By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Younger community members interested in learning basic techniques and how to safely operate a rifle will have the opportunity to sign up for an eight-week shooting course that begins Sept. 6 in Helena.

The NRA Basic Rifle Shooting Course is designed for youth members ages 9-19, but adults may sign up if they choose to do so.

The course will begin Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. at the Shelby County Shooting Sports Association located at 574 Elvira Road in Helena.

The class will last eight weeks and those who sign up will meet each Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. through Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Live fire during the course will be with air guns, but cartridge firearms will be used during the Saturday range day at the end of the course.

Those wishing to sign up must do so by Sept. 6. The cost to register for the course is $65 with an initial deposit of $20.

The course is part of the Alabama 4H program and will cover all common rifle types, ammunition, rifle safety and marksmanship. The course also meets the requirements for the BSA Rifle merit badge.

The air gun rifle competition for those interested will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5.

The instructor for the course is Sam Richardson and for more information Richardson can be reached at 565-6104 or Scssarifle@aol.com.

To sign up for the course, visit Nrainstructors.org. Once there, search for NRA Basic Rifle Course in Alabama.