August is National Shooting Sports Month, and there is much to celebrate.

Shooting sports and hunting have been part of American life for generations. They teach discipline and personal responsibility, connect millions of Americans to the outdoors, and are part of the culture surrounding the freedoms protected by the Second Amendment.

President Trump recognized that legacy in his message marking National Shooting Sports Month this year, with a particular emphasis on passing these traditions from one generation to the next. I'm glad to see that recognition, and to have an administration that understands the importance of recreational shooting, hunting, and access to our public lands.

But celebrating our shooting heritage isn't enough.

Proclamations are important. So is talking about National Shooting Sports Month and reminding Americans why the Second Amendment and our sporting traditions matter. But none of that, by itself, puts a young person behind a shotgun for the first time or teaches someone how to safely handle a firearm.

A young person shoulders a shotgun for the first time with a trained instructor beside them. A high school student joins a clay........

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