Author: Taly Zapanta

By: Gracyn Rouse
Miss Missouri’s 2023 Teen 

When I was young, I was always at my grandpa’s house.  I was always right beside him no matter what I was doing. One day, he brought out a trap machine. I watched him for hours, breaking one clay at a time with his shotgun. At that moment, I knew that I wanted to do just what he was doing.  

I have been trap shooting for six years now, including two years at a competitive level. All of these years, I have loved every single minute of shooting, whether it was with my dad or my grandpa. Like most shooters, I was taught firearm safety early on — how to hold my gun, how to clean it and how to store it properly. It was second nature to me, but it really struck home when I was 11 years old. One of my dear friends took their own life with a firearm that was not secured correctly and safely.  

I was angry, sad and heartbroken. I look back on that day and think of what would’ve happened – how she might still be alive today – if that firearm was put away and not accessible to them. That terrible tragedy changed my life and became my drive to tirelessly advocate for firearm safety and responsible storage.  

As I got older, I was looking for a platform to tell my story and spread this message. Through many months of looking, I discovered the Miss America Teen opportunity. This platform gave me the chance to be an advocate on a local, state and national level. After months of hard work, I was fortunate enough to be crowned Miss Missouri’s Teen in 2023.  

During my year as Miss Missouri’s Teen, I travelled across the state to share this message, encouraged others to respect firearms and, at the same time, talked about the positive impact that safe enjoyment of the shooting sports has had on my life.  

During one appearance at a private school close to St. Louis, I was introduced to a class of young women as a competitive trap shooter. It was incredible to see those girls’ faces when they realized what trap shooting was and that someone like me — wearing a sash and a crown — could shoot clay targets with a shotgun. It gave me a huge sense of pride letting these young ladies know that this sport is not just for men, and show them they can break barriers like anyone else.  

Another fond memory that was a highlight of my reign was when I walked into the Miss America’s Teen interview and talked about my time in, and enjoyment of, trap shooting. Needless to say, the judges were taken back — I guess they don’t get a lot of shooting sports enthusiasts in front of them. But it was a great opportunity to educate them about a sport I loved, while also sharing my passion for emphasizing gun safety. 

Throughout the year, I was fortunate enough to be able to partner with organizations like Bass Pro Shops and the Missouri Department of Conservation to do safety seminars, group presentations and even walk young hunters and shooters through a gun safety class.  I was also able to form a partnership with Project ChildSafe, a program of NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, which provides educational tools and resources that I utilized in several classrooms to educate kids on the importance of firearm safety and what they should do if they or a friend ever find a gun. I tell them to “Stop, don’t touch it, get away and tell an adult.” I let parents know about cable gun locks, lock boxes and gun safes. 

As a trap shooter, firearm safety has been ingrained in me from a young age. This sport has taught me so much and continues to make an impact on my life. That is why I do what I do. I’m constantly advocating and spreading awareness about recreational shooting, yes to have fun, but more importantly, doing it in a safe manner.  

That’s also why I’m proud to celebrate NSSF’s Gun Storage Check Week (Sept. 1-7) during National Suicide Prevention Month to promote secure storage practices. Through safe practices, encouraging new participation and showcasing the sport’s diverse activities, these awareness campaigns help ensure the safe enjoyment and future of shooting sports for generations to come. 

Gracyn Rouse was crowned Miss Missouri’s Teen 2023 when she was 16. She spent that year advocating for firearm safety and the proper securement of firearms. She plans to attend the University of Missouri and obtain a Bachelor of Science in Biology. From there, she hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career in Emergency Medicine.

By: Ryan Price
Program Operations team at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

Back when I worked in a firearms setting, before I joined the staff team at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, I didn’t realize that suicide prevention, to a great extent, is a matter of time and distance. What that means is that, according to scientific research into suicide prevention, putting time and distance between a person who is thinking of suicide and the method they are thinking of using to end their life can be lifesaving.

When someone dies by suicide, the circumstances are complex. But something that every firearm- owning household can do is to implement a strategy for increasing the time it takes to access a firearm. Why?

