These courses teach the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude for owning and operating a pistol or rifle safely.

Basic Pistol Shooting Course: This course is at least 8-hours long and includes classroom and range time learning to shoot revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Students learn NRAs rules for safe gun handling; pistol parts and operation; ammunition; shooting fundamentals; range rules; shooting from the bench rest position, and two handed standing positions; cleaning the pistol; and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, take a Basics of Pistol Shooting Student Examination, and course completion certificate. (Lesson Plan 2nd edition, 2009, 02/11)

Basic Rifle Shooting Course:This course is at least 14 hours long and includes classroom and range time learning to shoot rifles. Students learn NRAs rules for safe gun handling; rifle parts and operation; ammunition; shooting fundamentals; range rules; shooting from the bench rest, prone, sitting, standing and kneeling positions; cleaning, and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the Basics of Rifle Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, take a Basics of Rifle Shooting Student Examination, and course completion certificate. (Lesson Plan 1988, revised 12/10)

Instructors are volunteers, allowing North Whidbey Sportsmen's Assoc.iation to provide the services at their cost as a community service. Comparable courses by paid instructors run $175 - $200 per person.

Classes, dates and times are listed athttp://northwhidbeysportsmen.org/(see NRA classes), or contact Skip Lemay at (360)632-0629 for assistance in registering.