To celebrate National Shooting Sports Month, Murray State College recently hosted a Shotgun Team Showcase, giving members of the Aggie Shotgun Team the opportunity to demonstrate their skills on a competition-level, world-class shotgun range.

The showcase served as both a celebration of athletic achievement and a reminder of the importance of safe firearm handling. Team members displayed accuracy and technique while emphasizing sportsmanship and personal responsibility.

The event also featured a shooting exhibition by Shotgun Team Head Coach Scott Robertson, an accomplished competitive shooter and the only individual in U.S. history to have won national championships as a college student, a professional shooter, and a collegiate coach. A former professional shooter for Beretta Firearms for 28 years, Robertson was hired in 2022 to elevate the program and support Murray State’s broader mission to become a national model for safe and responsible gun ownership.

“Our shotgun team demonstrates remarkable dedication and professionalism,” Robertson said. “This event highlights the hard work of our student-athletes and reflects the college’s commitment to promoting responsibility, safety and excellence both on and off the range.”

Earlier this summer, the Murray State College Foundation received a $13,000 grant from the Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth to support the nationally recognized shotgun team. The funds were used to purchase 10 Beretta A-300 shotguns, giving student-athletes access to high-quality equipment that will expand the sport and promote responsible gun use.

Murray State College’s nationally respected Gunsmithing Program is one of only four NRA-accredited programs in the country. In addition to technical instruction in firearms repair and design, faculty emphasize safety, accountability and ethical stewardship, fostering a culture of respect for firearms and self-responsibility.

“The Shotgun Showcase is more than a competition – it reflects Murray State’s commitment to preparing students for success in the classroom, on the range and in life,” said Dr. Tim Faltyn, Murray State College President. “Our student-athletes and gunsmithing students alike are learning that responsibility, discipline and safety are just as important as technical skill. That combination is what makes Murray State a national model for excellence in higher education and a trusted leader in promoting safe and responsible gun ownership.