On June 16, Maryland delegates from both sides of the aisle attended an afternoon of target shooting, fun and a solid dose of education on the sport’s dedication to safety at the Loch Raven Skeet and Trap Center in Phoenix, Md. The gathering was hosted by some of the industry’s foremost manufacturers and organizations. The event was organized to help attendees gain a better understanding of the relationship between shooting sports retailers, manufacturers and the recreational shooters they serve.
Legislators included many who already have a passion for shooting sports and several who are unfamiliar with the sport. Each attendee was provided professional instruction on how to break fast-moving clay targets with shotguns, ensuring even novices behind a trigger had a fun day worth remembering. Alongside the challenge of clay shooting, discussions were held on the positive economic impact of shooting sports, which are enjoyed by thousands of participants across Maryland each year.
“We thank our legislators who came to this event today for their engagement and participation,” said Dr. Christopher Kopacki of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “By attending, they are they seeing first-hand the passion and professionalism that many people have regarding shooting sports. We also hope they come away with a better understanding of the many important and rigorous protections already in place to ensure responsible firearm ownership. Above all, we are grateful for their willingness to have this discussion in an open and collaborative setting.”
Sponsors of the event included manufacturers Benelli USA, Stoeger Industries, Beretta USA and Norma Ammunition. Highland Sporting Outfitter represented the voice of outdoor retailers.
