PSSA Plans For Spring 2017

By Samantha Latos; News Editor

On December 15, 2017

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PSSA Plans For Spring 2017

Samantha Latos

News Editor

slatos@plymouth.edu

The Plymouth State Shooting Association, PSSA, has big plans for next semester. They are looking to fundraise in order to get involved in shooting competitions. Of course, there is more money to be won from these competitions as well.

Bradley Rucker, a PSU student, has been the President of PSSA for one year. He has high hopes for the members of the club, including its 3 faculty members.

PSSA has had some obstacles to overcome this semester. “We need fundraising because we have to buy a gun safe, and equipment for the shooting competitions”, Bradley said, “But we don’t have money, because we don’t have access to allecations.”

Funding has been an issue for PSSA, and members, as well as future members, must be aware of the situation. “All recreational events are free for members”, Bradley said, “But I have to get ammunition counts, and I have to purchase ammunition, and if five people say they will be there, and then last minute, they’re not there, I get a surplus of ammunition that we didn’t really need.” In order for PSSA to be successful next semester, all members and future members must come together to participate in fundraising and competition campaigns, to avoid monetarial problems.

PSSA hopes to get more involved in shooting competitions next semester. Jillian Cookingham, PSU student and member of PSSA, said, “I’m excited to hopefully take part in competitions next semester, it would be a brand new experience for me.”

There are several competitions that PSSA is interested in, including the 3-gun competition, in which participants shoot targets using 3 different kinds of guns: usually an AR-15, a 9-millimeter pistol, and a 12-gauge shotgun. For other competitions, as there are so many different categories of guns, a committee will choose which firearms participants should use for each event. There are also competitions using specific types of guns, including small bore rifle, small bore pistol, steel plate rifle, and high power rifle. There are many more shooting competitions that PSSA would enjoy taking part in, and hopefully next semester will bring them luck in both entering and winning.

Some of these competitions will be held at the Pemi Valley Fish & Game Club in Holderness. This is where PSSA goes to practice shooting, usually once a month. Other events will likely be held around the Plymouth area.

Safety is very important in PSSA. Many steps are taken to ensure members well-being. “I’m a huge proponent for firearm safety”, Bradley said, “I think one of the most important things you can teach people is how to properly handle firearms.”

PSSA follows five safety rules made by a lieutenant colonel in the army. They are as follows: Treat every fire-arm as if it were loaded, never point your firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot, keep your fingers off the trigger until you’re ready to fire, keep your weapon on safety until you intend to fire, and know your target and what lies beyond.“Follow those rules, and you will have complete firearm safety”, Bradley said.

If everything goes according to plan, PSSA will see a lot more action next semester, in terms of fundraising campaigns and competition campaigns.

PSSA meets every Tuesday at 6pm in Hyde 213. They also have follow-up meetings on Wednesdays at the same time and place for those who cannot make it to the Tuesday meetings. If anyone is interested in joining PSSA, they are encouraged to email Bradley, at bwrucker@plymouth.edu, or Vice President Edward Haskell at ewhaskall@plymouth.edu.