UAFS air rifle teams receives grant

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith was one of 16 colleges and universities in 10 states to receive grants from the National Shooting Sports Foundation Inc.

Roy Hill, coach and faculty adviser for the UAFS air rifle club team, said the $4,000 matching grant will pay for two new Olympic-style air rifles and a RIKA electronic trainer system that records data about trigger control, hold control, follow through and the natural point of aim. The money will also buy new shooting jackets, pants, shoes and gloves for four shooters on the Lion Rifles team, Hill said.

The grant is being matched by the Student Activities Office at UAFS, according to Kerri Barnes, UAFS leadership development coordinator.

"UA Fort Smith was the only air-rifle-only team NSSF decided to fund in this grant program," Hill said. "The other schools are a mixture of club teams and varsity teams, covering all sorts of shooting disciplines from rifle to shotgun to pistol."

The NSSF, formed in 1961, is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and shooting sports. The organization’s 5,000 membership includes manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers.