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📅**Upcoming Meetings & Special Events at the Club**

**General Membership Meeting**
Thursday, August 6 — 7:00 PM Tan Building

**Club Wide Work Party**
Saturday, August 8 — 8:00 AM-2:00 PM

**Hunter Trapper Education**
Sunday, August 9 — 8:00 AM-3:00 PM Green Building

**4H Meeting & Shooting**
Sunday, August 16 — Noon to 2:00 PM Tan Building & Short Range

**Fish & Game Committee Meeting**
Wednesday, August 19 — 7:00 PM Green Building

**Mailing Committee**
Thursday, August 20 — 7:00 PM-8:00 PM Tan Building

**Board of Trustees Meeting**
Tuesday, August 25 — 7:00 PM Green Building

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⭐ **August 2026 Club Calendar**

by Vince Sullivan

Event dates and times may change for various reasons. Please check the calendar on the website for last minute changes.

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⭐ **From President John Terrell**

Greetings LRGC Members,

Once again, it has been a very busy summer at LRGC, with more work planned for August.

At the last work party, volunteers removed the remaining deck and the old trailers behind the tan building. John Besack pulled the old trailers out and dressed up the area. Jason Curley hauled gravel and dressed up the trap field. Thank you to both men for their hard work. We also ordered several new picnic tables. With the help of Ernie Leossie on the forklift, the tables were unloaded and moved into place.

LRGC is looking for a secretary to record the minutes at the Board and General meetings. If you are interested in helping with this important role, please contact me.

Also, if any member has a connection for obtaining old telephone poles, please let us know. The club can use them for the plate racks.

Arrangements are in full swing for the upcoming annual picnic on Sunday, September 6. Please save the date and join us for what should be an amazing day at LRGC. There is a lot to prepare for, and we are asking for a lot of volunteers to help at the August work party, and also on the day before the picnic.

For the August work party, thoroughly cleaning the grounds, inside and outside, along with the normal work party duties, will be needed. Please come and help.

The day before the picnic, we need volunteers to help set up and prep for the picnic, and we’ll need help the day of as well. Please reach out to Elizabeth Terrell at terrellz731@outlook.com, or Sharon Besack at sbesack236@gmail.com as soon as possible to let them know you want to volunteer.

Thanks to all members for their help, support, and work in keeping this outstanding club running smoothly.

Hope to see you all come out and enjoy some time at LRGC.

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📢 **Special Announcements & Upcoming Events**

Volunteers are needed the day before the Club Picnic for set up and preparation. This is a big event, and lots of helping hands are desperately needed, and would be most appreciated!

Please reach out to Elizabeth Terrell at terrellz731@outlook.com, or Sharon Besack at sbesack236@gmail.com as soon as possible to let them know you want to volunteer to help.

Thank you!!!

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Save the Date – November Blood Drive – Saturday November 21

Sign up early for the next Blood Drive at LRGC. Saturday, November 21. 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Follow the link below to make your appointment now.

https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=LRGC

Avoid the rush, get the date and time you want. Make a difference, save a life!

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Hunter Trapper Education (HTE) Notice

by Frank Homer

Why Teach Hunter-Trapper Education?

Since 1959, hunting-related shooting incidents have declined drastically. Hunting is safe and getting safer, thanks to hunter education. By law, all first-time hunters and trappers, regardless of age, must successfully complete a six-hour hunter-trapper education training before they can buy a Pennsylvania hunting or trapping license. Individuals may take hunter-trapper education either through an in-person class or by completing an online class.

Legacy and Tradition!

During the last 16 years, Langhorne Rod & Gun Club has held more than 50 classes and has graduated over 1,235 students. The most recent class at LRGC held on July 12 graduated 26 students! We are actively seeking new Certified Hunter-Trapper Education Instructors to continue leading this important tradition of educating our future hunters and trappers. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is looking for knowledgeable and experienced hunters and trappers to teach both basic and advanced HTE programs. Volunteer instructors receive certification training, all necessary teaching aids, and materials including the easy-to-use, standardized curriculum.
Instructors must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. If leaving a legacy of safe, responsible, ethical hunting is important to you, please consider becoming a Certified HTE Instructor. All applicants must pass a criminal background check and child abuse clearance check. Contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission HTE Team at 717-787-7015, or at pgchuntereducation@pa.gov for questions.

