Author: Taly Zapanta

Local law enforcement from coast to coast joined NSSF® – The Firearm Industry Trade Association – and Project ChildSafe® to commemorate Gun Storage Check Week®, which ran June 1 to June 7 to coincide with National Safety Month. During this week-long national observance, gun owners are encouraged to check their firearm storage practices and, if necessary, make adjustments to prevent unwanted access. Together, police departments, community organizations and industry leaders reminded gun owners and their families to Make Sure It’s Secure®.

In Prescott Valley, Arizona, local law enforcement shared Project ChildSafe’s safe storage module and offered free gun safety kits for community members. The Prescott Valley Police Department’s press release was featured in the local newspaper, The Prescott Times.

“Secure firearm storage is the most effective way to help prevent firearm accidents, suicides and theft. There are secure storage options available to all gun owners, such as cable locks, lock boxes, and full-size safes to make sure that firearms are secure when not in use,” the department said. “Keeping our community and residents safe is a top priority for our agency, especially when it comes to educating gun owners on the importance of securely storing firearms.”

In DeKalb County, Georgia, a county in the Atlanta metro area, members of the DeKalb County Police Department’s SWAT marked Gun Storage Check Week by spending a morning distributing 60 Project ChildSafe gun locks. For those unable to attend the event, the department posted on Facebook that gun locks are also available at all four county precincts.

Dallas Police Department Community Affairs in Dallas, Texas shared pictures on Facebook of law enforcement and volunteers unloading a shipment of 15,000 Project ChildSafe gun safety kits at Dallas Police Headquarters on June 5. Police officers handed out free gun locks and gun safety materials during community engagement events.

In Arapahoe County, Colorado, a county covering part of the Denver area, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office posted about Gun Storage Check Week on Facebook and Instagram:

“Proper gun storage helps prevent accidents, especially in homes with children. Secure storage reduces the risk of firearms being stolen and potentially used in crimes. As a gun owner, it’s your duty to ensure your firearms are stored safely and responsibly.

Please take a moment this week to review your gun storage practices. Are your firearms securely locked away? Are your locks in good condition? If not, the Sheriff’s Office has 100 gun locks we’re giving away for free.”

And even after Gun Storage Check Week concluded, local law enforcement continued to share safety messages and resources.

The City of Raliegh Police Department in Raleigh, North Carolina, posted on X, “There are many ways to safely store firearms, including a full-sized gun safe, a cable lock, a lock box/locker, a gun case, a console/vehicle gun safe, and a trigger lock. Decide which storage device is right for you and lock up!”

While the weekly observance is a great reminder for all gun owners—firearm safety is an everyday practice. We all have a role to play in protecting our families and neighbors and helping prevent firearm-related accidents.

Project ChildSafe is grateful to all law enforcement partners and supporters for helping share the message of Gun Storage Check Week nationwide. We look forward to future partnerships to bring firearm safety to local communities.

NSSF and Project ChildSafe will launch a second Gun Storage Check Week observance September 1-7 to coincide with National Suicide Prevention Month.

By: Top Shot Chris Cheng
American History Channel’s Top Shot Champion and Author of “Shoot To Win”

Buying a firearm is a serious decision—and a personal one, especially if it’s your first time.  Whether you’re considering it for personal or home defense, sport shooting, hunting or all of the above, owning a firearm comes with a responsibility that goes far beyond choosing the right make and model. It’s about learning how to use it safely and responsibly and giving special thought to where that gun will be kept when it’s not under your direct control.

There are a lot of questions you should ask yourself before purchasing a gun. If it’s your first time, I recommend looking at Project ChildSafe’s “Road To Responsible Gun Ownership” guide, which covers step-by-step questions and tips to consider.  One of the most important is, “Where and how am I going to store it in my home?”

Unfortunately, most people don’t think about this question — especially if they’re buying a gun for personal or home protection. Obviously, if you have kids in your home — ever — you want to make sure that firearm is secured, where only you can access it.  The last thing anyone wants is a tragedy involving an unsecured gun being picked up by a child.

Even if you never have kids in your home or if you live alone, securely storing your firearm is still vitally important. Guns can be stolen from your home. They can also be stolen from your vehicle if you’re taking them to the range (or hunting) and need to stop somewhere along the way where you can’t bring the gun inside with you. In fact, thefts of guns from vehicles is becoming one of the most common crimes across the country.

