Young Shooters Compete at Nationals

The best young BB gun shooters in the country converged on Rogers, Arkansas last weekend for the national championships — and they had to pass a written test to prove they belonged there.

Driving the news: The Civilian Marksmanship Program-style BB gun nationals drew state champions from across the country, with competitors shooting paper targets and sitting a 50-question written exam covering safe loading, storage, and handling.

Zoom in: Hannah MacDonald won her state competition in Oregon to earn her spot. She came to Rogers to compete — but she framed the weekend differently than most people expect from a national champion:

"We're learning how to be people first — we're learning how to be great shooters but also great people." — Hannah MacDonald, Oregon state BB gun champion

Between the lines: That written test is the part most outsiders miss. This isn't just kids plinking at targets — it's a structured program where safety knowledge carries the same weight as trigger discipline. You don't advance by being a good shot alone.

The big picture: Junior shooting programs like this one are doing exactly what the broader firearms community has argued for decades: building the next generation of responsible gun owners from the ground up, with safety and sportsmanship baked in before they ever touch a centerfire. The kids coming through these programs aren't learning firearms as an afterthought — it's the curriculum.

The bottom line: A BB gun and a 50-question safety exam might not sound like much. But the habits those kids are building in Rogers are the same ones that make a range a safe place to be for the rest of their lives.