Page 24 - Leisure Living Magazine July 2016

Air Gun Activities
Continued from page 23
Tuesday and Thursday evenings, August through June, the CMP hosts Open Public Nights for anyone interested in attempting air gun shoot- ing. For those new to the sport, air guns are avail- able for loan at the range. Guests may choose from sporter or National Match style air rifles or air pis- tols.
Mark Montgomery, 64, of Gibsonburg, Ohio, is just one of many regulars at Open Public Nights. A life-long lover of shooting, he found his way to the air gun range at Camp Perry one day and now shoots there 6 or 7 times a month.
After seeing other kids at the air range and wanting to teach his own grandchildren more about marksmanship, he brought them to an Open Public Night so they could find out for themselves how enjoyable it can be to shoot an air gun. Now they, like their grandpa, are infatuated with the range.
“I get calls after school, ‘Can we go to the CMP?’” Mark said, with a smile.
So far, Mark has brought three of his grandchil- dren to the range – with six more to go.
“They’ve all just loved it,” he added. “I’m going to keep adding one at a time.”
Inside the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center, outside of the range, is authentic Olympic memorabilia and other notable items from the outstanding career of one of the most decorated marksmen in U.S. history, Gary Anderson.
But Gary isn’t the only Anderson who likes to promote shooting. His wife, Ruth Ann, also en- courages her friends and family to visit the range, and she can often be seen on the firing line her- self. Ruth Ann, a woman who has seen countless marksmanship events around the world with her talented husband, is a strong believer that shooting is a sport for all ages.
“I think our grandchildren were about 4 or 5 years old when Gary first started instructing them in target shooting,” she said. “Today, I am 71 and enjoy shooting.”
Because of the ease of the air guns, the safety precautions administered within the range and the assisting equipment available for those in wheel- chairs or with other disabilities, she is confident that shooting is also a sport that can appeal to any-
24 |LeisureLiving July 2016
The air gun range has become a popular spot for families – in a safe and fun environment.
one.
In fact, she and a group of women from her
church even began their own “fun” team, which became known as the Annie OAKlies – named in homage to the famous American female sharp- shooter and the nearby town where the women live, Oak Harbor. The original group consisted of 10 women, ranging in age from 22 to 84.
But, before Ruth Ann convinced them to make a trip to the air range for Open Public, various ques- tions and concerns were raised amongst the group.
“I don’t know how to shoot. Is there a lot of re- coil? Is it noisy?” they asked.
Ruth Ann talked to the women and assured them that firing on the electronic targets was fun and easy. She reminded them that all they had to do was sit in a chair, rest their rifles on a bench, pull the trigger and listen to the tiny “Plink!” of the pellet firing downrange.
With her explanation, the women decided to give it a shot. After a few weeks, their thoughts and feelings instantly changed.
Eventually, spouses and friends of the OAKlies also began coming to Open Public Nights. They, like many others, are a part of the increasing num- ber of curious Ohioans taking advantage of the world-class facility right in their own backyards – honing a new skill and having a great time along the way.
For more on the Gary Anderson CMP Compe- tition Center, including Open Public Night infor- mation, visit http://thecmp.org/air/cmp-competi- tion-center-event-matches/.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a fed- erally chartered 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. For more information about the CMP and its pro- grams, log onto www.TheCMP.org.
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