Local NRA Chapter highlights importance of gun safety

With a recent active shooter at a high school in Florida and multiple threats reported across the country, the topic of gun control is heating up--and the National Rifle Association is at the forefront of the debate.

Locally, Brazos Valley Friends of NRA are trying to steer clear of the conversation and are highlighting their efforts with gun safety, education, and raising funds for local organizations.

Saturday Morning, the Brazos Valley Friends of NRA handed out free breakfast to organization supports and donors.

"This is a thank you event to say thanks to our supporters who donated in the past banquet events and continue to support us and our community," said Stephen Yeldell, with the Brazos Valley Friends of NRA.

Yeldell said for more than 25 years, the group's generous donors have made it possible for them to educate, promote gun safety, and give out grants to children, organizations, and local law enforcement.

This year, the handed out $55,000, a portion going towards active shooting training simulations for local law enforcement.

"The grant we receive from the Friends of NRA helps up by providing us the training firearms, training simulation, that replications real bullets so that officers know what it feels like to go into an active shooter situation...they have allowed us to purchase that type of equipment so we can train for that and better serve our public," said Chief Deputy Constable Calder Lively with the Brazos County Precinct 3.

"We go out and educate the people because we feel passionate about raising the money and we want it to go to the people in our area," said Yeldell.

The group also holds programs for children that teach them gun safety.

"Eddie Eagle is one of the key things, that we go out to the schools and teach young children from 5 to 6-years-old, what to do in the case they see a gun," said Yeldell.

They also teach gun safety and educate local shooting teams and groups, making sure they know the in's and out's of how to correctly use a gun.

"We do a full program of gun safety before they even touch one that's the key," said Yeldell.

Since 2012, Yeldell said they have raised more than $300,000 and hope to continue to see the public's interest in their organization.

The Brazos Valley Friends of NRA's Annual banquet is on April 6th.

More information about upcoming events is available in the Related Links section at the top of this article.