SIGHT ON SAFETY

Mike VanLith helps his son Ty at a BB gun class Tuesday in La Grande. ().

Story and photos by Dick Mason

The Observer

Dick Hohstadt and Darrel Plank shook their heads in wonderment.

The gun safety instructors were examining target shooting scores of several students in their BB gun safety class. Fifty points were possible and at least one young marksman had achieved a score in the high 40s.

The point total impressed Hohstadt and Plank. Still, the men serve as volunteer instructors because they hope to see a much smaller number achieved — not in target shooting but in life.

Hohstadt and Plank are working to prevent their students from ever being involved in a firearms accident. They are running a La Grande Rifle and Pistol Club program that teaches youngsters how to use firearms safely.

"Safety is a our number one objective,'' said Hohstadt, the program's director.

This winter two eight-week classes, both of which started this week, are being conducted in the basement of the Eagles Lodge, 1212 Jefferson Ave. One is a BB gun safety class and the other is an air rifle safety class. The BB gun class is for youths ages 8 to 14. The air rifle class is for youths through age 16. Both classes meet once a week.

Youths must be accompanied by an adult. Most of the adults who come are parents. Those who attended Tuesday's BB gun class include Keith Stubblefield of Union and his son, Matthew. Keith enjoyed helping his son handle a BB gun and learn how to take aim at a target and safety.

"It's good for them to learn these things when they are young so that in the future they will not make mistakes that could have been prevented,'' Keith said.

The classes have been offered each winter by the La Grande Rifle and Pistol Club since 2001. Hohstadt and Plank have taught the classes since the beginning, with Hohstadt serving as the director.

Plank is not surprised that the program has caught on because of the strong interest in guns in this community.

The classes are designed to meet the needs of youths with different experience levels. The BB gun class is for those with less experience handling guns and the air rifle class is for those a little more more familiar with guns.

The BB class is also better for younger children because the guns they handle are smaller. Lead pellets are fired instead of metal BBs because BBs bounce and can carom back to the firing area after hitting their target, Hohstadt said.

Hohstadt said that BB guns can injure eyes but otherwise are safe.

"You are not going to kill anyone with a BB gun. It's a good gun to begin with,'' Hohstadt said.

The probability of someone suffering an injury from a BB gun in class is almost non-existent because all students must wear safety glasses. The requirement also applies to the air rifle class.

Other safety precautions that are stressed include:

• The golden rule: Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot.

• Never touch a gun while anyone in front of you is in the firing range.

• Never put the finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

Each week participants shoot as members of "relays'' in which up to 12 youths fire five rounds at a time. All participants shoot together from prone, sitting or kneeling positions. These are the positions they will take while hunting or participating in shooting competitions, Hohstadt said.

Hohstadt urges his students to always focus on the present.

"The most important shot is the one in your chamber,'' Hohstadt said. "Not your last one or the next one.''

It is not too late to join a class since new students will be accepted through the third week. People can register at the beginning of each class. Cost: $10.

The BB gun class begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and the air rifle class starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. BB guns and air rifles are provided. The entrance to the shooting range is by the alley on Elm Street across from Furniture West.

For information call Hohstadt at 963-8624.