Cowboys Promote Gun Safety In Dayton

DAYTON - Once a month, the Dayton shooting range goes back in time and hosts a group of shooters for an event known as Cowboy Action. Last Saturday the cowboys were back, hosted by the Columbia County Shooting Association.

With all of those gun enthusiasts, the shooting association members know gun safety is more than just a topic of conversation -- it's a way of life.

The association's Presi- dent Al Young has been im- mersed in gun culture for his entire life.

"(I've) been shooting since about 1951, the year I turned six," Young said. "And I was deemed appropriate."

Gun use has changed drastically in the last 60 years. Young said he remem- bers guns being a daily sight as a child.

"When I was in grade school, I would get on the bus with a .22 rifle and put it in the coat rack," Young said.

At the end of the day, he would pick up his gun and forego the bus to walk and hunt.

Young said when firearms were banned from school grounds, many students were outraged. Now, Young fo- cuses a lot of his energy on teaching gun safety to young shooters and making sure kids understand how to use guns appropriately.

Shooting association Sec- retary LeAnn Kemmerer was also introduced to guns at an early age.

"We shot BB guns and .22s as kids," Kemmerer said.

Her interest in shooting led her to participate in local Cowboy Action events. Cowboy Action, Kemmerer explained, is a competition for marksmen with a twist - everyone dresses up like cowboys from the old west and assumes aliases. Kem- merer calls herself Pinto Annie.

Cowboy action shoots on the second Saturday of each month at the range.

"If we could do (Cowboy Action) every weekend, we'd be happy," Kemmerer said.

Kemmerer and husband Ed Kemmerer, known as Shalako Tucker, own Des- perado Cowboy Bullets in Dayton.

Kemmerer said in 13 years of Cowboy Action, she has seen two guns blow up, but there have been no other incidents or injuries.

"It's usually user issues," Kemmerer said.

Safety matters to the shooting association. It's mandated, Young said, that anyone using the range must use ear and eye protection.

"If they don't have (pro- tection) we will loan them out," Young said. "If (they refuse), they can leave."

Kemmerer stressed that the precautions the shooting association takes are neces- sary and don't impede on the experience.

"You can come out and handle guns safely and have an absolute ball," Kemmerer said.

Members of the Columbia County Shooting Association have open access to the Day- ton shooting range. Young said the range is about 7 or 8 acres and the club is working to get a trap house installed on the range.

"Club members have the combination for the lock on the gate and can go out to shoot anytime," Young said.

Membership costs $50 per year and Young said the fees help keep up the range as well as liability insurance.

The club year usually ends around September, Kemmerer said. Last year the club ended with 49 paid members it takes about 55 to keep up with ex- penses, Kemmerer said.

The shooting association meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in the legion building.

For more information about the Columbia County Shooting Association, visit ccshooting.com. For more information about Cowboy Bullets, visit cowboybullets.com.