Exercise Your Firearms Freedoms: Learn to Shoot at Chicago-area First Shots Seminars

Exercise Your Firearms Freedoms: Learn to Shoot at Chicago-area First Shots Seminars

National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn –-(Ammoland.com)- With the individual right to keep and bear arms reaffirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s McDonald ruling, Chicagoland residents now enjoy the same firearm freedoms as other Americans.

However, making the leap from freedom-to-own to actual ownership is challenging and, to some, even daunting.

To provide helpful and clear answers to the many questions residents may have about the process of handgun ownership, five area shooting ranges have scheduled a series of First Shots seminars.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, is co-sponsoring the seminars with the Chicago-area ranges. The seminars are open to the public and free of charge.

First Shots seminars have been scheduled for Saturday, November 5, at the following shooting facilities:

  • Midwest Sporting Goods at 8565 Plainfield Road, Lyons, Ill.
  • G.A.T. Guns at 14N915 State Route 25, Dundee, Ill.
  • Bass Pro Shops, 6112 Grand Avenue, Gurnee, Ill.
  • Maxon Shooters Supplies, Inc., 1226 Rand Road, Des Plaines, Ill.
  • H.P. Shooting Center, Inc., 2908 West Route 120, McHenry, Ill.

Each range will present multiple three-hour seminars during the day, making it easy for people to attend. The seminars are free of charge, but registration is required. Register and find out seminar times for each range at www.firstshots.org. Can’t make the date? Research other First Shots seminars in the area at www.firstshots.org.

“First Shots seminars provide an introduction to safe and responsible handgun shooting and firearms storage,” said program manager Tisma Juett. “Each seminar covers laws and regulations, emphasizes the value of proper training and puts participants on the firing line with certified instructors so they can experience the fun of target shooting.”

The seminars are open to men and women 21 years of age and older. A parent or legal guardian must accompany anyone under age 21.

The First Shots program has provided an introduction to firearms ownership to thousands of people nationwide this year. According to program research, half the individuals who attend the seminars have met their local requirements for handgun ownership and have introduced another person to their new-found sport of target shooting. “The excitement of target shooting with firearms is something people want to share with their friends and family members,” said Juett.

Those attending the First Shots seminars will learn about revolvers and pistols and will fire .22-caliber ammunition.

Chicago-area residents can now join the millions of Americans who own handguns for target shooting, hunting and personal and home defense. The Chicago seminars and those in Madison, Wisc., on the same day mark the kickoff of nationwide Big City Tour for First Shots.

For more information about First Shots, contact Tisma Juett at [email protected] or go to www.firstshots.org.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

NSSF is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2011. Learn about the Foundation’s history at www.nssf.org/50.