It’d be bad enough to have to suffer the loss of property, but to think your firearm is now going to be used to commit a crime is never a burden anyone should have to bear. There are several options for securely storing your firearms at home and in your vehicle … taking that step plays a direct role in keeping your community safer.

Owning a Gun Means Understanding It

The most important step after buying a firearm is learning how to handle it properly. If you own a gun, you owe it to yourself and your family and loved ones to know how to safely operate it, how to handle it safely and how to safely clean and maintain it.

Misunderstanding how your firearm functions—or worse, never learning—is a recipe for tragedy. Every year, accidents happen because someone mishandled a gun they didn’t fully understand how to operate. Don’t let that be you. Make safety your first priority.

Take a Training Class

One of the best things you can do as a new gun owner is take a firearm safety and handling course at a local shooting range. Most likely the retailer who sold you the gun has recommendations on local ranges or may even be part of a range already.  If not, check out the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Where to Shoot webpage for a state-by-state directory of ranges.

These classes are often affordable, beginner-friendly and led by certified instructors who know how to walk newcomers through everything they need to know, from basic safety rules and handling, to how to shoot accurately and with confidence.

Training gives you more than just knowledge—it gives you familiarity. The gun becomes less intimidating once you understand how it works and develop your safe handling skills. You’ll stop thinking of it as a scary object and start seeing it for what it really is: a tool that demands respect and discipline.

Your First Shot Shouldn’t Be in a Crisis

Perhaps the most critical message for new gun owners is this: the first time you fire your gun should not be in an emergency.

In a high-stress situation—like a home invasion or self-defense scenario—your body goes into fight-or-flight mode. Fine motor skills decrease, adrenaline floods your system and decision-making becomes harder. If you’ve never held or fired your gun before that moment, it’s unlikely you’ll use it effectively or even decide it’s best not to use it. Worse, you could hurt yourself or someone else by accident.

There’s a popular saying that in a crisis it’s much more difficult to “rise to the occasion” than it is to “fall back on your training.”  Regular practice at the range, guided by professionals at first, builds muscle memory and confidence. When you’ve trained in a safe, controlled environment, your ability to stay calm and act appropriately in an emergency increases dramatically.

Responsibility Comes First

Owning a gun is not just a right—it’s a responsibility. A firearm can protect, but only if the person holding it is informed, trained and prepared. Don’t let your first shot be a desperate one in the dark. Take the time to learn. Train regularly. Keep your firearm secure and never forget that safety is always the number one priority.

If you’re serious about gun ownership, start with education. Check out the Road to Responsible Gun Ownership guide, learn about firearm safety in the home, visit your local range, sign up for a class and ask questions. The more you know, the more confidently and safely you’ll be able to exercise your rights, protect yourself and protect the people you care about.

Chris Cheng is a champion American sport shooter, winner of the History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 and author of the book “Shoot to Win, which offers tips for new gun owners and shooters.  A proud believer in personal liberty, he serves on the boards of the Asian Pacific American Gun Owners Association and Operation Blazing Sword/Pink Pistols, pro-gun liberty organizations for Asian and LGTBQ Americans, respectively.  Cheng is a former staff writer for The Firearm Blog and has appeared in Gun Stories with Joe Montagna, among other media outlets.  

By: Tim Schmidt
Chairman and Co-Founder of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association

The vast majority of gun owners, especially CCW permit holders, have taken steps already to make sure their firearms are securely and responsibly stored in their homes. It’s always essential to ensure that personal firearms can’t be stolen, picked up by a child, or misused in any way. If the statistics from the FBI are to be believed, however, many of these same gun owners are overlooking the importance of being equally vigilant to secure their guns in their vehicles.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), firearms are frequently stolen from vehicles, raising not only concerns about property loss but also about their potential use in criminal activity. This puts both public safety and gun rights at risk. As responsible gun owners, we have a duty to take every possible step to prevent our firearms from falling into the wrong hands.

That’s why initiatives like Project ChildSafe — a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) — and national awareness events like the NSSF’s Gun Storage Check Week® (June 1-7, 2025) are so critical. They provide clear, practical guidance and public reminders that safe storage is essential, not optional.

