Safety

Civilian Marksmanship ProgramSafety

Target shooting established its record as one of the safest of all sports because everyone in it must learn and follow basic safety rules. There are several thousand junior shooting clubs, JROTC unit rifle teams, 4-H Shooting Sports clubs, Boy Scout troops and Venturing crews, youth camps and junior shooting organizations that practice and compete in position air rifle shooting and other air rifle activities.  These programs have more than 100,000 participants in the United States.  These youth marksmanship activities have compiled an outstanding safety record where gun-related accidents are extremely rare.  Rifle marksmanship activities are indeed among the safest of all youth sports. Target shooting is a sport of control and discipline where everyone involved, including participants, instructors, coaches and range officers, is expected to know and apply the sport’s safety rules at all times.