Project Goals

• To encourage participation in natural resources and related natural science programs by exposing participants to the content through shooting, hunting and related activities.
• To enhance development of self-concept, character and personal growth through safe, educational and socially acceptable involvement in shooting activity.
• To teach safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment including sound decision making, self-discipline and concentration.
• To promote the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship and ethical behavior.
• To expose participants to the broad array of vocational and life-long avocational activities related to shooting sports.
• To strengthen families through participation in life-long recreational activities.
• To complement and enhance the impact of existing safety, shooting and hunter education programs using experiential educational methods and progressive development of skills and abilities.

Position Statements About Kids and Guns

       Why Does 4-H Have Shooting Sports Programs?

• 4-H uses shooting sports to teach youth development. Our programs are valuable for helping young people develop self-confidence, personal discipline, responsibility, teamwork, self-esteem and sportsmanship. The discipline and self-control required for responsible firearms use carries over into many other aspects of life.
• 4-H programs provide a positive experience for youth and promote the safe and ethical use of firearms.
• It is our belief that firearms education reduces gun accidents.
• Hunting and shooting are rich American traditions. 4-H shooting sports programs help continue this tradition through involvement of the total family: youth, teens, parents, grandparents, etc.

       Don’t shooting programs help spread America’s gun culture?

• No! In fact, there is ample evidence that the opposite is true. The 4-H shooting sports program is designed to teach good self-concept and character and to promote the highest standards of safety and ethical behavior. In addition, with 60-80 million gun owners in America, with the vast majority of them using guns safely and responsibly, America has a peaceful gun culture.
• In a society that has chosen to possess firearms, all members, regardless of age, should be provided adequate training to ensure safe, ethical and responsible interaction with firearms.

       Isn’t easy access to firearms one reason for the violent behavior we’ve seen in Columbine and other school shootings?

• The safest location for a responsible gun owner to store a firearm is the secure environment of his or her home.
• Firearms should be stored so that they are inaccessible to unauthorized users.

       Isn’t hunting inhumane and unnecessary in modern life?

       Four primary values arise from hunting: societal, economic, ecological and historical

• Societal: Hunting is a viable and healthy food source, promoting good sportsmanship and ethics. It is a valued part of our American heritage and is exceptionally good mental/physical exercise. Hunting is an ideal and common family activity.
• Economic: Hunting minimizes the economic loss of human life and property damage that may result from road kills and crop depredation. Hunters spend millions of dollars each year to pursue the sport and much of that money goes directly into wildlife management.
• Ecological: Hunting is a vital wildlife management tool. Hunters’ dollars support wildlife habitat projects in every state in the USA. Hunting improves the health of natural wildlife populations and contributes to the conservation of our natural resources. A well placed shot by a skilled marksman is a more humane cause of death than natural causes experienced by wildlife.
• Historical: Hunting was a necessary method of obtaining food and clothing by our forefathers. The act of hunting and utilizing the game animals, in similar ways, helps us to appreciate the demands and sacrifices that our ancestors faced in the historical development of modern civilization.

Resources/Links

        California 4H Shooting Sports Program

        National 4H Shooting Sports Program

        California 4H Shooting Sports Introductory Video