Category: Uncategorized

By Melissa Bachman

If you grow up in a hunting family, the outdoors becomes more than just a place you go — it becomes where life happens. It’s early mornings with a thermos of coffee, quiet conversations in the stand and long days spent together doing something you love. Some of the best memories we have made as a family are not around a table — they’re out in the field, learning, laughing and passing down traditions that mean something.

That’s what hunting has always been to me. It’s not just about the harvest — it’s about the time together, the lessons learned and the responsibility that comes with it.

And that responsibility starts at home.

When you have kids, everything changes. They’re watching, learning and picking up on how you handle things long before they ever step into the field themselves. That is why safe and responsible firearm ownership is something we take seriously every single day. It’s not a one-time talk — it’s part of how we live.

Having Winchester Safe’s in our home is a huge part of that. It’s not just about locking things up — it’s about knowing everything is secure, organized and exactly where it should be. With the GunStiXX system, it makes it incredibly easy to keep everything in its place and quickly see exactly what I need without digging or guessing. When you’re heading out the door before daylight, that kind of organization matters.

But more than anything, it’s about peace of mind. Knowing that when we are not using our firearms, they are stored safely and responsibly — out of reach, protected and respected.

Winchester is a name that’s been part of hunting heritage for generations, and it’s something I’m proud to have in our home. It represents more than just products — it stands for tradition, quality and a legacy that aligns with everything we believe in as a family.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about what we’re doing out there — it’s about how we are raising the next generation to carry it on the right way.

Melissa Bachman is a nationally-recognized American hunter, producer and host of hunting television programs, currently of the cable television program Winchester Deadly Passion on the Sportsman Channel, Pursuit Channel and Wild TV.

It’s back to school season. With all kinds of kids sports programs kicking in to high gear, it’s a good time to feature the shooting sports as an option for junior high and high schoolers. We sat down with Drew Tri, Head of Marketing for the non-profit USA Clay Target League, which provides youth clay target shooting sports opportunities to over 57,000 students on nearly 2,200 school approved teams, to talk about the biggest misconceptions about kids and the shooting sports and the value organized sports bring to kids’ lives.

What are some of the biggest myths about youth shooting sports (and what should people really know)?

To no one’s surprise, the long-perpetuated myth that “kids and firearms are a bad mix” has been a huge challenge to overcome. However, with each new athlete who participates, that narrative gets harder and harder to sustain.

Positive visibility is really important, and our efforts – along with those of other heritage sports organizations, such as the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), have really helped to educate and inform the public.

Another huge myth is that youth shooting sports have to be expensive. They don’t. The average cost to participate in a season in the League’s program is typically less than half the cost of traditional team sports like football, hockey, or even baseball.

When you keep participation costs reasonable, youth shooting sports can actually be very economical for families and schools. There are more kids shooting great scores – even perfect scores – with inexpensive pump-action shotguns borrowed from family members than you might think.

What kind of obstacles do youth shooting programs face especially in schools, and what can be done to overcome them?

There are over 2,100 schools nationwide that participated in the USA Clay Target League this year , I think that demonstrates there are fewer obstacles at the school level than people may think. In fact, I’ll even go on to say the biggest obstacle is often the idea that there are big obstacles.

I know it’s easy to assume different communities or institutions will be resistant. I’ve been told “That’ll never happen here” more times than I can count in New York, in Illinois, in California and everywhere in between. But today there are thousands of vibrant high school clay target teams across the country. It can be done, it has been done, and it all starts with a conversation between parents and schools.

The real obstacles that schools face is space. In many areas there simply isn’t enough range capacity for anything but a few small teams — if that. That’s problematic because the clay target team at a school often becomes one of the largest activities at the school. If local ranges don’t exist or are unwilling to let these high school students shoot, then these students simply don’t get the opportunity — not because of the school, but because the outdoor community isn’t stepping up to ensure their own future.

What are the most important things you hope young people learn from participating on a school’s youth shooting sports team?

I don’t hope, I know. Because these athletes are on school-supported teams, League athletes develop confidence, discipline, and resilience. They’re learning the importance of teamwork and communication. They’re not only learning who they are,  they’re learning who they can be. Participating in school activities leads to better life outcomes, like better jobs and better relationships.

