Superior Range Shooters provides opportunities to local non-profits

By IAN MINIELLY

[email protected]

Ironwood Township - The Superior Range Shooters Club on Black River Road in Ironwood Township has completed a significant amount of upgrades to the facility in the last two years.

President Gary Kusz and member Gary Lowe listed improvements to the club that benefit the community, including:

-Installation of presentation equipment inside the education building, including a big screen television and computer.

-Erection of a 40-foot cell phone booster so calls can be placed in the event of an emergency.

-A defibrillator was purchased this year and will be installed next spring.

-The addition of a "Bulls Eye" camera to the rifle range so shooters do not have to walk 200 to 300 yards down range every couple of shots to check their round placements. Now the shooters can dial up the target with an application on their smart phones and see their rounds.

-Installation of a light system to signal when people are down range to keep shooters from accidentally discharging weapons when other people are inspecting or installing targets.

-New permanent 300-yard targets were installed, while new target holders were built, and more steel targets were added for the immediate feedback of shooting steel.

Lowe said nonprofits can apply for grants from the National Rifle Association Foundation and hold events on the shooting range and use the education center for their events.

According to the NRA Foundation website, more than $335 million has been awarded in grants since 1990.

The general focus of the grants are to:

-Promote, advance and encourage firearms, shooting sports and hunting safety.

-Educate individuals with respect to firearms, firearm history, participation in the shooting sports, hunting safety and marksmanship.

-To conduct research in the furtherance for improved firearms safety and marksmanship facilities and techniques.

The NRA grant will provide equipment, supplies and financial support for a variety of programs designed to reach youth, law enforcement, veterans, disabled and the general public.

Community-based nonprofit organizations can apply now as the 2018 grant application season is open. Michigan-based groups have until Dec. 1 to get their applications in. Wisconsin applications were due by Oct. 3.