Most firearm deaths are suicides. I didn’t know this when I worked for an FFL (Federal Firearms License holder) in a firearms retail setting for several years. Nobody did – because we weren’t talking about it at the time. Things are different now and more firearm owners are aware that over the past 20 years, about 60 percent of all firearm deaths in the U.S were suicides.

Most people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to die by suicide. About 90 percent of people who survive a suicide attempt ultimately reach the help they need. When a firearm is involved, however, it’s almost always lethal. If someone is thinking about using a firearm to take their life and they don’t have the ability to access it during a time of crisis, they are unlikely to attempt suicide in another way.

Putting time and distance between people and firearms is an important action step for every firearm owner, so here are some considerations:

1. Firearms should be stored securely when not in use. Remember – the more time you can put between a person who might be at risk for suicide and a firearm the better.

2. Three steps to keep your home safe from firearm suicide: Lock, Limit and Temporarily remove.

Lock: When firearms are not in use, they should be locked and unloaded. Ammunition should be locked in a separate location.

Limit: Consider taking steps to limit access to firearms, such as changing safe combinations, changing locks or giving the keys or combination to a locking device to a trusted person.

Temporarily remove firearms from the home if someone is at risk — and trust your gut about that, if someone in your home isn’t acting like themselves. It’s important to be aware of your state’s firearm transfer laws when storing them outside the home. According to a recent Harris Poll, almost every adult in the U.S (96%) would act if someone close to them was thinking about suicide and about 80% of adults in the U.S are eager to learn how to help someone who may be suicidal. So please take action today, by learning more from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention about how you can help someone who may be suicidal: visit afsp.org/firearms.

Ryan Price is the Director of Special Projects on the Program Operations team at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Ryan primarily works on firearms suicide prevention and suicide prevention in corrections systems.

By: Julie Golob
World Champion, Veteran and Author

It’s National Shooting Sports Month! Whether you’re celebrating it with a trip to the range as a family or sharing target-shooting sports with new shooters, brushing up on rules and etiquette will make the excursion fun for everyone. Here are 6 things to consider before you hit the range: 

1. Make sure everyone brushes up on firearm safety rules. Knowing and understanding the fundamentals of firearm safety before you even head to the range helps ensure everyone has a safe and fun time. If you’re bringing younger kids to the range, make sure that they understand the range isn’t a playground and there are rules that cannot be broken. You’ll also want to ensure someone in your party monitors kids at all times so that they don’t venture past the firing line or climb berms. 
2. Come prepared with everything you need — including hearing and eye protection, firearms, ammunition and targets. Planning and packing ahead of time will make your range session more efficient and productive. Having a dedicated range bag is helpful. 
3. Wear/use appropriate eye and ear protection. Have eye and ear protection easy to access and ready to go so that as soon as you arrive, you can put it on. This way those who are already shooting don’t have to stop to wait for you to gear up. Eye and ear protection should be worn on the range at all times – whether you’re on the firing line or not. 
4. Be respectful of other shooters. If you’re shooting indoors in a shooting lane, make sure everyone in your group doesn’t interfere with shooters in other lanes. On outdoor ranges, you may need to wait for a bay to open up or if you’re able to shoot on the same firing line, be considerate and coordinate with fellow shooters on when to call the range safe and clear before heading down to inspect or repair targets. 
5. Clean up. Dispose of any targets and trash you see on the range and police up your brass. Make the range a better place for the next group of shooters. 
6. Practice good shooting hygiene. After you’re finished handling guns, shooting gear and ammo and you’ve picked up your trash and brass, wash up. It’s best to wash both your hands and face with cold, soapy water. You can also purchase handwipes specifically formulated to help remove lead and other contaminants from the skin. 

For additional information, you can check out the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Range Safety and Etiquette Video. And finally, one important point for after the range – remember to store all firearms securely in vehicles and at home when they are not in use. Secure storage is the #1 way to help prevent firearm accidents, thefts and misuse.   

Julie Golob is a multi-time world and national shooting champion, an experienced shooting instructor, woman of the outdoors, proud US Army veteran, published author, and a wife and mom (her two most treasured titles). She credits much of her success to a desire for to balance in life. Family is always first, and her personal motto in life is “work hard, share knowledge and showcase a winning spirit through a blend of kindness, ferocity and humility.”