Nearly 40% of League athletes don’t participate in any other school activity. The League is potentially helping thousands of students feel reconnected and engaged with their school and team. There is a huge under-served population of students out there simply because their interests don’t align with the “traditional” activities schools typically provide. The schools that choose to offer this opportunity to their students are often amazed and delighted in seeing a significant number of their students suddenly care about being students again.

What kind of an emphasis do you (and your athletes) put on storing firearms securely when they aren’t in use — and why?

The League’s motto is “Safety, Fun, Marksmanship – in that order.” Safety is at the forefront of everything the League does. Every athlete who wants to participate must have firearm safety certification, either from a state agency — like a state’s Departments of Natural Resources (DNR) or  Game & Fish Department — or through our own Student Athlete Firearm Education (SAFE) program.

This is also where I absolutely must credit the thousands of coaches and other volunteer team staff who work with these students every day. They’re the ones on the front lines educating and reinforcing firearm safety, safe storage, and proper maintenance. It’s because of their dedication that there has never been a serious accident or injury in the history of the League.

What role do you think youth shooting sports athletes could play in promoting firearm safety in their communities?

One of the most effective partnerships I’ve seen is when local law enforcement or emergency services get together with the high school teams for special events. Local communities having “Students vs Police” or “Students vs Firefighters” competitions are fantastic ways to both educate their communities and demonstrate safe firearm handling. Plus it’s a great confidence-builder for the students!

Aside from special events, having a school shooting team means that others in the community, whether it be family members or friends, can develop a curiosity and give it a try themselves — it’s just the nature of the sport. Our own research has shown at least 80% of ranges that host high school shooting teams also see increases in their non-youth participation. Clay target shooting is a social activity, and families are coming out to the range outside of their team activities to shoot some targets together. True firearm safety starts with knowledge, experience, and respect — rather than fear.

Andrew “Drew” Tri grew up in Thief River Falls, Minn., where his first job was as a setter and puller at the local trap range. He was also a youth shooter, and earned Sub-Jr and Jr Minnesota ATA All-State awards in the mid-’90s. Today, Drew is the Head of Marketing for the USA Clay Target League, where he’s helped grow the League from a few thousand athletes in three states to over 57,000 athletes in 40-plus states over the last decade — giving it the largest yearly participation of any clay shooting sports organization in the world.

In recognition of August as National Shooting Sports Month, we were pleased to have a brief interview with Rick Leach, President and Executive Director of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF). SSSF is an educational-athletic organization dedicated to providing shooting-sports education and opportunities to school-age youths around the U.S. to encourage young athlete personal growth and development. We asked Rick for his thoughts on a range of issues, from common myths about youth shooting sports to how athletes in the shooting sports can help promote firearm safety in their communities. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

Project ChildSafe: What are some of the biggest myths about youth shooting sports, and what should people really know?

Rick: One of the biggest misconceptions is that they are dangerous. In reality, organized youth shooting sports are among the safest activities because safety is the foundation of everything we do. Before our athletes ever step on the firing line, they learn proper firearm handling, muzzle control, range commands, personal responsibility and respect for their equipment — creating habits that keep everyone on the range safe. These are habits that are reinforced every time they step on the range by trained, certified coaches and range safety officers.

Research has shown organized shooting sports have an incredibly low injury rate, even lower than recreational walking. This fact often surprises those unfamiliar with the sport.

Our youth programs do much more than teach young athletes how to shoot. Our programs are developing discipline, accountability, focus, patience and confidence. Athletes learn to make safe, thought-out decisions under pressure while building lifelong habits of responsibility and respect. The character development and emphasis on safety are what define youth shooting sports, with the competition itself only being a piece of the experience.

Project ChildSafe: What kind of obstacles to youth shooting programs face especially in schools, and what can be done to overcome them?

Rick: We see opportunities to educate, rather than “obstacles.” Some schools and districts understandably may have misconceptions or questions about what youth shooting sports look like. Often, these concerns come from unfamiliarity rather than firsthand experience.

With open communication and education, school administrators and educators learn about the extensive safety protocols, certified coach training and the structured environment our programs provide, and come to realize that safety is the cornerstone of everything we do. There are also opportunities for students who may not find their place in traditional athletics.

Project ChildSafe: What are the most important things you hope young people learn from participating in a scholastic shooting sports program?

Rick: At the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, we often say that we are a youth development organization first, and a shooting sports organization second. While athletes certainly develop marksmanship skills, the most valuable lessons happen off the range.

