Article Library
Monday, January 15, 2007
New partnership between NRA and NASR will benefit target shooting facilities
As you're reading this, I am attending the final day of activity at the Shooting and Hunting Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show, in Orlando, Fla. The SHOT Show, is the largest and most comprehensive trade show for all professionals involved with the shooting sports and hunting industries. It is the world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, archery, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, camping and related products and services. The SHOT Show attracts buyers from all 50 states and more than 75 countries and is owned and sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
The NSSF is the trade association for the shooting, hunting and firearms industry. Formed in 1961, the NSSF is a not-for-profit organization with a membership of more than 3,000 manufacturers, distributors, retailers, sportsmen's organizations and publishers.
One division of the NSSF is the National Association of Shooting Ranges. NASR promotes the development of state-of-the-art, target-shooting facilities/entertainment centers and promotes and protects target-shooting facilities by providing leadership in information, communication and partnerships between ranges, industry and community.
A few months ago, a meeting in Washington, D.C., of the executive committee of NASR and the NRA's Range Development Committee signaled the beginning of a new synergy between the two groups, to more effectively help shooting ranges develop and prosper.
It was an important first said Rick Patterson, NASR executive director, marking the first time they ever held a joint meeting.
"It's the old saying that none of us is as smart as all of us," Patterson said. "We can better serve the shooting sports community by coordinating our efforts, by recognizing that we have the opportunity to create a new synergy, on a broader scale. This was a historic meeting."
Holden Kriss, president of NASR's executive committee and manager of the NASR "Five-Star"- rated Indian River County public shooting range in Florida, put his perspective on the meeting.
"We each have our own identities, and this is an opportunity for each of us to do what we do best, on behalf of ranges, and avoid duplicating each other's efforts," Kriss said.
"This is an exciting time to be president," added Kriss, who is completing his first full year at the committee's helm. "We would like to be the organization that brings everyone together — all shooting sports organizations — to work on behalf of ranges."
Included among many important topics discussed at the meeting was preliminary planning for a "Shooting Range Leadership Summit" to be held this year. Dates and a location have not been determined.
"The summit will be designed to create a better understanding of the resources currently available and how NASR and the NRA are working together to provide ranges with the tools they need to succeed," Patterson said.
NASR has also been very busy this year as it has completed testing of a new software program that guides range managers through the Environmental Stewardship Plans that can help them avoid problems with their communities as well as government regulators. An ESP is a written document for planning, implementing and monitoring the progress of environmental management and improvements at a shooting range. By developing and implementing an ESP, ranges document their commitment to the environment and their community. NASR has also implemented a system of submitting the plans to government regulators for certification that protects the identity of the ranges.
For more information about the National Association of Shooting Ranges, including membership, the "Five-Star" facility recognition program, and its library of information and guidance manuals for shooting range development and management, visit NASR's Web site, www.rangeinfo.org, or email Patterson at rpatterson@nssf.org.
