Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Monday 9 april 2018

Advocates: School gun clubs teach discipline, not violence

By LISA MARIE PANE Mike Lewis, who started
Associated Press the Carrollton High School
DAHLONEGA, Ga. (AP) — team, recalled bringing his
Their classmates took to the .22-caliber rifle to school in
streets to protest gun vio- the 1980s. He might open
lence and to implore adults up the trunk in the school
to restrict guns, seeming parking lot to show it off
to forecast a generational to his classmates or one of
shift in attitudes toward the teachers. "Now there's
the Second Amendment. a whole knee-jerk reaction
But at high school and col- based on ignorance and
lege gun ranges around misunderstanding," he la-
the country, these teens mented.
and young adults gather It's a unique sport that
to practice shooting and doesn't attract typical
talk about the positive influ- jocks, he said. Rather than
ence firearms have had on brawn, it's a very brainy
their lives. sport, and he's proud that
What do they say they most of his team is made
learn? Patience. Discipline. up of straight-A students.
Responsibility. Kevin Neuendorf, the direc-
"I've never gone out onto tor of marketing communi-
a range and not learned cations at USA Shooting,
something new," said Lydia In this photo taken Saturday, March 17, 2018, in Dahlonega, Georgia, a student stands at the bay said views toward school
of a gun range at the University of North Georgia, carrying an air rifle and wearing specialized
Odlin, a 21-year-old mem- glasses. gun clubs are part of the
ber of the Georgia South- Associated Press cultural divide in the coun-
ern University rifle team. try.
There are an estimated coach affiliated with USA many of whom are too not ignorant about it, then "There are a lot of misper-
5,000 teams at high schools Shooting, the Olympic or- young to drive a car, vote we're actually safer." ceptions out there about
and universities around the ganization. For the first hour or buy alcohol. Emily Clegg from Monroe the gun culture and all
country, according to the he only talks — not about "So many people have as- accompanied her 16-year- that, but for many it's just
National Shooting Sports techniques or scores, but sumed — and I picked that old daughter, Ashley, to a way of life. Most people
Foundation, and their pop- about mental strategy. word on purpose — that O'Connor's session. Clegg who are shooters, respect
ularity hasn't waned despite "I want to encourage you guns are bad," O'Connor said that in the two years the sport and respect the
criticism after it emerged to be self-aware and to told The Associated Press. Ashley has been involved in game and have a respect
that the gunman who be disciplined about what "Some people are, 'I can't the JROTC program, she's for the firearm they shoot
killed 14 students and three and for the people around
staff members at a Florida them," he said. "I question
high school had been a anybody who can't go out
member of the JROTC rifle to a gun range and have
team. The youths who are fun. That's the way our ath-
involved, coaches and letes see it and that's the
parents say there's an enor- way our sport is built.
mous difference between "It's no different than play-
someone bent on violence ing basketball or soccer.
and school gun clubs that ... For our athletes and for
focus on safety and teach our club members and for
skills that make navigating our parents, that gun is no
life's hardships easier. different than Serena's ten-
The clubs use a variety of nis racket ... and through
firearms — from air rifles that that gun and through that
shoot pellets to 9 mm pistols firearm, what comes? Un-
that fire bullets. Its members believable discipline, op-
invest hundreds of dollars portunity, showing them
in specialized stiff uniforms success. Not every kid can
and shoes that provide be successful at basketball
stability and support for or football."
spending hours standing, Odlin grew up in Maine, a
kneeling or lying prone to microcosm of the country’s
fire at targets down range. In this photo taken Saturday, March 17, 2018, in Dahlonega, Georgia, a student stands at the bay divisions over guns. In the
Some have hopes of repre- of a gun range at the University of North Georgia, a target yards away. northern, more rural parts
senting the U.S. in the Olym- Associated Press of the state, hunting is more
pics. Some simply love the prevalent. But in the south-
camaraderie and mental you're doing," he said. "If believe you're teaching seen "tremendous, positive ern, more-populated part,
focus required. you are patient with your- kids to shoot.' Well, I'm not things" happen to her, from she said, she wasn’t even
On a recent weekend, self, life is a lot easier — or teaching kids to shoot. I'm motivation and leadership allowed to wear her rifle
close to a dozen high less difficult." teaching kids life skills. And to learning to set goals. team’s T-shirt in high school.
school and college gun Many of the students came I'm teaching them about Everyone is upset by gun “Overall, it was something
team members gathered with their parents. All of a topic that is very con- violence, "but I don't think you just didn’t talk about.
at the University of North them say they have no tentious ... and when we what students are do- You just kind of avoided the
Georgia in Dahlonega to qualms about putting a educate people about ing here will lead to that," topic of guns,” she said.
work with JP O'Connor, a firearm in the hands of kids, something and they're Clegg said. q