Through our programs, athletes learn leadership, teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and the value of hard work. They learn how to set goals, overcome challenges, and handle both victory and defeat with humility and resilience. All these experiences teach them accountability, confidence and respect — qualities that extend far beyond competition.

Our hope is every athlete leaves our program not only as a better competitor, but as a better person. The life skills they develop with our programs prepare them to become responsible adults, engaged members of society, and the next generation of leaders in their communities and across our great country.

Project ChildSafe: What kind of an emphasis do you (and your athletes) put on storing firearms securely when they are not in use and why?

Rick: Safe and responsible firearm handling is one of the core principles of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, and this responsibility extends beyond when an athlete leaves the range. Secure storage is an essential part of firearm safety and something we emphasize with every athlete and family.

We teach responsible firearm ownership includes knowing how to safely handle, transport, and securely store firearms when they are not in use. With proper storage, athletes and families are able to help prevent unauthorized access to firearms, reduce the risk of accidents and reinforce the habits of responsibility that we work to instill throughout our programs.

One of our goals is to help young people develop a lifelong mindset of safety. By ensuring secure storage is a routine part of responsible firearm ownership, we are protecting families and teaching athletes safety is a responsibility they carry both on and off the range.

Project ChildSafe: What role do you think scholastic shooting sports athletes could play in promoting firearm safety in their communities? 

Rick: Scholastic Shooting Sports athletes have the opportunity to be leaders and role models in their schools and communities. Because safety is woven into every aspect of our programs, our athletes naturally become ambassadors for responsible firearm ownership and handling.

Athletes demonstrate what safe firearm practices look like every time they step onto the range, and they carry those habits with them far beyond competition. Whether they’re talking with peers, mentoring younger athletes or simply answering questions from people who are unfamiliar with the shooting sports, they have the ability to share the importance of firearm safety and responsible ownership through both their words and their actions.

It is our hope that our athletes leave our programs with the confidence to educate others, lead by example, and help foster a culture where firearm safety is understood, practiced and valued.

By Top Shot Chris Cheng

August is National Shooting Sports Month®, meaning now is the perfect time to get back in the range, try something new or help a friend take their first shots.

When it comes to the shooting sports, I know firsthand everyone starts somewhere. Before I became a professional marksman and won Season 4 of Top Shot, I was a regular guy working at Google who was curious about the shooting sports and wanted to work on my aim.

I did what a lot of us do when we want to learn a new skill: I went online. I watched YouTube videos, looked for tips and tried to get a grasp on the basics by honing my technique.

In other words, I was a total gun newb. That is a good place to start. Being new to something means you’re learning and building good habits from the beginning, which is exactly what success in the shooting sports requires. I’ve always believed the firearms community is stronger when it is welcoming, diverse and safety oriented. Whether you grew up around firearms or are just beginning to learn, there is a place for you in the shooting sports.

So, if you’re a gun newb like I was, here are a few simple, practical tips to help you get started with a handgun.

Start Small and Understand Your Firearm

One of the first things new shooters often ask me is what caliber handgun they should start with. Caliber refers to the diameter of a bullet at its widest point. You can usually find the caliber of your bullet stamped on the back of the cartridge, or on its box. Many pistols have the caliber of bullet they take stamped directly on the firearm.

For beginners, a smaller caliber handgun like, .22 LR or 9mm, can feel more approachable. This is because they generally create less recoil when fired, making them a common starting point for many shooters.

Still, there is not one “perfect” starter firearm for beginners. Everyone is different; comfort, experience and proper fit are all important factors in determining what your first handgun should be.

For example, larger-caliber handguns like .45 ACP can be a great fit for some shooters, though they are often more challenging for beginners, who have not had as much experience building confidence and control.

If you are unsure what caliber ammunition your handgun uses, or if something is not clearly marked, do not guess. Take it to a local gun shop or range to find a professional who can safely evaluate it.

Get a Grip on the Basics

Good shooting starts with good fundamentals, and grip is one of the most important. A helpful way to think about handgun grip is the 70/30 rule: 70 percent of your grip pressure should come from your support hand, while about 30 percent should come from your shooting hand. This rule ensures your support hand manages recoil and keeps the firearm steady, while your shooting hand is relaxed enough to let you focus on smooth trigger control.

Trigger control matters because small movements can affect where your shot lands. Think smooth and steady, not rushed. A controlled trigger press helps you stay consistent and avoid jerking the firearm off target.

