By: Robert Davis

August is National Shooting Sports Month, a time to celebrate our national pastime of recreational and sport shooting activities.

Every year, more than 50 million people participate in sport and target shooting activities across the United States, according to research from the National Shooting Sports Foundation. These activities are fun, safe, and a great way for men, women, and youth of all ages and sizes to enjoy the excitement of shooting both recreationally and competitively.

This year’s National Shooting Sports Month was marked by special recognition by President Trump.

“As President, the safety of the American people is my top priority, and I want to ensure that those participating in shooting sports—one of our Nation’s greatest traditions—have the proper facilities to learn how to operate a firearm responsibly,” The White House said in a press release. “That is why I was proud, earlier this year, to sign into law H.R. 1222, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act. This important legislation will support State wildlife management agencies as they construct or expand shooting ranges, providing more opportunities for citizens to safely and properly learn marksmanship skills.”

Of course, having the White House’s support is not enough to make this a successful National Shooting Sports Month. Everyone who supports the Second Amendment needs to get involved and spread the word. That’s why we’ve complied these three ways you can help engage others during this month:

Lead by Example and Get Involved
Simply saying you support the Second Amendment is not enough. You need to get out there and show your neighbors, friends, and family exactly why it means so much to you. Participate in local events or joint the +ONE Movement Initiative to introduce someone new to sport shooting. Be sure to post about your experiences on social media so that others can be inspired by your stories.

Guide Others to Opportunities and Resources
Overcoming doubts and stigmas surrounding gun culture is the first step toward helping others find opportunities and resources to participate this month. Take someone to meet your local shooting range owner and help that person get the questions they never had the courage to ask answered. Afterward, tell your friend to check out events, promotions, and sales listed on letsgoshooting.org to find other ways to stay involved.

Collaborate!
Don’t feel as though the success or failure of this year’s National Shooting Sports Month rests on your shoulders or is determined by your ability to get others involved. If you are not an organizer, then find a way to collaborate with others and spread the word.

Robert Davis is a general assignment reporter for Gunpowder Magazine. You can contact him with tips or comments at RobertDavis0414 (at) gmail.com.