The Risks Are Real—and Preventable

The reality is that a parked car, whether it’s locked or not, and whether a firearm is visible or not, is an easy target for thieves. A thin piece of glass is all that separates them from what’s inside.

In many cases, they’ll break in looking for money or valuables and then find an unsecured firearm. In other cases, they can be more deliberate. Many of us at the USCCA have heard stories of thieves tailing gun owners after they leave the range, waiting for the driver to stop at a coffee shop or grocery store on the way home. Once the owners are out of sight, the thieves break in and steal the guns, cases, ammunition, optics, and everything else not bolted down.

And therein lies the central message: Securing your firearm in a vehicle requires more than just locking the doors. It requires securing those firearms in a way that can’t be accessed or removed by any unauthorized person.

What You Can Do Right Now

NSSF and Project ChildSafe have several resources on gun storage, including a “Gun Storage for Your Lifestyle” infographic that discusses options for safe storage in vehicles.  There’s also a comprehensive brochure and videos with helpful information as well.

I mention these resources because even if you already take steps to prevent your guns from being stolen, you can still be a powerful voice in the gun-owning community to promote this lifesaving practice. Take the time to share and teach from these tools, and help us ensure that the gun-owning community (rather than organizations opposed to gun rights) owns the firearm safety message.

Protect Your Property, Protect Your Rights

Gun owners are among the most responsible citizens in America — but we must continuously work to uphold that reputation, or we risk undermining our own rights. As we recognize Gun Storage Check Week, I encourage you to take a few moments to check how you’re securing your firearm — especially in your vehicle.

Secure storage is one of the most effective ways to prevent accidental tragedies and firearm theft. It protects our communities, our families, and our rights. By staying vigilant and storing your firearms securely, you’ll help to protect what matters most—your loved ones, your community, and your freedom.

Tim Schmidt is the Chairman and Co-Founder of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association

Project ChildSafe’s 2025 Friends and Family campaign is a time when Project ChildSafe invites gun owners across the country to join us in spreading the word about firearm safety. From May 12 to June 6, anyone can enter to win amazing weekly prizes by sharing Project ChildSafe resources with their friends and family.  

We want to greatly thank our partners and sponsors in this effort, without their generosity, this campaign would not be possible. This year set a new standard with the largest collection of prizes we’ve ever gathered – including a mix of gun storage and security items, optics, holsters, firearms and other tactical gear.  

With the campaign nearing the halfway point, we’re taking a moment to give our sponsors the opportunity to share a few words on why they support Project ChildSafe’s mission to spread the important message of gun safety: 

“At CrossBreed Holsters, we believe responsible gun ownership starts with secure firearm storage. Protecting families, preventing accidents, and promoting a culture of safety are core to our values. That’s why we proudly support Project ChildSafe—an important initiative dedicated to educating gun owners and providing free safety resources to help keep firearms out of the wrong hands,” says CrossBreed Holsters CEO Carol Craighead. 

“Supporting Project ChildSafe is a meaningful way to contribute to firearms safety and the well-being of communities across the US. All firearms sold by Davidson’s and Gallery of Guns include free gun locks. We believe if the proper tools are given to consumers upon the purchase of their firearm, the consumer can immediately take their purchase home and store their firearm securely,” says Davidson’s Inc. Strategic Implementation Manager Keri Pratt. “Our goal is to encourage new and experienced gun owners to become prominent examples of good citizens in their communities, reinforcing our ongoing support for Project ChildSafe.” 

“At Kinisium, we believe secure firearm storage is one of the most critical steps in protecting children and preventing tragedy. We created Kini to give families an added layer of real-time awareness so they can act immediately if a firearm is accessed,” says Kinisium Co-Founder Nicky Zabetian. “Partnering with Project ChildSafe was a natural fit. Together, we’re working to empower responsible gun owners with the tools and knowledge to keep their homes safe.” 

“Ensuring every firearm is securely stored is not just a responsibility—it’s a commitment to safety for our families and communities. There simply is no reason to ever have an unsecured gun in your home. Partnering with Project ChildSafe, SecureIT is proud to champion innovative, adaptable storage that keeps safety first without compromising readiness,” says SecureIT Tactical CEO Tom Kubiniec. 

“ZKT Group is proud to support NSSF’s Project ChildSafe because we recognize that bearing arms is both a privilege and a liability for every citizen,” says ZKT Group Marketing Director Mac Lu. “Firearm safety must be emphasized and educated extensively, especially to future generations. ZKT Group is committed to helping young citizens to exercise their freedom with firearms safely and responsibly.” 

There’s still time to win our final few prize packages featuring awesome products from our sponsors! Click here to learn more about the sweepstakes and to enter for your chance to win.  

The 2025 Friends and Family campaign concludes the week of June 1 with the giveaway of an exclusive Secure Storage Grand Prize Package featuring: 

• Kinisium: Kini SafeAlert Motion Sensor 

• ZKT Group: x1 Modular Fast Access Classic Gun Safe  & one  Prepackaged Gun Wipes  

• Crossbreed Holsters: Custom Holster 

• Sportsman’s Warehouse: gift card 

• Secure It Tactical: Fast Box™ Model 47 Gun Safe 

• Lockdown: Large Handgun Vault 

• Davidson’s Gallery of Guns: R92 Lever Action Rifle Davidsons Exclusive 

Be sure to spread the word and share Project ChildSafe resources with your friends and family for a chance to win between now and June 6. 

By: Todd Roggenkamp
Assistant Director of Education for Safari Club International Foundation

With the rapid technology advancements in the 21st century there has been a shift in the US population’s life experiences.  We’ve gone from a time when manual labor was required for almost every aspect of life to one of an automated and interconnected world.  We no longer have to rely as much on fulfilling basic human needs for food and survival. This in turn has impacted societal values on how animals, including wildlife, are viewed.

Historically, most people held “traditionalist” or “utilitarian” values for wildlife, based on the belief that animals were a commodity for the benefit of people – primarily as a food source.  Nowadays, most of our food is farmed, and we have fast-food joints on every corner or order food from an app. We’ve largely lost the connection we used to have with wildlife as a critical element of our own survival.

That loss of connection extends into our wild “places” too, where the habitat necessary for wildlife to thrive has been replaced by structures and manicured parks, and fewer people have access to the truly wild places in our country. That pushes wildlife even further away and widens the disconnection.

A recent study America’s Wildlife Values Project is the first of its kind to describe how US residents within all 50 states think about wildlife. The study showed that in just the last 12-14 years there has been a shift in wildlife values, reflecting an increase in people viewing wildlife as part of their extended social network.  They view wildlife as their extended family or friends, deserving caring and rights like humans. This is in contrast with a decrease in traditional utilitarian values where wildlife is utilized for the benefit of humans

The good news is that common ground does emerge from these disparate views, and that common ground is “conservation.”  We all want to see wildlife thriving today and in the future, and the hunting community plays a vital role in that.

Most people don’t know that since the late 19^th century hunting has made substantial contributions to conservation, including bringing species back from the brink of extinction and reintroducing them to their native areas — like the reintroduction of wood bison in Alaska. Hunters have and continue to put wildlife first by supporting the overwhelming financial burden of conservation work. Important vehicles to financially support conservation like the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman Robertson Act), the Federal Duck Stamp program, licenses, permits, tags and hunting-focused conservation organizations like Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) are committed to spending dollars supporting conservation.

As an example, nearly $25 billion has been collected to use in conservation efforts since the inception of the Pittman Robertson Act weas passed in 1937. The Federal Duck Stamp program has provided an additional $800 million to directly support the purchase of more than six million acres for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Although this does not encompass all the funds that are raised for conservation, it does give a good picture of how much conservation efforts are supported through hunting.

Past efforts to educate the public on these successes have focused on creating awareness of how conservation funding has helped increase wildlife populations and habitat. However, knowing that the perspective of the public’s value of wildlife has changed, it is important to recognize the role of  past and present conservation funding to a variety of other conservation needs — and help ensure wildlife and wild places can be enjoyed and shared by all.

Public education should focus on topics such as how hunting provides funding for wildlife research, restoring ailing wildlife species and improving their habitat, benefiting non-game species and assisting wildlife biologists in fighting wildlife diseases. Each one of these topics is an example of the passion for wildlife shared by hunters who are committed to making sure our environment is bio-diverse, sustainable and available for all lovers of wildlife to enjoy and value into the future.

