In an effort to both combat stereotypical mentalities as sociated with guns and teach people how to properly use them, a group of students are hosting a gun education event Saturday.

“The purpose is to give people with little to no expe rience with firearms a chance to handle firearms in a safe and secure atmosphere,” said David Jones, a senior in phys ics and the host of the event.

Participants will meet on campus for a safety lecture and then carpool to a range to practice shooting. Jones said the type of firearms they will use will vary and depend on the range but they will mostly handle handguns.

However, though the first half of the event is on cam pus, it is not a school-spon sored event.

“It’s not an NCSU event, so I’m not seeking NCSU autho rization,” Jones said. “It’s an event that I’m opening the doors to everyone to join in on through the Wolfpack Students Facebook page, so that along with the fact that I’m an NCSU student is the only affiliation to NCSU there is.”

Jones said that anyone is eligible to participate but that inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.

“If the instructors think an individual is not being serious, or there is some sort of behavioral problem, then they will not be welcome to shoot but certainly welcome to come to the safety briefing beforehand,” Jones said.

Jones said that they are hosting the event to chal lenge the misconceptions people may have about gun use and safety.

“Far too often on TV, and in other forms of media, the concept of a ‘gun’ is somehow personified, or at least made into something it isn’t,” Jones said. “I’ve made a promise to not include political debate or rhetoric in this event, so those who are completely and whole-heartedly against fire arms can come without any form of apprehension about what may be said about their opinions…That being said, I hope that those who come leave with more experience and knowledge than what they had coming into the event.”

Jones said the primary top ics they will be discussing are the proper ways to handle firearms, basic safety rules, the differences between vari ous forms of firearms, how to be safe when using a firearm and what is expected of a per son going to shoot.

According to Jones, ques tions are highly encouraged, as he and the other organizers are striving to create an open, non-judgmental setting in which people from all dif ferent perspectives can learn more about guns.

“If a person wants to know more about firearm owner ship, laws, instructor opin ions, they are encouraged to ask,” Jones said. “If someone responds to shooting with ‘Wow, this gun is so cool, how do I get one?’ the instructor or many others there will be happy to help you get started on exercising your second amendment right. If someone responds with the exact op posite, they will be given all the respect in the world and may leave at any time they choose.”

Jones said they are still waiting to hear back from one of the ranges, so the lo cation is not yet finalized, but the cost will be about $20 per person.

“If someone has a strong opinion about something, and plans to have that opin ion affect law, I want that opinion to be informed,” Jones said. “I don’t care if you walk away from the day with a stronger hatred of guns, or if it makes you a gun-sling ing, cowboy-action-com peting, second-amendment-quoting gun-nut. I just want you to know what you are talking about when there is a discourse about firearms in the U.S.”

For more information about the event, students can contact Jones at adjones8@ ncsu.edu.