For more information about becoming a HTE instructor, click here.

In-Person Class Option
LRGC is hosting the following classes this year: When: August 9, September 13, October 11, & November 8 (All 2nd Sundays) Where: Green Building Time: 8am to 3pm

For more information about In-Person classes and locations, click here.

Online Class Option
The PGC makes available several online HTE courses for students who prefer to learn through an online format. The following links provide more information:

Basic Hunter-Trapper Education Online Course
Online Hunter-Trapper Education for Ages 16 & Older in Spanish
NRA Hunter Education

Contact Frank Homer at 215-968-4202 x7052 or HTE@langhornerodandgunclub.com with questions or for additional information about Hunter Trapper Education at LRGC.

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Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) to Sell Surplus M14s

Pretty exciting announcement from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). As mentioned in the announcement, lots to be determined, including price and date of first sales. According to U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo), 100,000 M14s will be made available to CMP.

“Proceeds will fund marksmanship training and youth programs nationwide…”

M14 Rifle

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⭐**Matches and People**

MultiGun Shotgun Night, July 14

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8 Plate Steel Challenge, July 22

Thanks for the great turnout and for all of the RSOs and Volunteers who came out to help make this event happen.

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Western Style Action Shooting, July 25

“You see, in this world, there’s two kinds of people, my friend — those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig.”

Photos by Les Trzesniowski

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10 Stand Sporting Clays, July 26

Photos by Les Trzesniowski

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Basic Handgun, July 26

Fantastic turn out for Basic Handgun! Thank you all for coming and having a fun safe shoot!

Photos by Les Trzesniowski

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⭐ **Monthly Columns & Member Submissions**

Thursday Night Trap at LRGC
Part 1: A Tradition That Continues to Grow

Submitted by Mark Lambdin

Over the next few months, I’ll be presenting a multi-part series highlighting LRGC’s Thursday Night Trap Shooting Program. This month, I stopped by the club on a Thursday evening and had the pleasure of speaking with two gentlemen whose involvement with both LRGC and the Trap Committee spans several decades. Charlie Miller and Paul Shanahan were kind enough to share their experiences, offer some behind-the-scenes insight, and talk about what keeps this longstanding tradition thriving.

Trap is held every Thursday evening at 5:00 p.m., year-round, weather permitting. The program is open to the public, and new shooters are always welcome. Don’t own a shotgun? That’s not necessarily a problem; loaner shotguns are often available, although you’ll need to bring your own ammunition.

The popularity of Thursday night trap may surprise many members. A good evening sees 10 to 12 squads rotate through the range, with as many as 40-50 shooters participating some nights. Most competitors shoot at least two rounds of 25 targets each, which means nearly 2,500 clay targets can be launched in a single evening!

That level of participation requires an incredible amount of preparation. While the average trap shooter might purchase clay targets by the box, or perhaps even by the case, Charlie explained that the LRGC Trap Committee typically goes through two skids of clay targets every month!

Of course, keeping that many shooters moving safely and efficiently involves much more than simply stocking targets. I asked Paul about the work that takes place behind the scenes; much of it unnoticed by those arriving just before the first round begins. Every Thursday, the setup crew arrives around 3:00 p.m., giving themselves roughly 90 minutes to prepare the range before the 5:00 p.m. start. Each of the club’s four trap houses (recently rebuilt over the past few years) must be inspected and readied for the evening’s shooting.

The voice-release systems are placed and tested so that each shooter’s call of “Pull!” triggers the proper machine. Those systems must also be correctly paired with the receivers in each trap house before the first squad steps to the line. Beyond weekly setup, committee members routinely inspect equipment, perform repairs, maintain the trap houses, and coordinate the ongoing supply of clay targets that keeps the program operating week after week.

While the extensive rebuilding of all four trap houses represents a major accomplishment, improvements continue. The committee’s next planned project is the installation of new LED lighting throughout the range. Anyone who has shot on Thursday evenings during the fall knows how quickly daylight disappears, making quality lighting increasingly important as the evenings grow shorter. The upgraded system promises improved visibility and an even better shooting experience.

