Shotguns at School Events: Shooting Sports in High School Organizations

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A refreshing trend that you don't hear much about these days: Trap and skeet shooting teams at high schools across the nation are springing up, underlining the fact that firearms are not inherently bad, even when associated with schools.

According to Bloomberg Business, trap shooting is the fastest-growing sport in Minnesota high schools. The Minnesota State High School Clay Target League championship had 30 contestants in 2009. This past June, the event drew over 5,000 shooters and more than 20,000 spectators, making it the world’s biggest shooting-sport event.

Many shooting clubs and teams have been formed in other states, including of course Texas, with shooting clubs now in North Texas school districts such as Southlake/Carroll, Flower Mound and Argyl, according to a CBSDFW news story.

Jim Sable, a 74 year old life-long shooter who founded the USA State High School Clay Target League, says that safety is of the utmost importance. “Safety, fun and marksmanship, in that order”. All firearms activities take place strictly off-campus.

Having spent a large amount of time involved in competitive skeet shooting, I can personally attest to the life-lessons involved in shooting sports, not to mention the fun. Firearms are certainly not in and of themselves evil or dangerous, anymore than are motor vehicles or kitchen knives.  With proper training, safety instruction and supervision, firearms sports teach respect, confidence, sportsmanship, familiarity with firearms, discipline and the importance of technique and practice, not to mention safety. At any shooting facility, safety is ALWAYS the number one concern at every moment. And shooting sports can be participated in and enjoyed from a young age through most of the rest of a person's life.

The Chad Hasty Show airs weekday mornings live, from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM and Saturdays 2 PM to 4 PM on News/Talk 790 KFYO, online at KFYO.com, and on the free RadioPup app. Follow Chad on Twitter via @ChadHastyRadio & KFYO Radio at @KFYO!