Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Tuesday 30 July 2019
Advocates: School gun clubs teach discipline, not violence

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 said views toward school
Odlin, a 21-year-old mem- gun clubs are part of the
ber of the Georgia South- In this photo taken Sunday, March 17, 2019, in Dahlonega, Georgia, a student stands at the bay cultural divide in the coun-
ern University rifle team. of a gun range at the University of North Georgia, carrying an air rifle and wearing specialized try.
There are an estimated glasses. "There are a lot of misper-
5,000 teams at high schools Associated Press ceptions out there about
and universities around the the gun culture and all
country, according to the ganization. For the first hour or buy alcohol. Emily Clegg from Monroe that, but for many it's just
National Shooting Sports he only talks — not about "So many people have as- accompanied her 16-year- a way of life. Most people
Foundation, and their pop- techniques or scores, but sumed — and I picked that old daughter, Ashley, to who are shooters, respect
ularity hasn't waned despite about mental strategy. word on purpose — that O'Connor's session. Clegg the sport and respect the
criticism after it emerged "I want to encourage you guns are bad," O'Connor said that in the two years game and have a respect
that the gunman who to be self-aware and to told The Associated Press. Ashley has been involved in for the firearm they shoot
killed 14 students and three be disciplined about what "Some people are, 'I can't the JROTC program, she's and for the people around
staff members at a Florida you're doing," he said. "If believe you're teaching seen "tremendous, positive them," he said. "I question
high school had been a you are patient with your- kids to shoot.' Well, I'm not things" happen to her, from anybody who can't go out
member of the JROTC rifle self, life is a lot easier — or teaching kids to shoot. I'm motivation and leadership to a gun range and have
team. The youths who are less difficult." teaching kids life skills. And to learning to set goals. fun. That's the way our ath-
involved, coaches and Many of the students came I'm teaching them about Everyone is upset by gun letes see it and that's the
parents say there's an enor- with their parents. All of a topic that is very con- violence, "but I don't think way our sport is built.
mous difference between them say they have no tentious ... and when we what students are do- "It's no different than play-
someone bent on violence qualms about putting a educate people about ing here will lead to that," ing basketball or soccer.
and school gun clubs that firearm in the hands of kids, something and they're Clegg said. ... For our athletes and for
focus on safety and teach many of whom are too not ignorant about it, then Mike Lewis, who started our club members and for
skills that make navigating young to drive a car, vote we're actually safer." the Carrollton High School 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. divisions over guns. In the
Some have hopes of repre- northern, more rural parts
senting the U.S. in the Olym- of the state, hunting is more
pics. Some simply love the prevalent. But in the south-
camaraderie and mental ern, more-populated part,
focus required. she said, she wasn't even
On a recent weekend, allowed to wear her rifle
close to a dozen high team's T-shirt in high school.
school and college gun "Overall, it was something
team members gathered you just didn't talk about.
at the University of North You just kind of avoided the
Georgia in Dahlonega to topic of guns," she said.
work with JP O'Connor, a In this photo taken Sunday, March 17, 2019, in Dahlonega, Georgia, a student stands at the bay of As soon as she moved to
coach affiliated with USA a gun range at the University of North Georgia, a target yards away. Georgia, she was greeted
Shooting, the Olympic or- Associated Press with more acceptance.q