NPR story - African-American Gun Club Hopes To Help Curb Youth Violence

[merl]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/12/12/250445228/african-american-gun-club-hopes-to-help-curb-youth-violence

Decent little story here, just in time for newtown. There is even a black rifle. :)

Members of one of the few African-American social firearm clubs in the nation think teaching young people different ideas about guns might help deter them from a life of violence.
...
"It's up to us as African-Americans to address these issues," says Smith, who like some other club members, grew up hunting. "So I know that black people can be around guns and not shoot each other."

Smith says the African-American community needs to develop a healthy respect for guns, and he hopes that will lower the level of violence.

[JohnnyDrama]

Nice.

It's good to see someone introducing new shooters to the sport and familiarizing them with firearms in a manner not related to crime.

[KS63]

Waiting for him to be called an Uncle Tom in 3...2...1

[merl]

Waiting for him to be called an Uncle Tom in 3...2...1

More likely to be ignored, which is why stories like this are good to see.

[flan7211]

Good story. NPR does run good human interest stories, but I'm shocked about shedding guns in a good light. Good for this club.

[rondog]

That would be a good cause to volunteer for.....not just black kids, but teaching ANY kids shooting. I think I could dig it. I remember taking rifle training as a kid from a rough, gruff, cigar-chomping local cop sergeant named Ernie Powell. He was like a DI, but he trained a LOT of kids and ran the teams. Good memories. Single shot Remington 512's with peep sights in the cops indoor range.

[Irving]

Anyone been listening to the series they are running every morning and evening about vets with dishonorable discharges?

[merl]

Yeah, was wondering what triggered that. Is it just something they decided was getting no attention?

Rondog, scouts do that don't they?

[Ah Pook]

Had my NRA safe hunter card at 10yo. First year ay BS summer camp. No NDs. No mass shootings. Hell, nobody even shot their eye out.

Sounds like a good idea.

[Aloha_Shooter]

merl, both the Denver Area Council and Pikes Peak Council have active shooting sports programs to teach boys how to shoot. Can't say I act like a DI but I do my best in trying to instill good shooting habits and getting them to enjoy the sport.

[rondog]

Yeah, was wondering what triggered that. Is it just something they decided was getting no attention?

Rondog, scouts do that don't they?

I don't know about scouting these days. What I went to was PAL sponsored, Police Athletic League. Wasn't any different than signing up your kid for baseball with them. Only negative was, they didn't know what "range ventilation" was in those days. "Hell, boy, that smoke's good for ya! It'll put hair on your ass!"

[kawiracer14]

When I did boy scouts we always shot BB guns at camp, don't ever remember shooting a 22 or anything very fun.