My family went camping with eight other families this weekend and I had the opportunity to introduce a lot of children (from ages 4 to 14) to the joys of shooting. We shot .22LR, 20 gauge and 12 gauge (only for the older kids) in a safe and controlled environment and everyone had a great time! The joyful look on the kids' faces was priceless! We had some "shooters for life" after the weekend was over...
When I got home, I started to research youth shooting programs in the area and was disappointed by what I found. Other than 4H and Boy Scouts, there really isn't anything geared towards young shooters in the Raleigh area. Conversely, I remember a LOT of programs when I was growing up and this is what got me "hooked" on being a lifetime shooter.
I know I am preaching to the choir here, but unless there are more youth shooting programs in the US (especially in metro regions), children will grow up with an ignorance-driven fear/hatred of firearms and will fall victim to the propaganda of the antis. From there, even FEWER youth programs will be kept open and funded and the cycle will repeat itself until most youth shooting programs are gone completely. I figure another 3-4 generations is all it would take before this goes the way of the buggy whip...
I am doing what I can to finish all of my NRA Instructor qualifications and get involved with youth shooting. Doing nothing will be another blow to our Second Amendment rights.
When I got home, I started to research youth shooting programs in the area and was disappointed by what I found. Other than 4H and Boy Scouts, there really isn't anything geared towards young shooters in the Raleigh area. Conversely, I remember a LOT of programs when I was growing up and this is what got me "hooked" on being a lifetime shooter.
I know I am preaching to the choir here, but unless there are more youth shooting programs in the US (especially in metro regions), children will grow up with an ignorance-driven fear/hatred of firearms and will fall victim to the propaganda of the antis. From there, even FEWER youth programs will be kept open and funded and the cycle will repeat itself until most youth shooting programs are gone completely. I figure another 3-4 generations is all it would take before this goes the way of the buggy whip...
I am doing what I can to finish all of my NRA Instructor qualifications and get involved with youth shooting. Doing nothing will be another blow to our Second Amendment rights.