The good news for shooters everywhere is that there is no shortage of reasons to break out the shotgun, rifle, or handgun this summer and spend an afternoon or day shooting targets, gongs, clays or simply plinking on the back 40. Store shelves are stocked with firearms and ammunition and gun ranges across America are ready for your visit.
One possible site to visit is the new trap and skeet range at the Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center near Mansfield, Georgia. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (www.nssf.org), shooting sports generate more than $478 million dollars in economic impact and more than 1,700 jobs in Georgia alone. Nationwide the shooting and firearms industry is credited with providing more than 98,000 direct jobs and an economic impact of more than $31B—yes, billion. Shooting sports are BIG business in America. Have you done your part recently?
Several states offer public gun ranges that are funded partly with excess taxes on firearms and ammunition. Many of these facilities sell yearly passes, like the ones in Ohio, and you can use the range during a shooting session now and at a later date, such as when sighting in a rifle or shotgun this fall in preparation for deer season. Most public ranges are also great places to safely introduce youth to the shooting sports. Find a range at www.wheretoshoot.org.
One other newsy note in the shooting sports that you’ll want to follow. The National Shooting Sports is offering free-of-charge firearms safety and conservation DVDs that they will send to schools and teachers. More than 3,000 orders have been received to date. You can place your kid’s school on the list by ordering at http://www.nssf.org/education/video.cfm.