Bossier Sheriff’s Youth Shooting Sports Camp

Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington’s first session of the “Youth Shooting Sports” summer camp hit a bullseye for the students of Bossier Parish.... see the gallery of photos here!

Video and photos by Dep. Rod White, Bossier Sheriff’s Office

The Sheriff’s Office summer camp is open to boys and girls ranging in ages from 10 to 14 with the aim of teaching kids how to safely use firearms. “Some kids learn about firearms from what they see on TV and in video games,” said Sheriff Whittington. “We want to educate them on how firearms really work and to teach them the consequences that come with misuse and unsafe practices.”

          The four-day camp is held at the Bossier Sheriff’s Rifle Range in Plain Dealing. The camp is free with transportation to and from the range from two drop-off locations. The camp consists of ten hours of classroom instructional sessions and practical shooting exercises with real firearms. The students will receive their Louisiana Hunters Certification at the end of camp.

          The kids begin with the BB Target Rifle, which helped them prepare to shoot a 20-gauge shotgun. Archery is also part of the camp’s curriculum. “Most of today’s kids never get an opportunity to actually shoot a gun, until it is too late. But through this camp they will get the education and the hands-on experience that leads to a healthy respect for firearms,” said Sheriff’s Whittington. He said, “This is a great opportunity for our deputies to teach them how to properly handle firearms in a safe manner.”

          This is the last camp offered for this summer season.