Let's make August 2024 the best National Shooting Sports Month ever! Time spent in the outdoors with your friends and loved ones is priceless--as is teaching firearm safety and handling to a new shooter. Mentoring a newbie is infinitely rewarding, not just to you, but to your "student" and all the people they will influence in the future. Here are some suggestions from our friends at the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
1. Safety First!
This message is for everyone, regardless of experience level. In fact, the more experienced you are, the more important it is to refresh your skills every so often, especially if you're planning to teach someone new. Whether you're cleaning your firearms, taking them out to the Back 40 or going hunting, safety comes first, second and third. Both your NRA and the NSSF offer basic firearms classes all over the country, so there should be one near you soon. Find the NRA's basic instruction classes here; the NSSF's First Shots classes are linked too.
2. Take the +ONE Pledge
Share your passion for shooting by mentoring a newcomer. The +ONE Movement encourages experienced shooters to introduce novices to the sport. Take the +ONE pledge this August and help someone develop their firearm safety and shooting skills. Remember, any time you add one new, safe, knowledgeable shooter to the sport, that person is likely to influence at least one more ... and one more ... and one more.
3. Take the #RangeChallenge
The #RangeChallenge is back and better than ever! This series of target-shooting games tests your marksmanship skills and offers exciting incentives. Request an official #RangeChallenge target from participating ranges or download one from the website. Shoot your target, share your experience with the hashtag #RangeChallenge and enter to win weekly prizes, including $500 gift cards. Don’t miss out on the fun!
4. Save money on the guns and gear you want
Many retailers and ranges are participating in Shooting Sports Month, and that means special pricing, deals and discounts all throughout August. Visit ShootingSportsmonth.org to find participating businesses near you and enjoy discounts on gear, training sessions and range time.
5. Normalize our sport online
The theme of National Shooting Sports Month is "Let's Go Shooting," so naturally there's a hashtag! This month, share your experiences with the shooting sports on social media with the hashtag #LetsGoShooting. The more that non-shooters get to see their neighbors and friends safely participating in the fun of shooting sports, the more those non-shooters will recognize that hitting the range with your buddies on a Sunday afternoon is right on par with the bowling alley ... only the skills are more practical! For regular updates and resources, follow the LetsGoShooting pages on Facebook, Instagram and X.
