The college confirmed the hiring of our new coach earlier this morning. It has been a long and draining road to get this recognition but we finally secured the future of the shooting sports program. I am going to take a moment to breathe before we turn our attention to …
April 30, 2016
Final supporters
To: Jay Simmons, President, Simpson College
Sunni Richer, Chair, Board of Trustees
Members of the Board of Trustees
We are supporters of the Simpson College Shooting Sports Club, and we would like to commend you on your decision to officially support the club with the hire of a shooting sports coach and recruiter.
The Simpson College Shooting Sports Club was founded in 2011 by a group of individuals that had a common interest in the shooting sports, and who wanted to share their passion with others. Since its beginning, the mission of the club has been to promote safe and responsible participation in the shooting sports. The group seeks to educate people on the proper handling, care, and use of a firearm, in addition to opening the door to participation in the sport. The club is open to Simpson College students of all experience levels, those interested in recreational shooting, as well as competition. It is our goal to provide a safe, friendly, and positive atmosphere where people with a common interest in the shooting sports can come together and share their passion.
In the five years since the club’s inception, membership has grown significantly. This should not be surprising given the fact that there are over 13,000 student athletes participating in the Scholastic Clay Target Program nationwide, a number that is rapidly growing each year. In the state of Iowa alone, over 3000 students participate in the shooting sports through their schools, the 4-H program, or FFA, to name a few organizations. Overseeing the activities of the club has come to require a considerable amount of time and effort, which is why the hiring of a coach is vital to the future success of the club at Simpson.
One of the reasons for the rapid growth of the shooting sports is that it is a sport in which anyone can compete, regardless of their physical abilities. A person doesn’t have to be what is considered traditionally athletic to be a serious competitor in the shooting sports. The only attributes that are necessary for success are self-discipline, mental focus, and the understanding that you are competing both as an individual and a member of a team. Since these are more learned skills than God given abilities, the shooting sports are accessible to a much broader audience than many other traditionally offered sports programs.
Despite beliefs to the contrary, the shooting sports are statistically much safer than nearly all other traditional sports offered at the collegiate and high school level. According to a study titled A Comprehensive Study of Sports Injuries in the U.S. by American Sports Data, Inc., you are 47 times more likely to be injured playing football, 19 times more likely to be injured playing basketball, and 15 times more likely to be injured playing baseball, than injured when competing in the shooting sports. Safety is the number one priority of all shooting sports programs, and it shows.
The missions of Simpson College and the Shooting Sports Club parallel each other in that both aim to foster a sense of personal worth in our students/members, encourage them to development practical skills, and hope to develop responsible citizens upon graduation. Coupling the quality academic programs offered at Simpson College with participation in extracurricular activities, like the shooting sports, will help us in fulfilling these missions.
As a benefit to Simpson College, a recognized shooting sports team will help to draw students to Simpson who may have not considered it otherwise. Involvement in student organizations, like the Simpson College Shooting Sports Club, also helps to increase retention of students by increasing the quality of their experience and by fostering connections to their peers. In these times of decreased enrollment, the above benefits of the shooting sports club should not be ignored.
In closing, we would once again like to commend President Simmons and the Board of Trustees for choosing to support the Simpson College Shooting Sports with the hire of a head coach.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 3, 2016
February 3, 2016
Reaching this point has been a difficult grind but seeing this level of momentum proves that we were right to keep pushing. It is exhausting work to stay at this, though knowing there are so many of you behind the club makes the effort worth it.
Reached 100 supporters
February 1, 2016
February 1, 2016
The grind is heavy and the road ahead feels long but we are nearing the one thousand signature mark. Push this out to your networks so we can walk into that meeting with undeniable weight behind us.
840 Comments
These type of programs lead to the opportunity for these students to represent the United States at Olympic competitions. There is a proven track record for doing this. Anyone who associates these programs with gun violence is misinformed.
shooting is a sport that even the handicapped can participate. Last year I witnessed a young lady with one arm practicing shooting clay birds. she hit 5 out of 25 but she was practicing to improve her skills. We need more programs like this.
I'm the Head Coach and Advisor for our Universities shooting club and I know, first hand, what a positive influence the shooting sports can have on college aged kids. Simply do not allow the paranoia of a few ruin a wonderful experience for many.
There is nothing wrong with learning too shoot, and understanding the safety aspects is part of this club. It is useful to criminal justice majors, and other professions who will be around weapons. Getting rid of this club would be a mistake.
My boys both started shooting trap through 4-H at 12 years old. My youngest is on our high school squad and my oldest now shoots for SWCC. It has been a great opportunity for them. As a Simpson alumni, I am more than happy to sign this petition!
90 present of colleges have shooting teams they are sometimes run by ROTC instructors and firearms kept in lockers when not in use. there were 2,000 high school shooters at the state trap shoot this year after all shooting is a OLYMPIC SPORT AND PROMOTESS SAFETY. Tom Holm long time tournament shooter and safety instructor for 50 years.
I thought we did't want school shootings.....
