Celebrate National Shooting Sports Month, taking place in August, by putting it on your calendar of things to do with friends and family.
This is the NSSF's second annual event and all during August, shooting ranges, firearms retailers, public and private shooting clubs, shooting sports organizations and fish and wildlife agencies will focus their attention on the fun and excitement of target shooting by encouraging newcomers and experienced shooters to head to the range.
“National Shooting Sports Month focuses attention on the fun, safety and sociability of our sports,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “This is a great time to safely enjoy a day at the range with your family and friends.”
Helping new shooters learn proper safety measures and shooting techniques can build confidence and create fun outings. (Photo: NSSF)
Manufacturers, shooting sports organizations, shooting ranges and retailers will be participating in or lending support to National Shooting Sports Month. To help spread the word about the businesses and organizations involved, while also providing a one-stop resource for participants, NSSF has relaunched www.ShootingSportsMonth.org.
Among its many interactive features, the site contains a search tool to identify participating ranges and retailers that have scheduled events by state, as well as safety information, target shooting skills tips, introductions to new shooting games and information on how you can participate in the month-long Trigger Time Sweepstakes.
Retailers and ranges also should download the National Shooting Sports Month logos from the site for use on their social media pages, mailings and marketing materials. In addition, the celebration’s social media campaign will encourage inactive shooters to dust off their shooting gear and active recreational shooters to invite someone new to the shooting sports and act as a mentor.
“We received so much positive and enthusiastic support from our industry family for last year’s inaugural National Shooting Sports Month, we think it will be almost impossible for anyone to resist grabbing their favorite firearm, a few friends or family members and head to the range to see what all the excitement’s about,” said Zach Snow, NSSF Director, Range Services.
“We want to know about it! Tell us on our Facebook page, Tweet us and share your Instagram photos with the hashtag #LetsGoShooting, because this is what any of us who own a firearm have been waiting for,” Snow added.
9 Ways to Help Celebrate
- Encourage Others to Try Something New—Do you know someone who is a hardcore pistol shooter? Suggest they take out that shotgun they haven’t used in a while and give sporting clays, skeet or trap a try. Are they primarily a shotgun shooter? Tell them about local IDPA matches to test their pistol skills or the local F-class match that stretches their rifle skills.
- Introduce Someone New to the Shooting Sports—There's nothing quite like seeing the excitement on a friend's face after they take their first shots. Invite a friend or family member to the range for the first time.
- Cash In On Deals—Are you looking for something new for hunting season or the range? Retailers and ranges across the country will be offering specials during the month. Visit www.shootingsportsmonth.com to find ranges and retailers.
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Range time with targets and family or friends can be fun at any age. (Photo: NSSF)
Rediscover Shooting—Perhaps you know someone who is a part-time shooter, or maybe you're not shooting as regularly as in the past. Dust off your gear and head to the range—and take a friend or family member! Sometimes it takes busting a few clays or knocking down steel plates to remember just how much you love to shoot.
- Watch the Video—At www.shootingsportsmonth.org, you’ll discover how to hone shooting skills with video tips from experts in handgun, rifle and shotgun.
- Excitement for a Lifetime—New shooters especially need the opportunity to disover that shooting sports are affordable, accessible and inclusive. They’re lifetime activities you’ll enjoy with family members and friends, so help spread the word.
- Concerned about Safety?—The shooting sports are safe. Ranges emphasize safely handling firearms at all times and securely storing them when you’re finished at the firing line. Emphasize to your friends and family about your range's safety programs and provide them other resources, such as NSSF’s ProjectChildSafe.org, that demonstrate that our industry leads the way in helping them stay safe when handling firearms.
- Celebrate Freedom and Tradition—Whatever your shooting sport, be vigilant about the importance of passing on a tradition and educating others about the unique American freedoms that make participating possible.
- Share It!—#LetsGoShooting is the theme of National Shooting Sports Month. Be sure to use the hashtag and share your experiences on your social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, helping to remind others to give target shooting a try.
Featured photo: National Shooting Sports Foundation
