HR 117 (LSB 5999YH (3) 84)

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 117

BY  BAUDLER and HEATON

A Resolution supporting trapshooting as a sanctioned high school sport.

   WHEREAS, trapshooting is one of the three major forms of competitive clay pigeon shooting and is growing in popularity throughout the United States and Iowa; and
   WHEREAS, trapshooting games were originally meant for hunters to develop their hunting skills, but have obtained international recognition and are encouraged by sports associations; and
   WHEREAS, trapshooting is considered to be an exciting and challenging sport in which many people, young and old, male and female, of all abilities, compete in trapshooting events; and
   WHEREAS, trapshooting has been a sport since at least 1793, when real birds were used, with clay targets being introduced in the 1880s; and
   WHEREAS, Olympic trap is one of the International Shooting Sport Federation shooting events, introduced to the Olympic program in 1900, while the current version of the sport was introduced in 1950; and
   WHEREAS, the Iowa State Trapshooting Association annually sponsors a five-day statewide shooting event; and
   WHEREAS, trapshooting competitions promote tourism in Iowa by bringing in participants and their families from around the country to stay in motels, eat in restaurants, shop in retail stores, and purchase products from vendors at events; and
   WHEREAS, a great deal of coordination and discipline is needed for trapshooting, trapshooting tests a player’s skills in marksmanship and strategy and improves the confidence of youth who may not possess the physical attributes to compete in other competitive sports offered at their schools; and
   WHEREAS, the goal of any program of youth trapshooting should be to provide instruction and promote gun safety, personal responsibility, and sportsmanship among primary and secondary students; and
   WHEREAS, many state organizations award scholarships to college-bound trapshooters based on citizenship, scholarship, and need, and many youth trapshooters are now attending college with the help of those scholarships; and
   WHEREAS, our youth should have the opportunity and be encouraged to participate in trapshooting in the same manner as other youth extracurricular activities, including football, baseball, softball, basketball, track, scouting, and band; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives encourages the school boards of every school district in the state of Iowa, in conjunction with public and private groups, to voluntarily promote and include trapshooting as a high school sport for the youth of our state; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Director of the Department of Education, the Director of the Department of Natural Resources, and the Iowa State Trapshooting Association.