SAFETY INSTRUCTION
The SCCYSL teaches the knowledge, skills and attitude required to safely and responsibly participate in the shooting sports. Responsible and safe firearms activity is the prime objective of our shooting program. Safety is constantly at the forefront of our efforts. All youngsters are periodically taught and reminded of the prime rules of firearm handling as promulgated by the National Rifle Association:
- "Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction". This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to accidentally discharge it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances. Our metal backstop on the range is painted GREEN. As long as the youngsters have their sights pointed "in the green" they are maintaining good muzzle control.
- "Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot". When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
- "Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use". No gun on the range is ever loaded until the youngster is on the firing line and the range command "load" is given. Before a rifle is picked up from the staging table or after the "return rifle" command is given, the youngster must physically make sure that there is a range safety flag inserted into the chamber.
The shooting venues of the SCCYSL are clearly marked with firing lines and safety procedures and a low mentor to student ratio assures that each youngster is acting in a responsible and knowledgeable manner.
NRA BASIC RIFLE COURSE
Over the course of the first year of membership in the League, each youngster is required to attend an NRA Basic Rifle Course taught by NRA certified instructors. Parents and other family members are also welcomed to participate. This course is given to our members at no cost by our volunteer staff. The Basic Rifle course is presented each year at the Clubhouse of the Atglen Sportsmen's Club. The class meets five times (one 4 hour day on a Sunday from 1 to 5 pm and four Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 pm) where participants receive 12 hours of instruction on firearms, safety, reloading and four rifle shooting positions during live fire exercises. For 2024, the classroom lectures will be given on Sunday, July 28th and the shooting portions of the classes will take place on August 5, 12, 19 and/or 26th.
2022 SCCYSL NRA Basic Rifle Instruction Course at Atglen. No class was held in 2023.
Eighteen youngsters and adults participated in the 2022 NRA Basic Rifle Instruction Course given by the SCCYSL beginning on July 24, 2022. Six parents and 12 youngsters took the course (4 female and 14 male). John Flynn, assisted by Gary Tozzo and Al Wells, all NRA certified Rifle Instructors, presented the course. The students were given a six hour set of lectures on the history of the gun, parts of a rifle, types of actions, types of magazines/clips, ammunition, types of sights, reloading, safety, responsibility, types of shooting activities, etc. The bench rest, standing, kneeling, sitting and prone shooting positions were taught on consecutive Monday evening sessions. The course was presented using PowerPoint slides and a digital video projector. The equipment was purchased with an NRA Foundation grant. The youngsters and adults took the official NRA 50 question test. All students received NRA certificates of completion after they had mastered all shooting positions and met all requirements of the 14 hour course. The SCCYSL has graduated over 550 students from this course over the last twenty-three years.
