Posted on

10 Ways to Celebrate National Shooting Sports Month

Learn to shoot, invite a newcomer, share the fun this August.

NEWTOWN, Conn. — Breaking a flying clay target or knocking over a steel plate and then sharing the fun of that experience awaits all who participate in National Shooting Sports Month® this August.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) established this celebration to encourage you to spend trigger time at your local shooting range and share your passion for the shooting sports with others. Some 24 million Americans have a great interest in learning about recreational shooting, according to NSSF, making National Shooting Sports Month the perfect time to bring someone new to the range.

We’ve got 10 great reasons for you to celebrate National Shooting Sports Month. If you think of others, please share them on social media and use the hashtag #LetsGoShootingTM.

  1. Bring someone new — There’s nothing quite like seeing the joy on someone’s face after they’ve taken their first shots. Experienced shooters, invite a newcomer to the range, and have them watch this video on Range Safety and Etiquette before they go.
  2. Try something new — Are you a hardcore handgun shooter? Then pick up a shotgun and give sporting clays a try. Are you primarily a shotgun shooter? Then hone your handgun skills or sign up for a local International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) match. Learn about different target sports and see instructional videos at LetsGoShooting.org.
  3. Rediscover shooting — Haven’t shot in a while? Dust off your shooting gear and head to the range, preferably with a friend. Learn a new game, like action pistol, 3-Gun or skeet shooting.
  4. Find a range or an event near you — At LetsGoShooting.org, you’ll find National Shooting Sports Month events at ranges and retailers across the country. If none are listed in your area, use the website to locate a range near you to enjoy a fun, safe day of target shooting.
  5. Make it a date — Ask your spouse, partner, boyfriend or girlfriend to go shooting. You’ll have a great time together. Send an email invitation to them at LetsGoShooting.org. By the way, women are the fastest growing segment in target shooting, and more gear than ever is being designed for their fit and comfort.
  6. Cash in on deals — Retailers and ranges will be offering specials during National Shooting Sports Month at some 400 events nationwide. Find a participating business near you to take advantage of these offers at LetsGoShooting.org.
  7. Practice Firearm Safety — The shooting sports are safe. Responsible gun owners safely handle their firearms and securely store when not in use when on the firing line, transporting them in vehicles and at home.
  8. Celebrate Freedom and Tradition — In addition to passing on the great tradition of target shooting, you can educate others about the unique American freedoms that make participating possible. See NSSF’s Proud to be a Firearms Owner pocket card.
  9. Share it! — #LetsGoShootingTM is the theme of National Shooting Sports Month. Share the hashtag and your experiences on your favorite social media networks, and remind others to give target shooting a try. Stay connected by following Let’s Go Shooting on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
  10. Win a Great Prize! — Finally, enter the Trigger Time Sweepstakes at LetsGoShooting.org for a chance to win great prizes in weekly drawings from generous National Shooting Sports Month sponsors.
Posted on

NSSF, Project ChildSafe Call for Responsible Gun Storage

Project ChildSafe®, the nationwide firearms safety education program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), is urging all gun owners to make responsible firearms storage a priority — and providing the tools to do so — with the launch of its sixth annual “S.A.F.E. Summer” campaign.

Launched in conjunction with “National Safety Month” every June, S.A.F.E. Summer emphasizes the importance of storing firearms responsibly when not in use, especially during the summer months when children are home and more likely to be unsupervised. “S.A.F.E.” serves as an acronym for Store your firearms responsibly when not in use; Always practice firearms safety; Focus on your responsibilities as a firearms owner; and Education is key to preventing accidents.

“Summer is an important time for firearms owners to make sure they’re properly securing their firearms, both in the home and in their vehicles, as children may be spending more time unattended in these locations,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “NSSF and Project ChildSafe encourage firearms owners and non-owners alike to talk with their families about firearms safety to help prevent firearms accidents, thefts and misuse.” Secure storage of firearms also can play a role in helping to prevent suicide by placing time and distance between an at-risk person and a firearm.

Through Project ChildSafe, firearms owners can obtain free firearm safety kits, including a gun lock, at local law enforcement agencies across the country. Project ChildSafe also offers a variety of educational resources free on its website. These include a S.A.F.E. Summer Quiz, information on safe storage options, brochures and a video series. New videos for 2018, developed in partnership with the National Crime Prevention Council, feature McGruff the Crime Dog, and teach children the four important steps to remember if they find a firearm or if someone they know brings one to school. Another video offers guidance to help parents talk about gun safety with their kids. Also available is the AFSP-NSSF Firearms and Suicide Prevention brochure developed by NSSF and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

NSSF launched Project ChildSafe (originally known as Project HomeSafe) in 1999 as a nationwide initiative to promote firearms responsibility and provide safety education to all gun owners. While children are a primary focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help children and adults practice greater firearms safety. Through partnerships with more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies, the program has provided more than 37 million free firearm safety kits to gun owners in all 50 states and the five U.S. territories, which is in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included with new firearms sold since 1998. Project ChildSafe was also recognized as one of three finalists in the National Safety Council’s 2018 “Green Cross for Safety” Awards.