NRA honorees give back to shooting community

Shooting Industry, June, 2007 by Lisa Parsons-Wraith

Preservation of the shooting sports tradition is the number one goal of the industry. To keep the shooting sports alive, we must continue to attract new shooters and cultivate lifelong shooting enthusiasts.

There are several organizations and programs that assist the shooting community with this goal, but these programs would not be successful without the individuals who give their time, energy and enthusiasm to new shooters. The National Rifle Association recently honored three women for their "exceptional contributions to the preservation of the Second Amendment and the shooting sports, through education, advocacy, volunteerism and legislative activism, in support of the goals of the NRA."

Dispelling The Myth Of Guns

The Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award was given to Edie P. Reynolds, in recognition of her support of the Second Amendment and the shooting sports at the national level. Reynolds, an NRA board member from Raleigh, N.C., is a lifelong shooter, five-time Women's National Champion in Smallbore Prone and holds numerous other shooting titles. She is also an NRA-certified coach, instructor and range safety officer.

Reynolds has mentored young people in the use of firearms through a girls' summer camp and as an assistant rifle coach at North Carolina State University. She said teaching at the girls' camp really showed her the power of peer support.

"Campers would tell their friends about their day on the range and someone would say, 'Eww, you shot a gun!' The camper would excitedly say 'Yes!', show their friends the targets, talk about how they improved and how much fun it was. Then, the next day, all the kids wanted to try shooting," Reynolds said.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

She added that the campers' experiences helped dispel the myth of guns, and gave the students a positive story to tell about firearms.

Getting women and youths involved in hunting and shooting is very important to Reynolds, which is why she supports programs such as the NRA's Women On Target, Youth Hunter Education Challenge and the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program. She is also the chairperson of the NRA Smallbore Rifle, Collegiate Programs and Competition Rules and Programs Committees, and is the vice chairperson of the NRA Youth Programs and Air Gun Committees.

Shooting is a family activity for Reynolds--her son and daughter are keen shooters, as well. Her daughter, Katie, is already winning championship tournaments in skeet and rifle shooting.

Mentoring new shooters is a vital part of Reynolds' contribution to the shooting industry.

"I was mentored by someone and that's why I like to give back to the shooting community--so the kids I taught will give back to the next generation," Reynolds said.