Considering the equipment, maintenance, voice-release systems, scorekeeping, registration, and countless other details involved, it’s easy to assume that the biggest challenge is simply getting everything ready before shooters arrive.
It isn’t.
When I asked Paul what presents the greatest challenge each week, he answered immediately: the weather.
No amount of planning can control Mother Nature, and changing conditions can influence attendance, visibility, and overall shooting conditions. Even so, week after week, the Trap Committee is there preparing the range and making sure everything is ready when the first squad takes the field.

If you’ve ever considered giving trap shooting a try, there’s never been a better time. First-time shooters are welcomed with open arms. Simply let one of the volunteers know it’s your first visit, and a Range Safety Officer will explain the safety procedures, walk you through the process, and help you get started.

Next month, we’ll take an even closer look behind the scenes. We’ll explore what it takes to prepare the range each week, step inside one of the trap houses, learn how the target launchers operate, discover how scoring works, and meet some of the dedicated volunteers whose efforts make Thursday Night Trap possible.

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⚖️ **Second Amendment Watch**

Article Submitted by ANJRPC member and NJ resident Les Trzesniowski

The 3rd Federal District Court in Philadelphia recently ruled that New Jersey’s Assault Weapon ban and 10 round magazine limit is Unconstitutional! This ruling will help push this out to the entire nation when the U.S. Supreme Court hears the two assault weapons cases next term. Awesome news! See ANJRPC news announcement below.

Respectfully submitted,
Les Trzesniowski

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT STRIKES DOWN 

NJ “ASSAULT WEAPONS” BAN/MAGAZINE BAN!

Longstanding NJ Law Found Unconstitutional in ANJRPC Lawsuit!

July 17, 2026. Today, a middle level federal appeals court threw out New Jersey’s longstanding “assault weapons” ban and magazine ban as unconstitutional. In a stunning, long-awaited decision in ANJRPC v. Attorney General of New Jersey, the U.S Court of Appeal for the Third Circuit ruled that semi-automatic rifles and magazines in excess of 10 rounds are in common use by millions of law abiding Americans and are therefore protected arms under the Second Amendment and cannot be banned.

This incredible development comes on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent announcement that next year it will resolve the “assault weapon” ban issue for the entire nation. Today’s decision has the potential to influence the Supreme Court’s ultimate thinking on the issue.

CLICK HERE to see a copy of the decision.

ANJRPC has spearheaded these challenges to New Jersey’s bans on “assault weapons“ and magazines for nearly a decade. While these challenges were met with initial resistance in the lower federal courts, it is gratifying to see our advocacy for the every-day gun owner finally victorious. Gun owners also owe a huge debt of gratitude to the NRA and NRA-ILA for their incredible financial and legal assistance in this case.

Notably, the court declined to rule on the “assault weapon” law’s ban on semi-automatic shotguns and handguns, instead sending that part of the law back to the lower court for further proceedings on those issues.

Today’s decision is certain to send shockwaves through the New Jersey State House, where lawmakers are surely reeling from this blow and scrambling to consider their next move in response. Bans on “assault weapons” and magazines have been a centerpiece of New Jersey gun control since the early 1990s.

Click here for the detailed analysis of this decision by attorney Dan Schmutter. Please stay tuned as gun owners across the region celebrate this historic victory!

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Battle Lines are drawn

Submitted by Arno Vorwerk, Legislative Committee Chairman

On April 23, 2026, Virginia Governor Spanberger signed HB1525 and SB727/HB1524 into law.

HB1525 prohibits the purchase of certain firearms by legal adults under the age of 21. Note that this bill includes an emergency clause making it law immediately rather than on July 1st, 2026.

What is Spanberger’s justification when military and service academy minimum entrance age requirements are 17 with parental consent or 18 without parental consent. Service academy applicants must meet the age requirements as of July 1 of the year of entry? These young military members carried virtually the same weapons I did during my 3 tours in Iraq, a Beretta M-9 pistol and a M-4 assault rifle. If those junior “Joe’s” were authorized to carry those weapons during a time of armed conflict, why can’t they enjoy the same Constitutionally guaranteed right at home in the US during peacetime?

Virgina SB727/HB1524 outlaws carrying and transporting many types of common firearms on public property. This includes any semiautomatic centerfire rifle or pistol with a fixed magazine capacity over 15 rounds. This law takes effect on July 1st, 2026.

