Gun Rights Advocates Target Father's Day

http://www.macontel.com/local/gunrights0617.htm
Gun rights advocates target Father's Day
By Amy Menefee
The Macon Telegraph
The moms had their say in Washington, D.C. Now, dads are taking to the range - the gun range.
Dads across the country are using Father's Day to exercise their Second Amendment rights in response to the Million Mom March for gun control. They're calling it the 50 Million Round March.
"They don't have to go to Washington, D.C., or even to the state capitols," said Jeff Head, one of the idea men for the grass-roots event. "They can go to their local gun ranges."
The idea for the event originated when Head, of Emmett, Idaho, and a friend began talking about the importance of teaching their children about firearm safety. Head said he already enjoys shooting at the range and wanted to use his Father's Day activity to make it known.
"I said, 'Let's not just do what we normally do.' Let's send a message to Congress," he said. Participants in the "march" are encouraged to write letters to their representatives in Congress explaining the importance of the Second Amendment, enclosing spent cartridges from the day's shooting if they choose.
"We're encouraging dads to come in and shoot a box of ammo, and then we'll send the brass to Washington," said Hamp Dowling, owner of Eagle Gun Range Inc. His Macon range at 109 Woodfield Drive will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. on Father's Day.
"They can bring the kids in - I think we have a Scout troop coming in," he said.
Aaron Zelman, founder of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, said that he will be out shooting with his sons Sunday.
"It's a simple and sound way to send a message. My sons already understand the importance of the Second Amendment, and now they can just enjoy practicing their shooting," he said of his 8- and 13-year-old sons.
Proponents of the event are focusing on educating children in the safe usage of firearms and their right to use them.
"All of my kids, except the youngest, have passed their hunter's safety course," said Erik Leonhard, a Forsyth dad who plans to shoot some sporting clays with his kids on Father's Day. "We have instructed all our kids in firearms safety - to respect firearms. They are something you can enjoy, but they have a deadly function, and the kids understand that aspect."
Head agreed it is important to impart this knowledge to children.
"Firearms ownership is one of the great reasons we're free and prosperous in this country," Head said. "We want to pass this tradition on to our children."
The Sierra Times, an online publication, has endorsed the 50 Million Round March and is sponsoring an online photo gallery. Editor J.J. Jackson has asked participants to photograph dads and their kids at the range and submit their photos for display.
"We want Junior learning how to handle this arsenal of liberty safely and effectively," Jackson said in a recent article, adding that the photo gallery would send Washington a "message they can't ignore."
• For more information, visit www.50mrmarch.com or sierratimes.com, or call Eagle Gun Range Inc. at 757-4867.
Well, except for the fact that J.J. Johnson probably doesn't want someone named J.J. Jackson taking over his site, this is a good article.
 
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