Protecting their right to own and operate firearms, students gathered together Thursday, March 28, at Chili's restaurant to discuss plans to form a new gun club at USU.
Brandon Stoker a regional field representative for the Leadership Institute came from Idaho to help organize the club here. As a member of the Leadership Institute he has worked with many different universities to start and then promote several different clubs. He helps students who want to start a new club organize themselves, write charters and helps them work through the legislation of getting a club started.
Stoker placed fliers around campus advertising the dinner at Chili's and enticing students to come with a box of free ammunition. About 16 students came to the opening meeting. From those 16 students they chose a president to spearhead the club. Matt Young, a graduate student in psychology, was chosen to be the club's first president.
Young said they understand there are challenges that await them as they start a new club - for one being recognized by the school as a legitimate organization - but doesn't anticipate too many hurtles blocking them from finalizing the club.
He and the other students gathered at Thursday's meeting wanted to start the club for different reasons but agreed that gun safety and education would be a main focus.
"People who don't know much about guns are afraid of them, exposure and safety education will increase understanding so they don't fear them," Young said.
Education and safety is very important when it comes to handling firearms, especially so no one gets hurt, but for Jake Freeman, a junior in psychology, his right to own a gun is fundamental to a free society.
"Gun ownership is crucial to the concept of being free. It is necessary for citizens to be well armed and trained to know how to use weapons for peace," he said.
Freeman said for them to become a club they would need a president, a constitution that explains the purposes and goals of the group, and it would have to be approved by the school. He said it would probably take up to 6 weeks before everything would be finalized.
Karli Bilskie, a junior in family finance, was at Thursday's meeting. She said she has been shooting with her father since she was 11 years old, and when she heard that a gun club would be starting at USU she was excited to see it happen. "I want to learn more of the safety and proper uses of certain guns, and I just want more practice," she said.
Young said that most of the gun clubs meeting will be for training, practice, safety, and teaching students what to look for when purchasing a gun. He also hopes to have concealed weapon permit classes to make more responsible gun handlers.
-dwkoecher@cc.usu.edu
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