Gun safety, marksmanship classes proposed for youth

A youth shooting program is being proposed by local members of the American Legion. A town meeting will be held May 12, a Saturday, at 6 p.m. at Heritage Church. Light refreshments will be served (coffee, cookies). Anyone interested in participating or learning more about the program is welcome to attend.

Depending on the level of interest, the Legion group in Odessa hopes to begin offering a marksmanship class beginning in September of this year.

According to the American Legion website, the American Legion Junior Shooting Sports Program is a gun-safety education and marksmanship program that encompasses the basic elements of safety, education, enjoyment and competition.

Junior Shooting Sports is a three-part program that combines the Basic Marksmanship Course, Qualification Awards and Air Rifle Competition into a well-rounded activity.

The Legion also offers scholarships for post-secondary education, as well as many other programs for young people.

Local American Legion member Steven Siegel is seeking qualification as a marksmanship instructor, and he and others will provide the training for a class of up to 12 individual youths, male and female. Air rifles (pellet guns) with a 50-foot range will be used for the class. Instruction will include shooting from four different positions: prone, sitting, kneeling and standing.

Siegel told The Record that a shooting range must be established somewhere in the local area before the youth class can be offered. He said local Legion members are hoping to be able to get a small piece of land donated on which to set up a range. A clubhouse might then also follow at some later time.