Before you take your shot, take a steady breath, settle yourself and focus on keeping your body calm and stable. Shooting well is not about muscling through it. It is about repeatable habits, patience and control.

Practice Before You Even Get to the Range

One of the most cost-effective ways to improve your shooting technique is dry fire practice, which means practicing pulling the trigger of an unloaded firearm. Dry fire can help you build familiarity with your grip, stance, sight picture and trigger control without using ammunition.

Safety must come first every time. Before dry firing, remove all ammunition from the area and place it in a separate room. Then, double-check to confirm your firearm is unloaded. If you are new to dry fire practice, ask a certified instructor or experienced range professional to walk you through the process before doing it on your own.

Repetition is where confidence comes from. You do not need to rush. A few safe, intentional practice sessions can help you build muscle memory and feel more prepared the next time you visit the range. Before competing on Top Shot, I dry fired tens of thousands of times.

Make Safety the Habit That Guides Everything

The best shooters treat firearm safety as a consistent, everyday habit, not something to turn on and off. It is the foundation for everything else. Here are the four rules to keep top of mind:

1. Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction. At the range, that usually means downrange, never to the left, right or behind you.
2. Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
3. Always keep your firearm unloaded until you are ready to use it.
4. Always know your target and what is beyond it. Bullets can travel through targets, so having an appropriate backstop is essential.

These rules may sound simple, but simple does not mean optional. They are the core habits that keep shooting sports safe and enjoyable for everyone.

I also recommend checking out Project ChildSafe’s website to access free resources on secure storage, such as their Range of Options resource. This resource is an excellent place to start as you determine where to keep your firearm when you’re not on the range. Secure storage helps prevent unwanted access to your firearm and helps prevent accidents, theft, misuse and suicide. It’s just as important as safe handling.

Ask Questions and Keep Learning

Perhaps the best advice I can give any new shooter is this: do not be embarrassed to ask questions.

Nobody starts as an expert. I learned by researching, watching, practicing and listening to people who knew more than I did. I also brought lessons from other parts of my life, including music, baseball and my work in tech.

Stay curious. Stay humble. Take a class. Work with an instructor. Most importantly, learn from people who prioritize safety and responsibility.

National Shooting Sports Month is a great reminder that this community is built by people who show up, help each other and make safety part of the culture. Whether you are a gun newb like I was, getting back into shooting or helping someone else take their first steps, the goal is the same: build confidence, build skill and do it responsibly.

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 also the author of Proven in Blood: A Novel of War, Betrayal & Belonging, a novel inspired by the extraordinary true history of the Japanese American soldiers who served in World War II. He is currently running a campaign to fund the self-publication of the book and a nationwide tour to share the story of courage and resilience. Cheng is a former staff writer for The Firearm Blog and has appeared in Gun Stories with Joe Montagna, among other media outlets. 

By Julie Golob

Summer is here, and it can be an odd couple of months for parents. Every family situation is different, but most families are navigating a change in routine with school out. Perhaps your kids will be spending time elsewhere. Are they hanging out at friends’ houses or with a grandparent? Are you co-parenting? Maybe your teenager or another you hire as a sitter is holding down the fort. It could be a combination of all of the above that varies week by week until school starts once again.

When we think back to our summers as kids, for most of us, summer represented freedom from schedules, tests and structure. Summer can also be a time of boredom, especially if your children have limits on screen time or summer heat waves keep kids indoors. The combination of freedom, idleness and curiosity is a recipe for things to go wrong when it comes to firearms in the home.

Secure them every time.

The first step is to ensure your firearms are properly secured. That means every single time you are not actively in control of them. Firearms should be unloaded, separate from ammunition and securely stored away from any potential curious minds or sticky fingers. Only trusted adults should have access to them. If you don’t have a way to secure your firearm, the NSSF®’s Project ChildSafe® program partners with law enforcement agencies and other organizations all across the country to give away free gun locks. Visit Project ChildSafe’s Safety Kit resource page to find a local lock partner where you can pick up a free cable-style gun lock, no questions asked.

Your house. Your rules.

In addition to properly securing firearms, Summer is also a good time to talk to your kids about firearm safety and establish rules and expectations. Just because your child has not asked about guns directly doesn’t mean that they aren’t curious about firearms. Project ChildSafe has videos and other resources, including a Child Safety Pledge, to help you start the conversation, whether your child is 3 or 13.