Beyond public education about how hunting provides the funding critical to wildlife and conservation, it should also focus on the commitment hunters make to fair chase, ethical hunting and safety, especially when it comes to the handling and storage of firearms at home, in the field or in vehicles.  The non-hunting public has been misled by tired stereotypes of who hunters are, and it’s up to us as the hunting community to model and advocate for firearm safety and responsibility.  As a first step, I invite you to check out and share the hunting safety resources from NSSF’s Project ChildSafe.

Moving the needle on how the US population views the role of hunting in conservation as well as safety in hunting will be important to help ensure conservation funding into the future. Doing so will illustrate that hunters are indeed first for wildlife, committed to responsible and ethical hunting, and dedicated to making sure there is wildlife for all future generations.

Todd Roggenkamp is the Assistant Director of Education for Safari Club International Foundation. He has spent the last 25 years helping develop and provide programs that focus on the importance of the role hunting plays in conservation. An avid hunter, trapper and angler, he is dedicated to helping educate the public about the importance of conservation, sustainability and being a good steward of our environment.

By: Cheryl Todd
Vice President of Arizona Citizens Defense League and co-host of the GunFreedom Radio Podcast

In the modern world, the intersection of women and firearms is often viewed as an unusual or even surprising topic, but it is one that carries significant weight in both history and the future of our nation. It is not just about the tools and training unique to the female physique but also about how women in the United States are engaging with the very foundation of our Constitutional protections, particularly the Second Amendment. 

Women, especially mothers, have long been seen as the gatekeepers of safety in the home—responsible for everything from keeping sharp knives out of reach to securing medications, cleaning products and, yes, firearms. Just as women safeguard their homes from potential harm in countless ways, they are also key players in the conversation about gun rights and safety. 

A particularly poignant anniversary related specifically to women recently passed: the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. In a country that has been around for nearly 250 years, this right has only been available to women for the last 100. For many of us, it is hard to imagine there was ever a time when women couldn’t freely walk into a polling station to cast their vote, let alone that it was once a radical, illegal act for women to even think about voting. 

That right, however, was not handed to us; it was fought for and hard-won. Women who sought representation through the ballot box were seen as divisive and extremist, and the fight for suffrage cost many of them dearly. Some women were ostracized by friends and family, and others faced imprisonment. But after years of struggle, sacrifice and perseverance, the 19th Amendment passed and was ratified and adopted in 1920. From that day forward, women across the country gained the ability to shape the direction of the nation through their votes. 

So, wouldn’t you think that once we won the right to vote, women would be unwavering in defending every syllable of every other enumerated Liberty our Founding Fathers and Mothers fought, bled and died to secure? Wouldn’t we stand tall and proud, storming the doors of every polling place, defending our rights and the values that have defined our nation? 

Unfortunately, the reality is more complicated. As we passed the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, efforts are afoot to chip many of our rights slowly away — often led by other women. Misinformation, emotional appeals and political maneuvering have led some to make choices that undermine our freedoms. Many of us have allowed ourselves to slip back into thinking that government programs—rather than our own actions—can protect us and our families. We’ve allowed ourselves to slip backward in our thinking, voting for laws that separate us from our freedoms, including the most basic of rights—the right to defend our lives and our families. 

Perhaps the most significant right at stake today is the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, a fundamental right that protects our ability to defend ourselves. In an era where some organizations try to claim women are too fragile or incapable of handling firearms, we have allowed ourselves to be manipulated into seeking permission from the very government that we fought to gain even the most basic of rights. These voices suggest that women should remain helpless, waiting for a “big, strong government program” to save us, rather than empowering ourselves to protect what matters most. 

However, in defiance of this narrative, women across the country are rising up, taking action and fighting to ensure our rights—especially the right to bear arms—are not diminished. As the co-host of the GunFreedomRadio Podcast and the proud Vice President of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), a non-profit, grassroots organization that is dedicated to protecting and advancing the Second Amendment rights of Arizona citizens, I am working to educate legislators, the media and the public about the importance of the Second Amendment. Through these efforts, I am joined by thousands of other women and men in promoting responsible gun ownership through community outreach and advocacy. We believe that education—not legislation—is the key to safer homes and safer communities for our children and for all of us. We carry forward the legacy of the suffragists who fought for our right to vote, and our voices are helping to shape a future where freedom is not only preserved but strengthened. 

