ARARAT, Va. — Since Angie LaChappelle, a postal worker from Pilot Mountain, wanted more hands-on experience with guns, a shooting clinic held Saturday proved to be right on target for her and about 15 other area women.

That made Rabbit Ridge Enterprises — an Ararat gun business with a shooting range — somewhat noisier than usual as LaChappelle and other participants learned to use various guns in a safe, responsible manner through the National Rifle Association’s Women on Target program.

“A lot of these women have never actually held a firearm,” organizer Tina Swaim of the Rockford community said as shots from .22-caliber rifles rang in the background while participants took their turns at targets positioned about 25 yards away.

“Maybe they shot a handgun in their backyard a couple of times, and that was it,” Swaim added.

Saturday marked the first time the Women on Target program has been held locally. Its overall goal is to provide education and create more hunting and target-shooting opportunities for women, which an estimated 6 million are participating in already. Open to those 18 and older, it allows participants to learn about guns in a secure and supportive women-only atmosphere.

Along with seeking more experience with firearms, some of those who enrolled in the day-long session at Ararat are interested in obtaining concealed-weapons permits to better protect themselves, said Swaim. Applications for firearm permits, which are on the increase across the country, require special training and the passing of a written test, among other mandates such as fingerprinting and background checks.

LaChappelle said her main goal in attending Saturday’s clinic was “to learn about gun safety and be a little more comfortable with guns.”

Another participant, Carole Rambo of Galax, Va., said she had some previous experience with firearms before Saturday, but wanted more. “I came just to learn to shoot better,” Rambo said. “It is a good program.”

To help the ladies accomplish their respective missions during the 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. program, classroom sessions were conducted in the morning to introduce them to the basics, then participants moved on to the firing areas for much of the afternoon. They began with small-caliber rifles and pistols and graduated to more powerful handguns, such as 9-millimeter, and long guns, including shotguns, later in the day.

In addition to the other weapons, Swaim was hoping the group would gain exposure to an AR-115, a powerful semi-automatic rifle, courtesy of Rabbit Ridge Enterprises, later in the day.

The women — who came from Surry County, Yadkin County, areas of Virginia and even Fort Bragg — had paid a $45 fee that covered the cost of ammunition, skeet shooting, loaner guns and lunch. About six NRA-certified instructors provided the training using guns they brought along, with the women wearing safety glasses and ear protection as they tried their hand at various weapons.

But while the ladies had their various reasons for participating, firearm responsibility was the main goal of the instructors in debuting the nationwide program locally, which was emphasized throughout the day.

“Safety is number one — safety is always number one,” said Swaim’s husband Nate, one of those who helped provide the instruction. Nate Swaim also is certified to teach concealed-weapons classes in both North Carolina and Virginia.

He said the program stresses the three rules of gun safety to participants. These include always keeping a gun pointed in a safe direction, keeping one’s finger off the trigger until ready to fire and making sure a firearm is unloaded until it’s ready to use.

Based on the participation at Saturday’s clinic, Tina Swaim said the training will be conducted again to give more local residents an opportunity to become educated about guns.

“I think we’ve had a wonderful turnout for this to be our first event,” she said.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.