Accidental
Firearm-related Fatalities Drop to All-time Low
A report from the National Safety Council
shows that accidental firearm-related fatalities continue to decline and are at
the lowest level in the history of record keeping. Statistics in the council’s
“Injury Facts 2004” reveal a 54 percent decrease over a 10-year period ending
in 2003.
Last year, 101,537
“The continuing decline is good news
that’s attributable to a number of factors, but certainly the overarching theme
is increased awareness of gun safety and responsibility,” said Doug Painter,
president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade
association for the firearm industry. NSSF directs a number of initiatives
focusing on safety. The most visible is “Project ChildSafe®”,
which, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice, has distributed more
than 20 million free gun safety information kits, including gun locks, across
the country.
NSSF also distributes safety literature
and videos that emphasize outreach to schools. Additional support is provided
for hunter safety programs. Learn more at www.nssf.org
or 203-426-1320.
Many other organizations, most notably
the National Rifle Association, also effectively promote gun safety.
Painter added that NSSF, on behalf of the
firearm industry, is committed to working toward continuing the downward trend
in accidental firearm-related fatalities.
Other new findings from the National
Safety Council include:
NSSF, formed in 1961, is the trade
association for the firearm industry. It directs a variety of outreach programs
to promote greater participation and better understanding of shooting sports,
emphasizing safe and responsible ownership of firearms. For further
information, visit www.nssf.org.
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Virginia Trapshooting Hall of Fame, Inc
NEW...Organization,
NEW...Opportunities,
New...Challenges!
The formal paperwork was completed
over one year ago. Several meetings, many nights of lost sleep, a few
tears and lots of anti-acid tablets but the job was done. Final approval
for a new IRS designated 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt corporation was granted!
The Virginia Trapshooting Hall of
Fame, Inc. (VTHOF) is in place and eager to start formulating its ideas
and philosophies in a workable format.
The Articles of Incorporation for
VTHOF offer the best overview of the purpose behind this new
organization. To quote the Articles, “The Corporation shall be organized
and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the
meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code...the Corporation
shall expend its funds to give recognition to the Virginia persons, living or
dead, who have over the years distinguished themselves in registered
trapshooting competitions and to recognize those Virginia persons, living or
dead, who have contributed outstanding work in the promotion, administration,
management, improvement and growth of registered trapshooting...The Corporation
is authorized to publish and distribute educational material, make grants,
sponsor conferences, trap shoots and related educational programs for the
benefit of the interested public. . .”. That pretty much
introduces you to this newly formed organization and the principals behind its
foundation.
The VTHOF has actually been
functioning for many years as far as the recognition portion of the Articles
are concerned, and has officially bestowed recognition on many outstanding
Virginia Shooters, but something was lacking. To coin an old cliché they
were ‘preaching to the choir’! Many an
after-shoot conversation turned to the need to bring in new shooters to the
sport of Trap Shooting. Richard Johnson, outgoing President of VTHOF,
Robert Igou Secretary/Treasurer, and David Hakola decided that it was time to let the VTHOF make an
impact and function to assure that the future will bring new and exciting names
to the Hall of Fame in Virginia. That’s how this all began and after two
years the conversations were put to paper and the VTHOF, INC. was born.
The next step was to seek out and
solicit individuals that would best serve as the initial Board of Directors and
Officers of the VTHOF - a daunting task requiring nearly as much time and
effort as the original concept. Interviews with candidates were extensive
and the final selection was even more dramatic. In October of 2004, a new
Board of Directors and Officers were chosen and they individually accepted the
positions. The initial Officers for the new Corporation are: Andrea
Smith, President - Michael Calvert, Vice President - David Sturr,
Secretary and Robert Igou, Treasurer. Members
of the Board of Directors are as follows:
A meeting of the new Officers and Directors
of VTHOF will be held during the month of November of this year. The
specific direction and the means necessary to reach the goals of the
Corporation are planned to be discussed and formulated at this time. Once
the plan is completed, which may well take several meetings; the Corporation
will make it known to the seventeen clubs that form the Virginia Trapshooting
Association, Inc. their ideas to fulfill the goals.