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The college confirmed the hiring of our new coach earlier this morning. It has been a long and draining road to get this recognition but we finally secured the future of the shooting sports program. I am going to take a moment to breathe before we turn our attention to …
April 30, 2016
Final supporters
To: Jay Simmons, President, Simpson College
Sunni Richer, Chair, Board of Trustees
Members of the Board of Trustees
We are supporters of the Simpson College Shooting Sports Club, and we would like to commend you on your decision to officially support the club with the hire of a shooting sports coach and recruiter.
The Simpson College Shooting Sports Club was founded in 2011 by a group of individuals that had a common interest in the shooting sports, and who wanted to share their passion with others. Since its beginning, the mission of the club has been to promote safe and responsible participation in the shooting sports. The group seeks to educate people on the proper handling, care, and use of a firearm, in addition to opening the door to participation in the sport. The club is open to Simpson College students of all experience levels, those interested in recreational shooting, as well as competition. It is our goal to provide a safe, friendly, and positive atmosphere where people with a common interest in the shooting sports can come together and share their passion.
In the five years since the club’s inception, membership has grown significantly. This should not be surprising given the fact that there are over 13,000 student athletes participating in the Scholastic Clay Target Program nationwide, a number that is rapidly growing each year. In the state of Iowa alone, over 3000 students participate in the shooting sports through their schools, the 4-H program, or FFA, to name a few organizations. Overseeing the activities of the club has come to require a considerable amount of time and effort, which is why the hiring of a coach is vital to the future success of the club at Simpson.
One of the reasons for the rapid growth of the shooting sports is that it is a sport in which anyone can compete, regardless of their physical abilities. A person doesn’t have to be what is considered traditionally athletic to be a serious competitor in the shooting sports. The only attributes that are necessary for success are self-discipline, mental focus, and the understanding that you are competing both as an individual and a member of a team. Since these are more learned skills than God given abilities, the shooting sports are accessible to a much broader audience than many other traditionally offered sports programs.
Despite beliefs to the contrary, the shooting sports are statistically much safer than nearly all other traditional sports offered at the collegiate and high school level. According to a study titled A Comprehensive Study of Sports Injuries in the U.S. by American Sports Data, Inc., you are 47 times more likely to be injured playing football, 19 times more likely to be injured playing basketball, and 15 times more likely to be injured playing baseball, than injured when competing in the shooting sports. Safety is the number one priority of all shooting sports programs, and it shows.
The missions of Simpson College and the Shooting Sports Club parallel each other in that both aim to foster a sense of personal worth in our students/members, encourage them to development practical skills, and hope to develop responsible citizens upon graduation. Coupling the quality academic programs offered at Simpson College with participation in extracurricular activities, like the shooting sports, will help us in fulfilling these missions.
As a benefit to Simpson College, a recognized shooting sports team will help to draw students to Simpson who may have not considered it otherwise. Involvement in student organizations, like the Simpson College Shooting Sports Club, also helps to increase retention of students by increasing the quality of their experience and by fostering connections to their peers. In these times of decreased enrollment, the above benefits of the shooting sports club should not be ignored.
In closing, we would once again like to commend President Simmons and the Board of Trustees for choosing to support the Simpson College Shooting Sports with the hire of a head coach.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 3, 2016
February 3, 2016
Reaching this point has been a difficult grind but seeing this level of momentum proves that we were right to keep pushing. It is exhausting work to stay at this, though knowing there are so many of you behind the club makes the effort worth it.
Reached 100 supporters
February 1, 2016
February 1, 2016
The grind is heavy and the road ahead feels long but we are nearing the one thousand signature mark. Push this out to your networks so we can walk into that meeting with undeniable weight behind us.
840 Comments
Education in today's world must include safe use of guns. We have noticed how shooting sports programs in Iowa High Schools have fostered gun safety. Why shouldn't this be the case with our colleges and universities? Keep the program on track.
These type of programs lead to the opportunity for these students to represent the United States at Olympic competitions. There is a proven track record for doing this. Anyone who associates these programs with gun violence is misinformed.
shooting is a sport that even the handicapped can participate. Last year I witnessed a young lady with one arm practicing shooting clay birds. she hit 5 out of 25 but she was practicing to improve her skills. We need more programs like this.
I'm the Head Coach and Advisor for our Universities shooting club and I know, first hand, what a positive influence the shooting sports can have on college aged kids. Simply do not allow the paranoia of a few ruin a wonderful experience for many.
There is nothing wrong with learning too shoot, and understanding the safety aspects is part of this club. It is useful to criminal justice majors, and other professions who will be around weapons. Getting rid of this club would be a mistake.
My boys both started shooting trap through 4-H at 12 years old. My youngest is on our high school squad and my oldest now shoots for SWCC. It has been a great opportunity for them. As a Simpson alumni, I am more than happy to sign this petition!
90 present of colleges have shooting teams they are sometimes run by ROTC instructors and firearms kept in lockers when not in use. there were 2,000 high school shooters at the state trap shoot this year after all shooting is a OLYMPIC SPORT AND PROMOTESS SAFETY. Tom Holm long time tournament shooter and safety instructor for 50 years.
I thought we did't want school shootings.....
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Education in today's world must include safe use of guns. We have noticed how shooting sports programs in Iowa High Schools have fostered gun safety. Why shouldn't this be the case with our colleges and universities? Keep the program on track.