VBR&PC Overview

The Virginia Beach Rifle and Pistol Club is a Virginia non-profit corporation. Membership is open to all residents of the United States of America 18 years of age, after successful completion of a law enforcement security background check. The Club is affiliated with the National Rifle Association, obtaining $1,000,000.00 liability insurance through a NRA sponsored insurance program. Our club was founded in 1972 by a group of responsible gun owners who enjoyed a common interest in firearms and who were dedicated to preserving the privilege afforded by our Second Amendment Right to own and bear arms.

The Club has leased a shooting facility since it was founded in 1972 in the Pungo area of Virginia Beach and operates the facility under a Conditional Use Permit. The site is located just North of the intersection of Princess Anne Road and Flanagan's Lane, and adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Loran Station. The facility is in the middle of a farm field with a huge earthen backstop, which was used during World War II for live fire training exercises. The area around the Pungo facility is a mix of agricultural and residential. As of this date, there have been no recorded incidents, accidents, or complaints as a result of the operation of this facility at any time during the Club's lease, since 1972 (~30 years). This reflects the Club's safety, education, training and shooting discipline.

The current facility is open 365 days a year - Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to sundown and Sunday from 12:00 PM to sundown. Club members perform duties as Range Safety Officer throughout the year. The shooting facility is primarily a 50-yard range with 10 covered shooting positions and 5 uncovered positions, plus 1 uncovered 100-yard position. The site is host to the Club's scheduled matches, education and training programs, as well as Family Activities and Picnics.

The club is more than just a shooting facility. The club currently meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the VFW Post 4809 in Norfolk at 7:30 PM, which is just off I-264 at Military Highway, a central and easily accessed location for our southeastern Virginia membership. We use this social gathering to renew acquaintances, discuss firearm issues and technical advancements, plan group events, and to learn more about our hobby. Members participate in fundraising activities for our club. Members of the club are certified NRA instructors, teaching classes regularly in firearms safety and marksmanship. Our instructors emphasize the individual's responsibilities that are inherent to firearm use. A certificate of completion for the NRA's Basic Hand Gun Course will satisfy the educational and training requirement for the State of Virginia concealed weapon carry permit. The Club is the only non-profit firearm education organization in the city. The Club provides at no cost Range time and approved instructors for the Boy Scout rifle merit badge and venture programs and Range time for VA Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries for Hunter Education Live Fire Training. The Club's members are a mix of avid shooters, hobby firearm collectors, and others who enjoy re-manufacturing shells and reloading cartridges or just gunsmithing in general. The Club has been awarded the prestigious President's Award by the National Rifle Association and is the 2001 NRA National Outstanding Club of the year.

There are approximately 250 members of the Club, currently paying annual dues of $75.00. Membership is drawn from all areas of Southeastern Virginia - Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Former, present, or retired military and law enforcement personnel constitute a significant component of the membership. In addition to the security background check to verify the member may acquire a firearm, each member must demonstrate knowledge of all safety rules and regulations required of a Range Safety Officer. One of which must be present during the operation of the shooting facility. About 5 to 10 members use the facility on any given weekday and about 10 to 12 on any given Sunday afternoon. Saturdays are the day the Club holds matches. Depending on the match, between 15 and 100 members may attend, but during a match only about 3 to 6 members are shooting at any one time.

For the past 6 years the club has sponsored The Friends of the NRA Banquet and Auction and have raised over $12,000.00 for the NRA Foundation. These banquets bring together people from all walks of life for an evening of fun and entertainment as well as a show of support for the NRA. Of the funds raised, 50% is put back into the State to fund projects such as firearm education and safety courses, conservation projects, and shooting range development/improvement programs. The other 50% is used by the NRA Foundation to fund National programs. In the past, our club, a Norfolk shooting club, the Boy Scouts and a local 4H group have benefited substantially from grants obtained from the NRA Foundation. So in essence, when a club sponsors Friends of the NRA Banquet it is benefiting itself as well as its community!

No matter what your interests are in the shooting sports you will find someone in our club that shares your interests. Come out and visit with us on the first Tuesday of each month at the VFW Post 4809 at 7:30 PM in Norfolk. Discover for yourself why our club has been awarded the prestigious President's Award by the National Rifle Association and was named the 2001 National NRA Club of the Year!

Membership is open to the public (with some requirements). See our Membership Requirements page for information about joining.

Last update: Monday, September 09, 2002, R. Cort Tompkins. © 2002-2006 Virginia Beach Rifle & Pistol Club