The heat did not deter shooters as they made their way to the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club in Bremerton for the Nineteenth Annual Courage Classic Charity Shooting Match over the weekend.
The event was organized by the club to raise money for the Combat Casualty Assistance Campaign of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, a group that offers a host of services to assist active and retired naval service personnel and their families.
The shooting match offered law enforcement, military and civilian competitors a chance to compete in 10 staging areas meant to challenge shooters with moving and stationary targets ranging from point blank to 200 yards in range and also offered a specially designed 360-degree stage meant to surprise and test marksmen’s skills.
Marcus Carter, Executive Officer for the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club, said the event was a challenging recreational activity meant to raise money for a good cause and to also stress the importance of gun safety.
“With the increased numbers of sailors and marines from our community coming back from the Persian Gulf injured, we decided to support the assistance campaign,” he said.
More than 60 competitors shot pistols, rifles and shotguns for the multi-gun event that offered moving targets and scenario-based stages with elements such as victim rescue while competing for time and accuracy with firearms.
Mark Sroka, Vice President of the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club, said the stages were designed to challenge competitors on multiple levels simultaneously.
“It is an active shooting environment,” Sroka said, “There is often a task involved and they all involve shooting while moving.”
Craig Boyer said he travelled from Vancouver, Wash., to compete in the event. He said he made the journey because of the challenge involved.
“These kinds of matches are always a challenge,” Boyer said. “You have to solve a puzzle. It makes you think.”
Each stage had a scoring judge and a range officer who conducted a walkthrough with contestants before a competition. Range officers keep time during the event and make sure the contestants stay safe.
Rebecca Potter, a range officer for the event, said the event was geared towards safety and preparedness.
“We make sure everyone is safe while they are having a good time,” she said. “I like the competitions because it gives someone practice under stress.”
Potter said the matches build confidence that could be invaluable in a “real life” scenario.
“I have competed many times,” she said. “It helps me have confidence that I can protect my family if I need to.”
Carter said the events is meant to be fun and help a good cause, but the primary focus of every activity is safety. The gun club was founded in 1926 and offers a host of firearm safety and training classes and Carter said each event is an extension of firearm education and safety.
“The Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club is committed to serving the community,” he said. “We are committed to continuing the tradition we have of helping military, civilian and law enforcement be safe and responsible with firearms.”
For more information on the gun club contact 360-373-1007 or visit the group’s website at www.gunsafety.org. For more information on the Combat Casualty Assistance Campaign of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society visit the group’s website at www.nmcrs.org.