Women and guns are not an oddity, novelty or a contradiction—they are part of the same story. Women are at the heart of their families, their communities and our nation. We understand the power of our rights: the right to vote, the right to defend ourselves and the right to shape our future. These rights are inseparable. Through our actions, we teach our children the importance of showing up, speaking up and using the 19th Amendment to protect the Second Amendment. We understand that our rights are not just abstract ideas—they are essential to our freedom, our safety and our strength. 

So, when we talk about women and guns, we’re talking about much more than firearms. We’re talking about the power we have to protect ourselves, our families and our communities. We’re talking about the legacy of women who fought for our right to vote and the responsibility we now carry to defend that right—along with the Second Amendment—every day, not just during election seasons, but in every season of our lives. 

Cheryl Todd is the co-host of the GunFreedomRadio Podcast and a passionate advocate for the Second Amendment. As the Vice President of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), a non-profit, grassroots organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the Second Amendment rights of Arizona citizens, she educates legislators, media and the public on firearm rights, safety and the importance of preserving individual freedoms for future generations.

By: Karen Butler
Founder and President of SLG2, Inc.

March is Women’s History Month and a good time to reflect on the positive impact women have made and continue to make in their communities, which in turn benefits the shooting sports industry.   

History is full of women that influenced positive attitudes towards the use of firearms and who excelled as ambassadors of the shooting sports by promoting firearm safety and teaching shooting fundamentals.  Currently there are numerous women who in leadership positions throughout the shooting sports industry, serving as exceptional brand ambassadors for safety and the sport, and who also work within their communities to educate people on safety and firearm use. 

Obviously, there are too many women to call out by name who have influenced positive attitudes to use of firearms usage, but two stand out to me.  Molly Pitcher is my first choice, because she, according to The American Battlefield Trust, represented thousands of women who fought in the American Revolution.  The legend of Molly is that she was a nurse on the battlefield, and when her husband was killed, she continued the fight by firing his cannon.  Another woman who I read about in an article by NRA Women who embodies the right to keep and bear arms is Ida B. Wells.  Ida was a civil rights activist in the later 1800s who exercised her First Amendment rights to speak out for African Americans.  She was brave and realized after her friend, Thomas Moss, was killed by lynch men that she needed a gun.  She later had to use that gun to protect herself.  These two women stand out to me, because it is awful to think about where we would be as a nation had they not made the choice to use a gun. 

Our original firearms brand ambassadors are easy for most of us to identify.  The iconic images of Annie Oakley performing in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows are of a confident, skilled and proficient shooter, but did you know she also taught women to shoot?  Historians estimate that she taught more than 15,000 women about gun safety and use of firearms to target shoot and defend themselves.  

Gun safety and use was also taught by many people who ran “Cellar Clubs” across 1940s America.  Sponsored by Colt’s Manufacturing, these clubs were advertised to encourage women to learn how to shoot.  There is not a lot of data on the impact, but in a time when women were rising in status, it must have been extensive. 

In the shooting sports industry, there are many women who broke some glass ceilings and excelled to leadership positions.  Here are a few who should not go unnoticed:
Cyndi Flannigan, who has over 40 years in the firearm industry and was VP of Marketing at Walther; Deana McPhearson, who is the Chief Finance Officer for Smith & Wesson; Brandi Collins, who is the Marketing Director at Glock;  Sara Simonow, who is the Marketing Director of Colt; Abbey Clary, Director of Media, Advertising & Public Relations at Ruger; Ozge Cumberland, Chief Revenue Officer for Primary Arms; and Marion Hamner and Sandy Frohman, who were Presidents of the National Rifle Association.  The women listed are just a few of the many more women who should be mentioned here. 

We also have some amazing women who serve as brand ambassadors for our industry.  Julie Golob is an ambassador for NSSF and Smith & Wesson, and she also has written a children’s book promoting safety, Toys, Tools, Guns & Rules.  Tactical Mia, a ten year old, is representing women in shooting sports and promotes families learning about firearm safety.  Check out your favorite gun company’s website and you will find women and young girls who are representing women in shooting sports. 

Some of the biggest influencers of firearm safety and shooting sports in communities are the women who are certified instructors across the country.  Some are part of Armed Women of America, A Girl and A Gun or local women who have created their own groups at their gun ranges (maybe like the Cellars Clubs) and teach classes within their communities.  Many additional women have their own small businesses and are in their community promoting safety and firearm education.  If you consider the positive impact that Annie Oakley made as one women, you can exponentially multiply that for all the phenomenal women instructors that are teaching firearm safety today.    

