Guns are for everyone everyone who can own a gun (assuming age and law-abiding status, of course). Or, as our friend Dr. David Yamane likes to say, guns are normal and normal people use guns. According to the NSSF, we’ve seen an explosion in first-time gun ownership in this country, with 26 million people taking the plunge since 2020.
Still, only about a third of adults in the US own guns, so there’s lots of room for growth.
Along those lines, Colt’s Manufacturing is taking matters into their own hands. The New Haven gun maker is funding Georgia’s new shooter program for the next year. The Peach State’s Department of Natural Resources runs a program called Give It a Shot.
The program provides hands-on training, covering essential firearm safety principles, proper handling and legal responsibilities. By offering accessible instruction from certified experts, the “Give It a Shot” program aims to promote responsible ownership while fostering a culture of safety and accountability among Georgia residents.
By funding Give It a Shot, Colt is creating what they’re calling Colt Safety Scholarships. The program is open to anyone 12 and older and classes are held all around the state. Colt will cover the usual $100 cost of Georgians attending a Give It a Shot session for the next year, making it as easy as possible for novices and new gun owners to learn the basics of safe gun ownership.
We met with Colt’s CEO Josh Dorsey last week. He told us the idea is to make a difference, teach basic firearms safety, and encourage responsible gun ownership. And since Connecticut is, well, less than accommodating, Dorsey picked his home state to roll out the program. He’s also enlisted Georgia-based gun makers Taurus and Bergara/CVA in the effort as well.
As Georgia State Rep. Rick Jasperse told us, the Peach State is home to a large number of firearms-related manufacturers.
There are plenty of companies you know on that list, including names like Ameriglo, Daniel Defense, GLOCK, Masterpiece Arms, Norma, Remington and more. If Colt can recruit more companies to support the scholarship program, it may be able to go on for much more than a year. That would remove any hurdle that may be keeping even more Georgians from learning safe, responsible gun handling and ownership.
Georgia residents can sign up for a Colt Safety Scholarship here.
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