Let your child ask questions about firearm safety and check their understanding by asking questions yourself. If they know you have firearms, be candid. Tell them that the firearms are securely stored and are not to be touched. Talk with your kids about “off-limits” zones in the house, whether that’s your bedroom, an office or a basement where firearms may be stored.

Their house. Your rules.

If your children will be spending time at other people’s homes, there’s a chance they could be exposed to firearms — whether or not you have firearms in your own home. Even if it’s not your house, your children need to know and follow your rules: If they come across a firearm, they should avoid it, not touch it and contact you or another trusted adult immediately.

Have conversations with other parents or caregivers on secure storage. It can be a sensitive topic, but an important one for everyone’s sake. You can break the ice by talking about how your family is discussing summer safety and, with that, the importance of gun safety.

Curiosity is a natural part of childhood. Now is the time to have an important and honest conversation about firearms frequently. The more you normalize discussing firearm safety, your rules about guns and taking responsibility for securing your firearms, the safer your family and everyone around you will be.

Julie Golob is a professional shooter, veteran, author, educator and media personality with more than 175 championship titles across seven shooting disciplines. A former member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, she shares her passion for firearm safety, competition, hunting and conservation through writing, speaking and digital media. Learn more at juliegolob.com

By: Kelly Reisdorf, CEO, USA Shooting

Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of colonists looked across the Atlantic, saw the most powerful empire on Earth and decided this relationship wasn’t working out. The Declaration of Independence may still hold the record as history’s most consequential breakup letter.

Unlike most breakups, however, this one required an army, a revolution and a willingness to bet everything on an idea that sounded almost ridiculous at the time: that ordinary people could govern themselves — it was a long shot!

As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday this Independence Day, another milestone is worth recognizing. Shooting has been part of every modern Olympic Games since 1896. For 130 years, Olympic shooting has tested more than marksmanship. It has tested discipline, patience, accountability, focus and the ability to perform under pressure when every movement matters. Those are athletic virtues but also happen to be civic virtues.

The American experiment has always rested on a pretty demanding premise: that people are capable of governing themselves. Freedom is a wonderful thing, but it has never been free of responsibility. The Founders understood that. Every generation since has had to relearn it.

You can see that lesson every day in the shooting sports. Olympic and Paralympic shooting sit at the pinnacle of our sport. While our community may be small compared to football, basketball or baseball, we take enormous pride in serving as a model for what safe and responsible firearms culture looks like. At every level of competition, safety comes first. From a junior athlete attending their first match to an Olympian representing Team USA on the world stage, safety is taught, reinforced, expected and lived. It is woven into the culture of the sport itself.

Importantly, firearm safety doesn’t end when the time on the range or the competition course is over. It extends all the way to how we store firearms when we’re not using them. Storing firearms safely and securely protects you, your family and your community. It’s our responsibility and it’s something every one of our athletes commits to when they choose to represent their country in this activity. It’s a commitment all of us who call ourselves responsible gun owners should be willing to make.

Likewise, teaching our children firearm safety and properly securing firearms must go hand in hand. There may be a future Olympic shooter reading this right now. The first step on that road — a road capable of taking them all the way to the medal platform — involves learning how to treat firearms with respect.

Long shots rarely succeed because someone got lucky. They succeed because people prepare. They practice. They pay attention to details. They stay consistently committed long after the excitement wears off.

The same is true of Olympic and Paralympic success. Our athletes are proud to represent the best of the shooting sports industry because they understand they represent something much larger than themselves. Behind every Team USA competitor stands a community of clubs, coaches, volunteers, families, manufacturers, retailers and trade groups who invest countless hours and resources into teaching responsibility, building excellence and creating opportunity — opportunity for these activities today and for tomorrow.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Founders took a long shot on liberty. The remarkable thing is that a quarter millennium later, Americans are still proving it can work!

Team USA is on the road to LA28, and we’d love to have you along for the journey. You can follow us online at usashooting.org and on social media: @usashooting.

Name: Officer Bill Jursik

Department: Sebastian Police Department

1. Over the past 20 years of partnership with Project ChildSafe^®, how do you assess the effectiveness of firearm safety efforts?

The Sebastian Police Department’s partnership with Project ChildSafe spans over two decades. During this time, the department has continuously distributed firearm safety locks and educational materials to the community. The results speak for themselves: to date, the community has not experienced an accidental death related to an unsecured firearm. This outcome highlights the undeniable effectiveness of consistent engagement, education and access to safety devices. Programs like Project ChildSafe build trust and strengthen the bond between law enforcement and the community we serve.

