Revisited: Project ChildSafe Story – USPSA Shooter Lauren Horner

Lauren Horner is a USPSA competition shooter and loves to meet folks wanting to get into the craft of shooting. Humble beginnings are often the best time to pick up and adopt great habits and with the help of Project ChildSafe, Lauren shares classic and proven tips to having a great time on the range. With August being the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s “National Shooting Sports Month,” it is fitting to look back at competition shooter Lauren Horner’s advice for safety while shooting.

“All’s well that ends well” may be an adage applied to rainbow stew on the prairie; however, the finality of errors in shooting safety can be detrimental. Having fun in the truest sense employs both joy and responsibility. 

As a tutor for a first time shooter, instilling a sense of community in between the instructional lines can embolden wary newcomers. Missing or derelict safety glasses and ear protection can often be cheerfully supplied from the front desk. Responsibly employing range rules and recommendations as well is another feature Laruen’s seasoned and sensible approach to making the range a positive experience. 

Following the more administrative arm of range time, Lauren’s experience resonates as she encourages dry-fire drills, including presentations and re-holsterings. Softer than the tacit approach of earning your stripes in the trenches of combat, dry-fire exercises encourage learning and comfort.  

The big show consists of live-fire demonstrations, practice and clearing procedures, all oriented downrange. Get sound advice from a professional and check out some of Lauren’s pillars of great training below. -IBR

• When arriving at the range, check that all new shooters have eye and ear protection: if they don’t, be sure to borrow some at the front desk.
• Look for a sign with the range rules and read them thoroughly. If there is anything you don’t understand, just ask!
• If it makes you feel more comfortable, introduce yourself to the range staff as a new shooter; they are there to help make sure you have a safe and enjoyable experience.
• Always bring your firearm case to the line before uncasing your pistol. Make sure that the muzzle is pointing downrange, in a safe direction at all times and that your finger is off the trigger.
• Treat all firearms as if they were loaded. When someone hands you a firearm, be sure to check the chamber and the magazine is clear yourself, even if they tell you that it is clear.

View the rest of the original post for the rest of Lauren’s insights on firearms safety. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the NSSF’s important program, Project ChildSafe. 

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  The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON →