4 • The Beacon February 6 , 2025
4-H Shooting Sports Program helps youth learn gun safety
By Marianne Austin For The Beacon
The National 4-H Shooting Sports Program gives young people an opportunity to learn safe and responsible use of firearms .
“ Jan . 23 was the beginning air rifle class , the prerequisite for the air pistol class and the advanced rifle class ,” 4-H instructor Dan Bowden said . “ In the advanced rifle class , students learn standing , kneeling , sitting , prone positions , use of a sling and we shoot from a little further back .”
Bowden has been teaching gun safety for 31 years and teaching gun safety at Camp Ohio . This is a six-week course , and to successfully complete the course , they must attend at least five classes to be eligible for State Fair . 4-H has an evaluation , and depending on where they class , they can go on to State Fair shooting sports .
“ The kids sit at the table on the bench where we heavily cover safety ,” Bowden said . “ The No . 1 rule is to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction . Karl and I are always looking for that . We tell the kids , ‘ If you don ’ t learn anything else , learn that No . 1 safety rule .’ The other rules are muzzle control , action open and unloaded until you are ready to shoot , finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot , and eye and ear protection . We use only Co2 air rifles because they work well indoors . They are not noisy , so we don ’ t need ear protection and the kids are able to listen to the instructor .”
Co-instructor Karl Rinehart has been an instructor for 4-H shooting sports close to 20 years .
Dan Bowden has been teaching 4-H gun safety for 31 years .
“ Our first goal is safety ,” he said . “ If we can make them good shooters , that is a benefit , but by the end of the class , if we can make them a safe shooter that can handle a firearm without having any issues , that is our No . 1 rule and to always keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction . We want to have fun , and we want to make them good shooters , but we want to make them safe first . That ’ s my main goal .”
Ages for the class range from 8-18 .
“ We have various experiences with both boys and girls ,” Bowden said . “ I like to tell the class that girls shoot better because they listen and they apply . We ’ ve got 9-year-old boys that come in saying , ‘ I ’ ve been shooting all my life , so they can ’ t teach me anything ,’ and they don ’ t listen . That ’ s why we shoot off the bench . It is very controlled . We only have five shooters at a time , and we ’ ve got two instructors always within reach to keep them safe .
“ Everyone in the class is taking this course as a 4-H project . They will be evaluated in the county and then potentially go on to state level . Graduates of the class have done very well . The first night we cover everything in the project book in detail , multiple times , and that is No . 1 to get it into their minds so they remember and do well on the evaluations .
“ I bring in different kinds of hearing protection and encourage
Marianne Austin
Instructor Karl Rinehart gives shooters a thumbs up .
them to use it here and in any other noisy environment , like with chain saws , tractors , lawn mowers , that kind of stuff . We go over and over basic marksmanship , cover the project books , and bring in show and tell to match the pictures in the book . We try to start class early in the year so that we will be finished for the ones who plan to show animals as well .”
Dan ’ s wife Becky Bowden , also an expert shooter , helps with their project books , assigning goals and asking them questions out of the book .
Students learn the three parts of a rifle , practice how to use their site pictures , site alignment , shooting at a blank target and a bull ’ s-eye target , getting in position , establishing your site picture , slowly squeezing the trigger , and shooting with both eyes open if using your dotted i .
As soon as you fire , put your safety back on . You should be able to see the red ( loading and unloading ) and how to tell if the rifle is safe .
They learned anyone can call cease fire . They practiced exercises for shooting at a target . To place your safety off , put your feet flat on the floor and do not wiggle your feet or you will wiggle your rifle . Have both elbows on the table , use your cheek weld for site alignment , remember your breathing control , slowly squeeze the trigger and put your safety back on .
Ten-year-old twins William and Jonathan McCoy wanted to take the class , and their mom Lisa McCoy also thought it was a good idea .
“ I have been in law enforcement , so it is just second nature
Marianne Austin
to have firearms in the house ,” Lisa McCoy said .
She worked at U . S . Customs while in the Army and as an investigator before that .
Nine-year-old Allie Miller said , “ My dad shoots trap , and so I have shot guns before . I thought I would try this , and I really like it .”
This is the first time Sarah Thomas and her 8-year-old sister Abigail have taken a gun safety course . Sarah , who will be 11 soon , said she got a gun for Christmas and wanted to learn how to be safe and how to shoot . Oliver Whinnery learned about shooter safety , although he doesn ’ t have a gun . “ I ’ ve shot my dad ’ s 22 before ,” he said .
For more information about a shooter safety class or other 4-H projects available , contact Coshocton County OSU Extension , 724 S . Seventh St ., Coshocton , or call 740-622-2265 .
For more information about a shooter safety class or other 4-H projects available , contact Coshocton County OSU Extension , 724 S . Seventh St ., Coshocton , or call
740-622-2265 .