The Pahrump Gunfighters rode into J.G. Johnson Elementary School Thursday morning bearing gifts of candy and guidance to dozens of kids enrolled in the Pahrump Valley Youth Activities program, (PVYA).
The 18-member band of gunslingers, with names such as Ivan the Terrible, Gambler Dan, and Drifter, provided comedy, entertainment and education to kids enrolled in the Pahrump Valley Youth Activities summer program at J.G. Johnson Elementary School.
Group leader Dan Delgado said Thursdays performance was especially important in light of the nations worst mass shooting earlier this month.
I think its very important to remind kids of gun safety, especially after the tragedy in Orlando, he said. We stress gun safety and if we get to one child with our message, its well worth it. Every time we come out here, we always get a good reception from the kids.
Delgado also said the gunfighters have offered to perform for the program since its inception roughly five years ago.
Weve been doing this since they started, he said. I was at Walmart and a kid pointed at me and told his mom that Im the guy who talked about never picking up a gun. It shows that the kids are listening to our message. We also talk about bullying and we do skits to help the kids understand between right and wrong.
PVYA staff member Alicia Lewis said the gunfighters seem to give the kids a little break from their normal weekly activities.
They are giving the kids some good tools as well as entertainment, she said. The kids really like it. The kids that have been in the program for a while already knew what was going on, but the kids that were new to the program were completely excited and they didnt have a clue. They were all excited and paying attention to the lessons that they were getting before the entertainment actually started.
At present, there are just three spots left for parents to enroll their child into the program, which runs through the last of July.
For more information on enrollment, call Denise Koch at 702-339-4603.
The gunfighters next performance is scheduled on Monday, where they will perform in the Liberty Festival parade, beginning at 9 a.m. along Calvada Boulevard.
Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com.