Tragedy Inspired My Mission to Promote Responsible Gun Storage

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.