UGA Cooperative Extension
Spalding County Extension Office:
4-H Youth Development
Project S.A.F.E.
Shooting Sports Facts
| 1985 | Leo Lujan started an air rifle program within the Army National Guard Marksmanship Unit |
| 1996 | NRA began it's Air Gun Program (headed by George Harris and Margaret Shoppe |
| 1996 | USA Shooting began Olympic Shooting Sports Operations separate from NRA |
| 1999 | The CMP National Three-Position Air Rifle Council was formed |
| 1999 | CMP Air Rifle EIC Program began |
| 2000 | The NRA split it's program into Precision and Sporter categories |
- Accidents in the shooting sports are so low statistically, the National Safety Council does not track them.
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) does not classify air guns as firearms because of their lower velocity and lack of explosives used to propel the projectile. This simplifies the purchase, storage and transport of air guns since they are not federally regulated as a firearm.
- Because of the lower velocity, lead abatement for air gun pellets consists simply of sweeping up pellets from target traps and the few that may fall to the floor. In the absence of an explosive charge, air gun lead is NOT atomized and therefore don't NOT require sophisicated HEPA filters as do firearms cartridges used on indoor firing ranges.
- As a result, nearly 3,500 Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) high schools typically conduct after school shooting sports practice in the school cafeteria, hallway, library, auto shop or other public facility. To make these areas safe, the teacher need only restrict traffic near the line of fire to the target, using locked doors, barrier tape and signs.
- The low noise of an air gun allows use of very inexpensive ear plugs - typically $0.25 or less per pair.
- In order to ensure proper safety instruction, the NRA has an inventory of 54,000 local firearms safety instructors and range safety officers that can help provide adult supervision during matches, or provide instruction for school personnel to ensure the used of proper safety procedures.
- Air guns are an Olympic sport that offer youth access to 200 scholastic shooting teams and nearly 100 schools who offer scholarships, regardless of their ability to sprint a 100 yard dash, hit a homerun, dunk a basketball or play ice hockey.
- The shooting skills of discipline, perserverence, concentration, ethics and teamsmanship translate well to life skills important to youth development.
Contact
For more information about Spalding County 4-H S.A.F.E. Project, contact Roy McClain, Volunteer Lead Coordinator (678) 772-8185 or Wade Hutcheson or call (770) 467-4225.
