Girls With Guns

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Created on Thursday, 29 March 2018 16:56

Written by Josh Caredeo

CRAFTSBURY- The age old debate of gun control will be at the forefront of American Politics as long as their continues to be violence. But no matter the outcome, are at the heart of a major winter sport: Biathlon.

For girls from the ages of 8 to 18, a biathlon training clinic was held at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center as part of five days of cross country events, including two national races.

The clinic was put together by three US Olympians from the Green Mountain State: Susan Dunklee, and sisters Emily and Hannah Dreissigacker. 

Julie Seyfert Lillis, a teacher from upstate New York, had her daughter partake in the clinic. "She started last year coming to 'Girls with Guns' this was her first time shooting a gun, and I just think she really probably didn't appreciate at 8 what she was holding," Seyfert Lillis said.

She mentioned that she felt it was important to tell her daughter that a gun could really hurt someone. Hurting someone was at the heart of the national "March for Our Lives' demonstrations. "What we witnessed on Saturday was really the birth of a revolution," said David Hogg, one of the survivors of the mass shooting at Majory Stoneham Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. "Thi is the just the beginning, nobody should be thinking that this is the end, especially the politicians that are out there that are supported by the gun lobby and the NRA."

The conversation about gun safety is a key part of the "Girls with Guns" Biathlon training. Heather Mooney, profesional Nordic skiier and volunteer with the clinic, said there is a huge emphasis on rifle safety. "Being able to have an environment where young kids can be comfortable with them and see it as a tool especially part of sport can take away kind of demonizing effect and recognize, 'Ok I'm comortable around a rifle, and that's ok, there's nothing bad about, and because i can feel comfortable then I can know how it can be used in a safe way."

For more on the clinic, watch the video below.