2. How does your agency distribute Project ChildSafe locks and materials locally?

The Sebastian Police Department makes sure that free firearm cable-style locks and educational materials are always accessible to the community. These resources are available in the department’s lobby for anyone seeking – No questions asked. Additionally, each year during the National Night Out event, the department features Project ChildSafe materials prominently in the community displays. This event serves as an opportunity to educate families and reinforce the importance of responsible secure storage and safety.

3. What impact have free gun locks and safety resources had in your community?

The most significant and measurable impact has been the complete absence of accidental deaths related to unsecured firearms in the community. This achievement reflects the importance of providing free tools and resources to encourage safe firearm practices. Beyond the statistics, programs like Project ChildSafe foster a culture of responsibility and safety, protecting families and reinforcing the trust between law enforcement and residents.

4. How can people get more involved in promoting firearm safety nationwide?

The Sebastian Police Department encourages everyone — law enforcement agencies, community organizations and individuals — to actively support programs like Project ChildSafe. Getting involved can be as simple as spreading awareness by sharing information about firearm safety programs in your community or partnering with local agencies to distribute safety materials. Additionally, educating friends, family and neighbors about the importance of responsible firearm storage can have a profound effect on safety nationwide.

5. What misconceptions about firearm safety are common, and how does your agency address them?

One common misconception is that accidents only happen to those who are careless. In reality, accidents can occur in any household without proper firearm storage practices. The Sebastian Police Department addresses this by making firearm safety resources easily accessible and emphasizing the importance of consistent, secure storage at every opportunity, such as community events and public announcements.

6. What tips do you have for new gun owners regarding safe storage and handling?

For new gun owners, the Sebastian Police Department emphasizes the importance of using a gun lock or safe to prevent unauthorized access. Storing ammunition in a separate, secure location from the firearm is also a key component of safe firearm ownership. Additionally, taking firearm safety courses is highly recommended to ensure proper handling and storage practices. Finally, educating family members who may interact with firearms about safety protocols is another critical step in preventing accidents and ensuring responsible gun ownership.

We encourage everyone — whether you’re a gun owner or community leader — to take action by promoting responsible firearm storage and safety education. Together, we can make a difference.

For more information about Sebastian Police Department’s upcoming safety events, visit the department’s website.

You can review and download Project ChildSafe’s many educational resources through the program’s educational resources.

By Keri McIntosh

The last thing any manufacturer — or retailer of any product — ever wants to see is their product being misused or somehow ending up in the wrong hands. That’s why Davidson’s Inc. has joined so many other members of the firearms industry in supporting NSSF®’s Project ChildSafe® program, and why we encourage everyone to participate in Gun Storage Check Week®, happening right now, June 1–7.

We’ve been proud partners of Project ChildSafe for half a decade, largely because this industry-created program directly matches our company principles related to safety, security and responsibility. It’s a meaningful way to contribute to firearms safety and the well-being of communities across the U.S.

It’s a real privilege to be part of an organization that has distributed more than 42 million free gun locks all across the country. We believe if the proper tools are given to consumers upon the purchase of their firearm, they can immediately take their purchase home and store their firearm securely. Considering that any single one of those locks could help prevent an accident or tragedy or even save a life — how could we not want to be a part of it?

That’s where we also want to offer some kudos to our fellow industry members. When government grants for Project ChildSafe ran out in the early 2000s, it was the members of this industry that stepped up to continue funding the program.

Going forward, however, I do think our industry can (and in many cases does) go beyond providing funding. We can do even more to be the voice of genuine firearm safety. We can do even more to encourage all gun owners to take the steps that keep guns out of the hands of criminals, make our homes, neighborhoods and communities safer, help prevent accidents and even play an important role in preventing suicide — one of the leading causes of death for the veterans who have served our country, and for the young people who are its future.

That starts with the sharing the tenets of Gun Storage Check Week. Davidon’s is committed to joining with NSSF and Project ChildSafe to remind all gun owners to “Make Sure It’s Secure.®” Right here and now, I encourage every gun owner out there to take a moment and:

• Verify your firearms are securely stored, unloaded and separate from ammo.
• Think about your current gun storage system in the context of how your living or family situation may have changed in the past year, or whether someone in your home might be at risk of a mental health crisis. If you’re looking for guidance, walk through Project ChildSafe’s Gun Storage Check Module.
• Take the steps to upgrade your storage system to ensure no one can access your firearms without your authorization. You can find great suggestions on gun storage options for your lifestyle here.

