Cherry Ridge Range hosts Family Day

VERNON — The sound of freedom rang, Sept. 15, at the Cherry Ridge Range Family Day.
The Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, which owns Cherry Ridge Range, invited friends and families to a free day at the range. The public came and quickly learned all about many shooting sports.
Participants tried their hand at: pistol, rifle, shotgun, and archery with experienced instructors in a safe environment. All equipment was supplied, with safety instructions every 30–45 minutes.
ANJRPC President Kathy Chatterton taught multiple gun safety classes.
She explained how ANJRPC is more than Cherry Ridge Range — it is a volunteer organization defending Second Amendment rights and, for members, offering free legal answers regarding firearms law from their retained counsel.
Participants learned the rules of firearm safety such as: pointing firearms in a safe direction and keeping the finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
They also learned how to accurately shoot with site alignment in order to hit targets.
In addition, attendees learned how to protect themselves and the environment, including wearing range provided hearing and eye protection, and using special wipes to remove lead from hands after shooting.
Chatterton explained, all the volunteer instructors on the range loaned participants their own personal firearms in order to train their safe use.
As participants left the club house, booms of shotgun fire rolled through the distance, with people walking around wearing neon orange ear plugs safely placed in their ears.
Participants rotated through different shooting ranges found in Cherry Ridge Range.
At the pistol range, brass casing sprayed on the ground with each shot. Patient pistol instructors worked with participants — pistol shooting is not as easy as it looks.
With a smile, rifle instructors patiently taught young girls and boys. One boy exclaimed after using a rifle with a scope, “Can we shoot again? That one was cool!” He had been firing at white circular targets — falling plates — which fell down after being successfully hit with live ammo.
At another range, a young woman practiced shooting clay birds with a shotgun, as a patient veteran willingly launched them into the air.