase....

Read the entire article 

Photo credit above: Crook County School District, NJROTC 2007.

Keep your family safe by locking your guns.

Most people I know who have a gun in their home do so for the primary reason to keep their families safe.  It is unfortunate that sometimes the home becomes less safe because of that firearm.  What I mean is, that the home owner has the sense of security that they can protect themselves from an intruder, which may or may not happen.  On the other hand, that same home owner puts their family at risk by storing the gun in an unsafe manner that may be accessible to kids.


Moms and Dads, lock your guns and keep the ammunition locked separate.  For those of you who want to have the security against an intruder, ask yourself, "Am I really ready to shoot and kill another human being?".  After seriously considering all of this I concluded that most people would probably be better off by installing or upgrading a security system, leaving outdoor lighting on, buying a dog that will alert you to prowlers or all three.

Securing your firearm is not just a safe thing to do.  It's the law.  If you do not know how to lock your firearm, call any law enforcement officer or agency, gun shop or visit the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Project ChildSafe website.

Colleges with active shooting sports programs.

One of the things we talk about in 4-H Shooting Sports is that archery, rifle and shotgun are all competitive Olympic events and some colleges offer scholarships to shooters.  But when we're asked for more information, we're usually "stumped".  As instructors we should know how to lead these kids to the next level.

Recently the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) awarded almost $300,000 in grants to 41 colleges with shooting sports programs through its Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative.


"Throughout the country, we are seeing a surge in college students interested in the shooting sports," said Zach Snow, NSSF's manager of shooting promotions. "These clubs are filling a need on campus by providing opportunities to target shoot, and their members are building positive reputations for the shooting sports both on campus and in surrounding communities."


In the article it lists the colleges who received grant money.  Young shooters who are interested in pursuing a scholarship in shooting, or interested in it as an intermural sport  should start to check into these programs.

Hunting Safer Than Golf, Report Says

In a recent article by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry, they released the results of their compiled safety data for 2010. Their data shows that hunting ranks third in safety when compared to 28 other recreational pursuits, including golf and many others ranging from baseball to wrestling.

"Many people have the misconception that hunting is unsafe, but the data tells a different story," said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF's director of industry research and analysis. "Comprehensive hunter education classes that emphasize the basic rules of firearm safety and a culture of hunters helping fellow hunters practice safe firearms handling in the field are responsible for this good record."

To put hunting's safety standing into perspective, compared to hunting a person is . . .
- 11 times more likely to be injured playing volleyball
- 19 times more likely to be injured snowboarding
-  25 times more likely to be injured cheerleading or bicycle riding
-  34 times more likely to be injured playing soccer or skateboarding
-  105 more times likely to be injured playing tackle football.

For the entire article, click here.

Another very interesting and related report is by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and their WISQARSTM (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System), which is an interactive database system that provides customized reports of injury-related data.  This graphic by the CDC list unintentional firearms accidents a 0.5% of unintentional fatalities compared to all other major categories of accidents.

Oops, Sorry About Your Cat

It is Thanksgivng Day. One of the nicest privileges about being a home owner, and a shooting sports enthusiast is being able to shoot in your own back yard - if you can. Today would be a good day to start. I don’t know what it is, but shooting in your very own yard rivals the pleasure of seeing shrubs you just put in, grass freshly cut or barbequing on the grill. It gives the homeowner, especially men I believe, a sense of ownership and master of his domain.

I’m not talking about hunting or shooting high power rifles, for most of us that’s simply unfeasible because of the usual rules of suburbia and the dreaded HOA bylaws some of us agreed to. What I am talking about is the tamer, “gentlemanly” or at least quiet sports of archery, air rifle or even air-soft marksmanship. Keeping a bow or a pellet gun and a target in the spare bedroom or out in the garage handy makes it easier. Set up your situation so that you can step out or even better – grab your child from in front of the video game or your sweetie, and take them outside with you. After your domestic shooting range is set up, you can be outside and shooting within just a few minutes. This will allow you to kill two or more birds with one stone (not literally) – you can practice one of your favorite sports, perfect your skills, and spend some quality time with one of your favorite family members. Why wait until your next trip to the gun range to teach firearms handling to your family? You don’t own a gun or bow suitable for short range, quiet fun? If you call your local gun or archery shop, they can probably get you some backyard-suitable equipment for a c-note or less. You don’t have enough room? All one needs for a backyard range is five to ten yards with a safe area behind and to the sides.

Be sure to follow all safety guidelines, especially the 3 Always of Firearm Safety, the 10 Commandments of Firearm Safety, and local your ordinances. Be courteous of your neighbors, and don’t shoot the little birdies. Remember some of these most important rules of backyard marksmanship are : 1) keep the firearm (gun or bow) pointed in a safe direction, 2) stay unloaded until pointing at the target, and 3) keep your finger(s) off the trigger (or string) until your sights are lined up and you’re ready to shoot, 4) be sure of your target and what is beyond, and last but not least be sure to use all safety equipment, especially eye protection. For more safety information contact a local gun shop, firearms or hunter safety instructor or go to the education sections of the National Rifle Association or the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Sneaky Prophylactic Education

Talk about perking the ears up on the administration! Sneaky Prophylactic Education in short, in this context, is using shooting sports as the hook to grab the child’s attention, so as to be able to impart knowledge, modify behavior, and ultimately touch the life of the youngster to help them grow into a responsible caring adult. My old friend Dr. Ron Howard of Texas A&M explains it well:

I think you've heard several things. When most youth programs go out to work with shooting, what they are doing is sneaky prophylactic education.

I want you to understand what I mean. Prophylactic means preventative. Our objective through 4-H is to educate the kid. It's sneaky because we sell all of the educational package with fun. When it comes to those parents, it's doubly sneaky prophylactic education because they think that they must be there because only the kid is there.

They don't know that we're going to recruit them and put them to work at the same time. They don't know that we're going to teach them the same stuff that the kids are being taught and therefore try to recruit them as well. Being a spectator stinks. - excerpt taken from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Reaching Out to Existing Youth Organizations, 2005 by Dr. Ron Howard, Jr. Extension 4-H and Youth Development Specialist, Texas Agricultural Extension Service.

Make a difference in the life of a kid by taking them outdoors. They’ll benefit on many levels.