By Sarah Wofford
Owners of a local sporting goods store are using winnings from a drawing to try to revive a pastime they love: shooting guns.
Earlier this year, Gunnies Sporting Goods won a drawing sponsored yearly by a buying group. Being selected from the drawing entitles Gunnies to funds that are to be used toward hunting and shooting in their local community. After winning the contest they decided to provide locals an opportunity to become more familiar with the shooting by giving them the chance to practice shooting with different kinds of guns Saturday, Sept. 23, 2006, 10 a.m. 10 5 p.m., at the Provo Gun Club in Provo Canyon.
Wyatt Harrison is the gun department manager at Gunnies Sporting Goods and is also the son of Pam Harrison, the store''s manager. He said several brands of guns would be available for shooting such as Remington, Smith and Wesson, Springfield Armory, Legacy Sports International and Browning. There will be shotguns, rifles, and handguns available for testing.
'We just want to encourage those who want to learn to show up and try out different guns,' Wyatt said.
There is no cost for the public to attend. However, pre-registration is needed and can be done at the store, 396 S.State St. in Orem. Upon registration a specific half-hour time slot will be assigned so everyone has the opportunity to experiment with shooting.
Both children and adults are invited to participate. Those who are under 18 years of age need to be accompanied by an adult. Gunnies has no age discrepancies, as long as the adult accompanying is comfortable with the child handling a gun.
'Kids and adults should learn it, and it is a fun sport,' Pam Harrison said. 'It''s no more dangerous than throwing darts if you know how to handle a gun.'
This event will provide children the opportunity, along with adults to develop safe skills while using a gun.
Wyatt said people who have moved here from other states might not be familiar with the shooting and hunting that the Wasatch Front has to offer. More information about shooting ranges and prices in Utah can be found at packing.org.