Finally, I also want to put the challenge out to my fellow members of the firearms wholesale and retail industry, along with the manufacturers, to help increase the visibility of Gun Storage Check Week by downloading the Promotional Toolkit from NSSF and putting these tools to work.

At Davidson’s we know we’re not alone in championing firearm safety and secure storage. We’re proud to be part of an industry that works hard to educate gun owners everywhere on what they can do to help prevent accidents, thefts or misuse. Let’s all raise the noise level on this — together.

Keri McIntosh is the Director of Operations at Davidson’s Inc. and Davidson’s Gallery of Guns.

By Patrick Lopez

If you didn’t grow up around firearms or see people in your family or community who look like you using them, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. It may seem like you have to figure it out on your own, but you don’t.

Every journey into firearm ownership starts with safety, and no matter where you are in that journey, there are communities and resources designed to support you along the way. That’s where organizations like Asian Pacific American Gun Owners Association (APAGOA) comes in.

Safety, education and community are at the core of APAGOA’s mission, and the foundation of responsible firearm ownership and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a meaningful time to reflect on that work. While this month celebrates the history and contributions of Asian Pacific American (APA) communities, it also creates space to highlight the importance of representation and access — including in conversations around firearm ownership and safety.

For APAGOA, this means ensuring APA firearm owners have access to the resources, education and community they need to use and store their firearm safely and responsibly, year-round. A key part of that mission is representation, both in who delivers safety education and how it is shared. APAGOA helps bring this to life by making firearm safety education resources accessible across its platforms, hosting range days for hands-on learning and amplifying voices within the community through tutorials and shared experiences. These efforts create a space where people can learn from others who share similar backgrounds and perspectives.

But representation goes beyond visibility — it also means reducing barriers to understanding. Language can be one of those barriers.

With the APA community encompassing over 100 languages APAGOA has found creative ways to make safety guidance more approachable. One example is its firearm safety rule T-shirts, which translate the four firearm safety rules in several different languages such as Tagalog, traditional and simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese. These tools help ensure that safety messages are not only visible, but also understandable and easy to share within families and households.

Representation can also simply be putting a name to a face and hearing their story. This month, APAGOA is highlighting the voices and experiences of its community through an ongoing interview series. These stories reflect the experiences and thought leadership within the APA firearm-owning community.

Here’s what some members shared:

Tell us a little about who you are.

“…I’m a Chinese American born in the 1980s, and I was raised in Tacoma, Wash. My parents immigrated to Washington as teenagers and met when they were young, which shaped much of my upbringing and perspective. I grew up actively involved and working in churches and Christian nonprofit organizations, which instilled a strong foundation in service and community. Over time, I developed an interest in photography and marketing, eventually turning those into professional pursuits. For the past decade, I’ve worked in the firearms industry, where I’ve combined my creative background with hands-on experience in a highly specialized field.” – Gabriel Tam

What’s a top firearm safety tip you can share?

“Get a pair of electronic hearing protection. Being able to hear your instructor, your friends and your surroundings not only increases the enjoyment of shooting, but it is also safer in case you need to hear something in your surroundings. There are many great electronic ear pro-options at a variety of budget price points.” – Chris Cheng, History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 Champion in Silicon Valley, with roots as a self-taught amateur competitor.

“Always know and practice your general firearm safety rules! Accidents happen when you get too comfortable!” – Tony Pham, Vietnamese American, USMC VETERAN, Firearms Instructor and Content Creator.

“Train, train, train!” – Kenny Nguyen, FPS Kenny

What’s an exciting firearms-related project or initiative you’re working on?

“Coming up with a curriculum for firearms to be used in martial arts schools.” – Conrad Bui, Vietnamese American Doctor of Chiropractic and martial arts junkie.”

You can explore the interviews more in-depth here.

At its core, APAGOA’s work is about educating and building confidence, connection and a shared commitment to firearm safety and I’m happy to use Asian Pacific American Heritage Month as an opportunity to celebrate that progress and continue sharing APA stories.

Patrick Lopez is the Founding Board Member and President of APAGOA.