Teaching SAFETY while in the presence of firearms is our NUMBER ONE GOAL for this project.

Depending on which statistics you believe, there are as many guns in the hands of civilians in the United States as there are civilians (maybe more). Given this statistic, it is highly likely that our scouts will come into contact with a firearm in an uncontrolled situation. It is our intention to make sure that our girls know exactly what to do in this event and not be overtaken by a curiosity that could result in injury.

We will introduce your scouts to many different kinds of firearms and teach the proper way of handling each of them. Upon completion of this course, they will be sufficiently familiar with firearms that they will never feel compelled to "play" with one should the opportunity arise.

Our CLASSROOM activities are open to scouts, parents, siblings, and friends. Four sessions are provided, two are presented by local peace officers. Lieutenant Dave Davis, Sunnyvale Public Safety Department, will present a "safe handling of firearms" demonstration with many different guns and types of ammunition on March 8, 2000 at our meeting place. Sgt. Walt Robinson, San Jose Police Department, will host our troop at the Police Department and inside firing range in San Jose (Wednesday to be determined – probably February 16 or 23). Paul Sidenblad and Heber Slusser will present the other two classes. Safety, sight patterns, safety, shooting positions, safety, range rules, safety, care and cleaning of rifles, safety, sportsmanship, and safety are the main topics to be covered.

This project culminates at the Santa Clara County Peace Officers Association’s (S.C.C.P.O.A) campground and firing range just outside of Saratoga off of Hwy. 9, where the scouts will camp in tent cabins, shoot .22 rifles and other firearms, and have a BBQ provided by the troop. This part of the activity is open ONLY to our scouts and parents (no siblings or friends).

The participants in this course will be given opportunities that very few people in our country ever get. They will have up-close and personal experience with a wide variety of firearms under the control and supervision of professionals.

Over the years, we have had 142 different Girl Scouts participate in this event and 7 of them have earned the Boy Scout Marksmanship Merit Badge. Some of the scouts have attended as many as 6 shooting outings as members of Troop 253.