I would be remiss, if I didn’t mention men as we talk about Women’s History Month.  Women have made incredible impact in the firearm industry, and many of our male counterparts have been extremely supportive as we rise to the challenge to promote gun safety and education.  I am grateful for the men who have supported all of us over the years. 

Women will continue to make a positive impact in shooting sports.  If you want to make a positive impact, even if you are not an industry professional, brand ambassador or instructor, you can make a difference by using the resources put out by the NSSF’s Project ChildSafe. 

Karen Butler is the founder and President of SLG2, Inc. an experiential marketing company that includes promotes firearms safety, shooting sports, and personal protection through interactive experiences with its brands Shoot Like a Girl and SafeLivinG.  Karen retired from the Department of the United States Army after 22 years of distinguished civilian service in November 2016. She shot a bow and a rifle for the first time in 2000, after camping with some friends, and was instantly hooked. She went on to become an accomplished hunter, speaker and writer.  She launched Shoot Like A Girl in February 2009 at the World Archery Festival in Las Vegas, NV, and has achieved tremendous success since then. She was named the NRA Woman of the Year; recognized by Outdoor Life Magazine as one of their 2011 Top 25: Leaders in Hunting, Fishing and Conservation; and named Entrepreneur of the Year by Women’s Business Center of North Alabama in 2017. She has been featured in Time Magazine, on multiple television shows, interviewed on National radio shows and conducted seminars at numerous events, including the NSSF Range and Retailer Business Expo.    

By: Pete Muller
Public Relations Director for the National Wild Turkey Federation

As a single father of three younger kids, a passionate outdoorsman and a staffer at the National Wild Turkey Federation, one of the most cherished times of the year for me is spring turkey season and spending time in South Carolina’s hardwood bottoms, planted pines or field edges with my kids hunting wild turkey and hoping to hear a gobble. But, as my home state doesn’t have a fall turkey season, many of our weekend mornings and evenings right now are spent chasing deer and countless other game instead of turkeys, as I try to pass along my hunting heritage to the next generation.  

Now teaching safe practices to kids is huge part of being a parent, and as a responsible firearm owner, firearm safety is something I have hammered home since they were extremely young. Even though my firearms are all locked away in storage, they know the base rules for encountering a firearm —STOP, don’t touch, leave the area and tell an adult. With me and the kids spending more time afield hunting, and them now even carrying or holding firearms while we hunt together, the rules have been broadened as we work to hunt safely together as a family. 

Here are just a few of the things you too can do to ensure safety for you and your kids while in the woods this fall: 

• Plan ahead for the hunt to make sure you are properly equipped: Whether tree stand harness, headlamp, Thermacell, knife, first aid kit, water and snacks, make sure you are prepared for your hunt and the conditions and terrain you may encounter.   

• Let someone know where you will be going: Kids can use a phone easy enough, but letting a family member or friend know where you will be helps ensure safety should issues arise. 

• Travel to and from our home to the field with the firearms unloaded and in a proper case: While just a good safety practice, in South Carolina I have learned this is also especially important as it is unlawful to have an uncased firearm when traveling on game lands.  

• Always keep a firearm pointed in a safe direction when transporting or in the blind: As my kids are allowed to hunt big game in this state, they now are holding and transporting firearms and understand this is a core rule of firearm safety. 

• Keep the safety on and don’t put your finger on the trigger or in the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot, and return the safety to on once you take the shot: The chance of a firearm discharging without pulling the trigger and with having the safety on is pretty much zero, so this safety measure can nearly eliminate accidental discharges. 

• Wear a harness and use lifelines when in elevated stands: Falling, even from shorter heights off the ground can result in injury. Staying “tied” to your tree or ladder stand can reduce the risk of injuries from falling. 

• Properly identify your target and what is behind it: Once you pull the trigger, you cannot take back that shot. So, make sure you know your target and ensure you have a proper backstop behind the target.  

• Unload, clean and properly store your firearms upon returning home: After a hunt, it is easy to get caught up in all the things that need to be done, but unloading, cleaning and returning your firearm to a lockable storage or safe means that your gear is safely and securely stored until the next time you need it.  

Hunting together as a family is the greatest way to pass on our hunting heritage, so make sure your pursuits are not just successful, but also safe. 

Pete Muller is the Public Relations director at the National Wild Turkey Federation.  Follow NWTF on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and at nwtf.org. 

By: Kristy Titus
Producer and Host of Pursue the Wild and the Wild & Uncut Podcast

Making ethical shots in every hunting situation, whether it’s varmints or big game, is a must.  Every hunting scenario and shot opportunity is unique — often you have to make split-second decisions — so committing to ethical shooting can help you be in the right mindset in those moments. The last experience any hunter wants is to wound and then not locate an animal. It does happen sometimes, even to the best of hunters, but all of us can take steps to prevent that and stack the odds in our favor. 

• Ethical Shots Start Before the Season Does. Taking the time to get to the range and practice in advance is the best thing you can do to make sure you deliver the goods when the moment of truth arrives and the game of your dreams is in range. Know where that arrow or bullet is going to hit at different distances and get a sense for the maximum distance you can shoot accurately and confidently. Also remember, there are no shooting benches out in the woods. Once your rifle is sighted in, practice shooting from the more realistic positions you’re likely to use in the field.  

• Listen to Your Gut – and No One Else. Out in the field, when that opportunity presents itself, ask yourself if you have the ability to make an ethical shot. Do you have a clear view of the vitals?  Do you know where the shot placement needs to be on an animal that’s quarter to — or quartering away?  Are you even going to be able to retrieve the animal from where it is when you shoot?  If there is any question in your mind, or you feel uneasy at any time about taking a shot, it is always better to get closer or simply wait for a better opportunity. Don’t ever let someone tell you or pressure you to make a shot you’re not comfortable with, or rush you through the process. You know when it feels right, and any other hunter or guide worth their salt will respect you for passing on a shot you’re not certain about, so listen to yourself.  

• Look Beyond Your Target. Game animals are often found in groups, so be certain there’s not another animal — or another hunter — behind your target.  This is as much about safety as it is ethical hunting.  

• Lower is (Usually) Better.  Thinking about your shot setup, the closer to the ground you can get the more stable you’re shooting position is going to be. If you can get into a prone position, absolutely do it, but be aware of any brush or rocks that might be in front of your muzzle bore but not visible in your scope. Trust me, if you fire off your shot and hit a rock, bush or branch that is directly in front of you, your hunt is pretty much over for that day. If you do need to get higher off the ground and over the tops of vegetation, consider carrying some shooting sticks, a bipod or any of the other tools out there that will give you a solid, stable rest. They can add weight to a pack, but that’s a much lighter burden than the memory of a botched shot. 

• Breathe. Even in the heat of the moment, be sure to go through a mental checklist of all the fundamentals of marksmanship that you’ve practiced at the range. This mental checklist might seem long but as you become competent as a shooter — through practice — all of these things will become second nature. Your heart is most likely going to be beating wildly, and you might be breathless from hiking, so take one or two really deep calming breaths while settling in for the shot. 

• Press, Don’t Pull, and “Follow Through” on the Trigger. Press or squeeze the trigger with straight rearward pressure. “Pulling” the trigger can actually cause you to move your point of impact just enough to miss the vitals and send a wounded animal running.  Ideally, you’ll apply slow, rearward trigger pressure until the gun slightly surprises you when it fires. Don’t immediately look up, hold this trigger press and your head/eye position throughout the recoil process until your sight picture returns and, ideally, you can reacquire the target quickly.   

Ultimately, we all owe it to the animals we hunt, and to ourselves, to make clean, ethical shots. We don’t want to see animals suffer needlessly, and we spend far too much of our precious money and vacation time on hunting to be left with tag soup because we made a bad shot.  And finally, because an ethical hunter is also a responsible one, especially when it comes to gun safety, please be sure to store all firearms securely and safely when the hunt is over.     

Kristy Titus is a prominent Second Amendment advocate, shooting sports enthusiast, a certified firearms instructor, Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor, Range Safety Officer, competitive long range shooter and an avid archer. She produces and hosts Pursue the Wild, as well as the “Wild & Uncut” Podcast, both presented by Ruger. In all areas of her life, Kristy advocates for adventure, wildlife and land stewardship, conservation through hunting, the Second Amendment, shooting sports and our time-honored hunting traditions. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.