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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.

By: Frances Arias
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Senior Manager, Special Projects

You don’t need a mental health background to save a life. Range safety officers, retailers, community educators, coaches, faith leaders and family members –– we all have a role to play. You just need to be willing to have an honest conversation, be aware of mental health and crisis resources to be ready to share them and show up for the people around you. A big part of that also involves taking action to ensure firearms aren’t accessible to someone who may be experiencing a mental health challenge.

Responsible firearm ownership is a commitment, not a checklist. As a firearm owner and former military spouse, I came to understand early that responsible ownership isn’t just about the firearm. It’s a reflection of how seriously you take the wellbeing of yourself and the people around you. That reflection became deeply personal when I lived through a firearm suicide crisis involving someone I loved. It changed how I show up –– as a firearm owner, and as someone committed to owning my role in firearm suicide prevention.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and firearms are involved in more than half of all suicide deaths. There is no single cause of suicide, but we know that risk increases when conditions like depression, anxiety or substance use or misuse go unaddressed –– and when a firearm is easily accessible. We can’t always see a crisis coming, but storing firearms securely every day, not just during difficult times, is the most reliable way to protect ourselves and those around us from suicide. Secure storage creates the space for a crisis to pass and for help to reach someone in time. Research shows that when a chosen method of suicide is not accessible, most people will not move on to another method in a moment of crisis. Suicide is often preventable and we can help to prevent suicide by following secure storage strategies.

There are three straightforward strategies to securing your firearm safely: lock, limit and temporarily remove.

1. Lock means storing firearms in a locking device such as a safe, unloaded and with ammunition locked away separately.
2. Limit means reducing access during vulnerable periods –– changing safe combinations, removing keys or giving access to a trusted person for safekeeping.
3. Temporarily remove means getting firearms or all ammunition out of the home temporarily when someone is going through a hard time, even if you are unsure if they are thinking of suicide or not. I store my own firearms in an electronic lock box, unloaded, and separately from my ammunition. It’s a simple habit, but one I’m intentional about, not just because the research supports it, but because I know firsthand what’s at stake when a firearm is within reach during a moment of crisis.

If you believe someone is thinking about suicide, trust your gut, assume you are the only one who will reach out and ask them directly if they are thinking about suicide. Research shows that directly asking someone if they’re thinking about suicide won’t put the idea in their head or push them to act on it. In most cases, they’ll feel relieved that someone cares enough to bring it up.

Firearm safety and suicide prevention aren’t separate issues. They’re part of the same commitment to protecting ourselves and the people we care about. Visit afsp.org/firearms to find resources, start conversations and learn how to help someone who may be at risk.

Frances Arias is the Senior Manager of Special Projects at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Frances primarily works on firearm suicide prevention and suicide prevention in the construction industry and corrections systems.

By Jodi Stemler
Policy Consultant, Boone and Crockett Club

April is the month we celebrate Earth Day, but the reality is hunters have had a deep connection to conservation and our great outdoors for generations. That conservation ethic — grounded with a code of principles called Fair Chase — helped restore America’s wildlife and wild places a century ago and sustain them to this day. However, the future of hunting and the conservation of wildlife in North America depends on the next generation of hunters upholding these principles. For those new to hunting, spring is the best time to plan for next year’s hunting season, and the Boone and Crockett Club’s online Fair Chase and Hunting Ethics course teaches this foundation before they head to the field.

New hunters in all states need to take a hunter’s education course that provides top level information about our conservation history and teaches about hunting regulations and safety. In addition, Project ChildSafe^® has an interactive Future Hunter’s Pledge module for parents and kids to go through together to learn and discuss firearm safety and responsible hunting.

The Fair Chase and Hunting Ethics course created by the Boone and Crockett Club adds to these core curriculums. The approximately hour-long module develops a stronger foundation of safety, conservation commitment and ethics that will enhance the individual’s hunting experience while ensuring the future of our hunting traditions. The free course walks through the experience of two new hunters who learn about the rich tradition of Fair Chase, helping them understand responsible and ethical hunting. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a certificate of achievement and a free “Hunt Fair Chase” challenge coin to carry with them as a reminder of their commitment to ethical hunting.

“The concept of Fair Chase is just as important today as it was over a century ago,” said Tony Schoonen, CEO of the Boone and Crockett Club. “Most Americans are neither pro-hunting nor anti-hunting, most are on the fence. As hunters, we are all ambassadors for our sport. When we hunt ethically, we will garner more support from the public and help ensure our hunting heritage continues for generations into the future.”

Visit learn.boone-crockett.org to take the course.

With a degree in wildlife, Jodi Stemler brings a foundation in ecology to her freelance writing and her work as a communications and policy consultant for national hunting conservation organizations, including the Boone and Crockett Club. She lives in Colorado with her husband, daughter and bird dog. They love to hunt birds and big game across the West.

By Ryan Brock, Ph.D.
Youth Education Coordinator, Wild Sheep Foundation

April is a time when conservation takes center stage. With Earth Day, Arbor Day and a renewed focus on wildlife and natural spaces, it’s a season that reminds us of our shared responsibility to care for the world around us. As the Youth Education Coordinator for the Wild Sheep Foundation, I see this month as an opportunity to expand that idea of stewardship — beyond the landscape and into our homes and daily habits.

Spring is also a time associated with becoming more active as we leave behind the winter months and get outside. Longer days and warmer weather create the perfect opportunity to introduce youth to outdoor traditions, including the shooting sports. Whether it’s a first trip to the range or continued practice to prepare for a fall hunt, these experiences can be both meaningful and beneficial. Shooting sports offer more than recreation and mentor/youth bonding; they can help build concentration, reduce stress and improve physical coordination, balance and strength.

With these opportunities, however, comes an essential responsibility: firearm safety.

Every trip to the range is also a chance to teach and reinforce safe firearm practices. That education doesn’t begin at the range. It starts at home. When a child sees a firearm being removed from a locked safe, observes how it is transported and watches how it is handled during and after use, they are learning. Young people often absorb more from what we do than what we say, which makes modeling safe behavior critical.

Organizations like Project ChildSafe^® play an important role in supporting these efforts by providing safety kits, secure storage options and educational resources to help prevent accidents and unauthorized access. Proper storage, specifically keeping firearms locked, unloaded and inaccessible to children is one of the most effective ways to ensure safety.

At the same time, teaching our youth about being responsible, ethical hunters is a centerpiece of conservation and environmental stewardship. Project ChildSafe has a great resource available, the Future Hunters Pledge and Walk Through Module that parents and kids can go through together to teach valuable lessons on ethical hunting and firearm safety.

Conservation is about protecting the future. Whether we are safeguarding wildlife habitats or teaching the next generation how to responsibly handle firearms, the goal is the same: creating a culture of respect, responsibility and care.

This April, as we embrace conservation and spend more time outdoors, let’s also commit to reinforcing safe firearm practices — because responsible stewardship starts with us.

Dr. Ryan Brock is the Youth Education Coordinator at the Wild Sheep Foundation, where he leads the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE) at the annual Sheep Show^® and oversees the nationwide Shooting, Hunting & Ethics Education Program (S.H.E.E.P.). These programs, often in partnership with other conservation groups, provide hands-on experiences in shooting sports, wildlife and habitat conservation.