The Virginia Supreme Court has appointed a three-judge panel to determine whether four lawsuits challenging the state’s newly enacted assault weapon ban should be consolidated and transferred to a single court, setting up the next phase of a high-profile legal fight over one of the General Assembly’s most consequential gun-control measures. The judges will determine whether the cases should be transferred to a single circuit court for coordinated or consolidated proceedings.

The panel was appointed on June 3 after Attorney General Jay Jones and multiple commonwealth’s attorneys asked the court to combine four lawsuits filed in Washington, Lancaster, Spotsylvania and Fauquier counties challenging the law signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger last month. The lawsuits were filed within days of Spanberger signing the legislation on May 14.

The cases seek to block a ban on certain semiautomatic firearms and magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds, legislation approved by Democrats after making gun regulation a major priority during the 2026 General Assembly session. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1.

In its application, the attorney general’s office argued the lawsuits raise largely identical constitutional questions and should be heard together to avoid conflicting rulings from courts across Virginia. Jones said all four cases challenge the same statute, rely on similar arguments under Article I, Section 13 of the Virginia Constitution and seek injunctions preventing enforcement of the law.

In federal court, however, the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action announced last month that it filed a federal lawsuit challenging the law, arguing the ban violates Second Amendment protections outlined in recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

The lawsuit argues that the law bans “commonly owned firearms and magazines that are overwhelmingly possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes,” and contends the state cannot justify the restrictions under the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.

Even if these lawsuits are not successful, a growing list of commonwealth’s attorneys have stated they will not enforce the new gun law once it goes into effect (Jarvis, 2026).

These Commonwealth Attorneys have publicly questioned whether the law can survive constitutional scrutiny as their concerns are rooted in the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which held that modern firearm regulations must be consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation, as well as Virginia’s on state constitution.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized that firearms “in common use” for lawful purposes receive Second Amendment protection. Firearms built on the AR-platform are among the most popular rifles in America and are widely used for recreational shooting, hunting and personal protection, with more than 32 million in circulation — making them twice as popular as the Ford F-150 pickup truck. Just last year, in Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. vs Mexico, a unanimous Supreme Court said “But those products are both widely legal and bought by many ordinary consumers. The AR-15 is the most popular rifle in the country(Keane, 2026).”

Since District of Columbia v. Heller and Bruen, the legal environment surrounding firearm regulation has changed dramatically in that lawmakers can no longer rely solely on policy arguments or public opinion polling to defend firearm restrictions. Courts now require governments to demonstrate that modern regulations are consistent with the historical understanding of the right to keep and bear arms. That is the test the Virginia gun ban is likely to face and fail (Keane, 2026).

References

Jarvis, B. (2026, June 10). Virginia Supreme Court appoints panel to weigh consolidation of assault weapon ban lawsuits. Virginia Scope. https://www. virginiascope.com/virginia-supreme-court-appoints-panel-to-weigh-consolidation- of-assault-weapon-ban-lawsuits/

Keane, L. (2026, June 3). Virginia Gun Ban Sponsor Attacks Prosecutors Questioning Constitutionality of Firearm Ban. National Shooting Sports Foundation. https:// www. nssf.org/articles/virginia-gun-ban-sponsor-attacks-prosecutors-questioning -constitutionality-of-firearm-ban/

Lieb, D. (2026, May 15). New Virginia law banning `assault firearms’ prompts quick lawsuits from gun-rights groups. WSLS 10 News. https://www.wsls.com/ business/2026/05/15/new-virginia-law-banning-assault-firearms-prompts-quick- lawsuits-from-gun-rights-groups/

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 ⭐**Monthly Work Party**

At the last work party, volunteers removed the remaining deck and the old trailers behind the tan building. John Besack pulled the old trailers out and dressed up the area. Jason Curley hauled gravel and dressed up the trap field. Thank you to both men for their hard work. We also ordered several new picnic tables. With the help of Ernie Leossie on the forklift, the tables were unloaded and moved into place.

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 ⭐**Membership – Misc**

First Aid Boxes – Keeping Them Stocked

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Range Rules

Membership Renewal

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NOTE: The contact list seen below is maintained with privacy and accuracy in mind. If you are included in this list, and would like your contact information updated, please send an email to editor@langhornerodandgun.com