The Central College History Club, in collaboration with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, hosted their annual Range Day event on Tuesday.
The event provides an educational experience for students, in which they learn about the history and significance of firearms from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The students receive hands-on instruction, and with a strong focus on gun safety, students engage with historical firearms to gain a deeper appreciation for military history. The event also fosters strong connections between students, faculty, and law enforcement at the county, state, and federal levels. Central College Senior Lecturer of History Mark Barloon says .
“You can see the expressions on their faces, the smiles when they come off of the firing line after having fired a weapon that they’ve only seen in movies. But we also get a lot of students here who, for the first time, have never fired a weapon, and this is their first experience with that. So we get all different ranges of people with experience, and they all seem to have fun. And that’s the important thing, it’s a good safe environment, it’s educational, and it’s just a good time and the kids really seem to enjoy it.”
Barloon also said that Range Day is a great opportunity for students to learn about the Central College History Club and see if it is something that may interest them.
