Sixth of June was National range day and the Bulkley Valley Rod and Gun Club hosted people who came to the range. They had a firearm safety course instructor who also taught about firearm safety.
Roger Cloutier, the Canada Firearm Safety Course Instructor said “whole program is based around safe firearm usage, legal ownership of firearms storage, all any new firearm safety. And what people are going to apply from this point is, once they complete the safety course, is they’re going to apply for their possession acquisition license”.
The class had approximately 10 students. Later on, they also got to try the guns that were available.
Jonathan Zappitelli, a director at the club spoke about how he got into guns. “So I got into firearms at an early age. My dad and my grandfather used to just go out hunting with them and just experiencing the the outdoors, so mainly just hunting. And then when I moved to Smithers in 2021, I wanted to get involved with the Rod and Gun Club and just found a little spot where he had the youth program wasn’t running anymore, so just figured I’d picked that back up”.
Matt Eastabrook was in attendance who shared his gun with the folks who wanted to try them. He said “Oh, we’re having a great time. We’re just down here at the range shooting a rimfire scavenger hunt and shooting at 175 yards at the black Jack challenge. Targets ranging from 12in down to two inches. And you get two minutes to get it done”.
He also added “As long as everyone’s having fun and being safe, it’s all that really matters to me. To be honest, we just want people to understand that the firearms community are just here to be safe and have fun”.