Dozens of women drawn to firearms instruction event
From left are instructor Stacy Carroll, Carol Hays, Helen Mayton and instructor Joe Noakes.
Wendy Karem shoots an AR-15 rifle with the help of instructor Chuck Augenstein.
Marcy Agostini shoots a .22 M&P handgun with help from her club instructor, Arlene Rhone.
Carroll Township police Officer Bob Tekavec and Valley Inn Sportsman Club vice president Steve Grcich
Instructors Frank Gricar, left, and Joe Stefko, a retired Game Commission officer, work with sisters Tabitha Provan, second from left, and Susanna Austin at the Women on Target event.
Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan shoots a Ruger 10/22 rifle as instructor Chuck Augenstein looks on.
Rebecca Marozza, left, and Diana Gricar hold up their first targets of the day.
Women on Target participants pose for a group photo.
MONONGAHELA – A group of almost 40 local women ranging in age from early 20s to late 80s gathered Saturday at Valley Inn Sportsman Association in Monongahela to learn gun safety and to practice shooting firearms.
This National Rifle Association “Women on Target” event was funded by Valley Inn Sportsman Association and Friends of the NRA at no cost to the participants. This event was designed by the NRA to teach women who never used a firearm proper techniques. Two shooting stations, one for rifles and one for handguns, were set up, where women were offered instruction on .22-caliber rifles and pistols as well as 9mm and .38 caliber-handguns.
Once they became proficient on the other firearms, the women were given instruction on shooting AR-15 rifles. The participants were encouraged to bring their own firearms for instruction on how to operate their personal firearms .
Rusty Polonoli, club president, said they wanted to offer this event to women who never used a firearm and may be intimidated by them.
Polonoli said these types of events give women another avenue to try the sport of shooting and self-defense. He said this event allowed women to “come out and try it.” He recommends women interested in shooting, whether it be for target shooting or self-defense, should move forward with firearms classes.
Polonoli said because of recent shooting deaths that drew national headlines, the club wanted to show they are promoting gun safety. “We try to give something back to the community,” Polonoli said. He said this is the first time they offered a Women on Target event, but they hosted two NRA Youth Field Days in the past, putting roughly 200 kids through instruction on gun safety and shooting.
Club vice president and NRA representative Steve Grcich said they offered a variety of firearms to shoot in order to give the participants the whole spectrum of shooting sports. “Take them from the bottom all the way up,” Grcich said. Grcich said the firearms used were provided by the Game Commission and by club members and were all inspected to ensure proper operation. “Safety is top priority here,” Grcich said.
“We think it’s good to teach women how to handle firearms on and off the range,” Grcich said. Grcich said he is a committee chair on the Mon Valley Friends of NRA, a nonprofit organization that raises money to fund women’s programs, grants to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, club grants, as well as youth-oriented programs to help keep them in shooting sports. Grcich’s wife Laraine, is also a state coordinator for the NRA-based Eddie the Eagle program that teaches the dangers and safeguards of firearms to elementary-aged children.
Officer Bob Tekavec of the Carroll Township police was in attendance to offer gun law and safety literature to the women, as well as a briefing on safety. He provided time to answer questions from the participants on gun laws and permits.
Tekavec said this event was conducted by certified NRA instructors. Tekavec said the NRA is big on training and education. “It’s a program to get them introduced,” Tekavec said. He said after a program like this, women can move on the basic Phase I and Phase II pistol classes.
Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan attended the event and took part in the shooting instruction. “This is a fabulous program,” Irey Vaughan said. She said it is important for everyone to learn gun safety. “I’ve gone through training programs before, and it is very beneficial,” she said. Irey Vaughan said programs like this teach respect for the gun and for safety procedures.
Irey Vaughan said she carried a firearm for years, and because she has firearms in her home, she made sure her children were all trained in safety courses, as well. Irey Vaughan said she is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment.
Irey Vaughan said she is a life member of the NRA, a member of Firearm Owners Against Crime, and is also a member of the Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen’s Club. “I think that it’s important that we exercise our Second Amendment rights and that we fight to keep them,” Irey Vaughan said.
Helen Mayton of Eighty Four participated in the event with her daughter-in-law, Carol Hays. “We were kind of rusty on our procedures, and we both have a couple of guns, so we wanted to get reacquainted with them,” Mayton said. Carol said they both have concealed-carry permits. “Biggest reason is self-defense. I like to target shoot also,” Hays said.
Christine Stiffy of Bentleyville said she saw the event on Facebook and decided to attend with a few of her friends. “I really liked it. I was very intimidated and scared at first, but as I got to learn the weapon and use it, I got more comfortable. It’s empowering,” Stiffy said.
Sisters Wendy Karem and Sandy Hager of Smock both have their permits to carry, so they said they wanted to take a class. Karem said shooting the AR-15 was an “awesome” experience. “This has been a really fun day out here. They did a really great job,” Karem said.
Hager said they were both around guns their entire lives, so they were interested in learning more. Hager also enjoyed her experience with the AR-15, saying it felt powerful and was unlike anything she shot before. “It feels comfortable here. They are all very friendly and patient. They really took their time with us today,” Hager said.
Polonoli said he was very happy with the turnout for the event and said this may be something the organization will do again. Friends of the NRA will be holding a banquet Sept. 17 at the Valley Inn Social Hall. Proceeds for this event sponsor functions like the Women on Target and other events and programs. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Laraine Grcich at 724-379-4487.