spartan933
Expert
So, I was reading American Handgunner today and the very last article is a column by Roy Huntington. It's a very well-written article and is worth the read.
[FONT="]Read Speak Out in this issue and you'll see a letter from "J.R." who is a young 26 year old and new to gunowning. He talks about how he feels as if he's an outsider and how many of we "old-timers" have shunned him and acted as if they didn't want to be bothered by his questions. He compared it to not being able to get a job unless you have a union card, and not being able to get a union card unless you have a job. He wondered: How can he get the experience if older, experienced gun-hands won't give him the time of day? And he's right.[/FONT]
[FONT="]While some of us may feel we are part of an elite club and have earned our merit badges the hard way, at the same time I feel a strong sense of obligation to put that same experience to work for all of us. I talked a bit about this in "Amateurs And Experts" (Insider, Jan/Feb, 2009) and encouraged all of us to use our knowledge to teach, reach out to the community and share our passion for what we do to help it grow. But I think it takes more.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Today's unprecedented buying frenzy seems to be bringing a good number of new shooters into the fray. Dealers report many of their customers are people either brand-new to shooting and gun-owning, or people who are very inexperienced--yet concerned about the future.[/FONT]
[FONT="]These new shooters are buying entry-level firearms, modest supplies of ammunition, safety glasses, ear protection, cleaning accessories, gun cases and storage products. That's great news, good for the industry and good for the new shooters that dealers are steering them in the right directions. But then what?[/FONT]
[FONT="]That's the important part of this equation. These same new friends of ours need to feel just that--a welcome into the fraternity. They need to feel as if we're friends, because we should be. We need to reach out to them when we see them, perhaps ill-at-ease at the range, or confused as they stand at a gun store counter. We need to help them as they sort out sighting-in, safety issues, basic skills, where and how to find valid information--and not just Internet hysteria. We need to offer our hands in friendship, assistance and encouragement.[/FONT]
[FONT="]If this concern over our future has brought tens of thousands toward owning their first gun, introducing them to "our side" of the equation, then we'd be silly--even just plain stupid--if we don't embrace this stunning opportunity to both grow our ranks and educate even more people.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Do you remember walking into that strange gun store for the first time and knowing right away it seemed as if you were disturbing their day? The cranky guy behind the counter, the one with the cheap 9mm hanging in frayed nylon holster, eyed you almost with hostility--as if asking you silently: "What are you doing here? We don't know you." The dog growled, the floor was filthy, inventory sat ignored on dusty shelves and the air was still and stuffy. Remember that? Remember how you felt? You could hardly wait to get out of that place. I couldn't wait either.[/FONT]
[FONT="]And that time at the range when all the locals ignored you, acted put-out when you asked for a pause so you could put your target up. Stood in a corner and looked over at you as they talked quietly? Remember that day? I do, and it kills a new shooter's enthusiasm mercilessly. It almost killed mine once.[/FONT]
[FONT="]So shame on us.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Let's take this opportunity and turn it around for the good. When you see a new shooter at the range, in a store, at the magazine rack or anywhere, say hi. Reach out, offer a hand, make a friend, and don't make them feel silly for asking questions, embarrassed by their poor first-performance on the firing line, or confused, without a direction to reach for solid help. If you see a gun store clerk mis-handle a new customer, maybe stop them outside and offer your own assistance, guidance, or as a resource to answer questions. A positive smile, a "hey, I've been there myself" comment or two and a simple offer to answer some basic questions will turn someone who might have only been curious, into someone added to our ranks.[/FONT]
[FONT="]And if you do it--good for you. Good for us.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Read Speak Out in this issue and you'll see a letter from "J.R." who is a young 26 year old and new to gunowning. He talks about how he feels as if he's an outsider and how many of we "old-timers" have shunned him and acted as if they didn't want to be bothered by his questions. He compared it to not being able to get a job unless you have a union card, and not being able to get a union card unless you have a job. He wondered: How can he get the experience if older, experienced gun-hands won't give him the time of day? And he's right.[/FONT]
[FONT="]While some of us may feel we are part of an elite club and have earned our merit badges the hard way, at the same time I feel a strong sense of obligation to put that same experience to work for all of us. I talked a bit about this in "Amateurs And Experts" (Insider, Jan/Feb, 2009) and encouraged all of us to use our knowledge to teach, reach out to the community and share our passion for what we do to help it grow. But I think it takes more.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Today's unprecedented buying frenzy seems to be bringing a good number of new shooters into the fray. Dealers report many of their customers are people either brand-new to shooting and gun-owning, or people who are very inexperienced--yet concerned about the future.[/FONT]
[FONT="]These new shooters are buying entry-level firearms, modest supplies of ammunition, safety glasses, ear protection, cleaning accessories, gun cases and storage products. That's great news, good for the industry and good for the new shooters that dealers are steering them in the right directions. But then what?[/FONT]
[FONT="]That's the important part of this equation. These same new friends of ours need to feel just that--a welcome into the fraternity. They need to feel as if we're friends, because we should be. We need to reach out to them when we see them, perhaps ill-at-ease at the range, or confused as they stand at a gun store counter. We need to help them as they sort out sighting-in, safety issues, basic skills, where and how to find valid information--and not just Internet hysteria. We need to offer our hands in friendship, assistance and encouragement.[/FONT]
[FONT="]If this concern over our future has brought tens of thousands toward owning their first gun, introducing them to "our side" of the equation, then we'd be silly--even just plain stupid--if we don't embrace this stunning opportunity to both grow our ranks and educate even more people.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Do you remember walking into that strange gun store for the first time and knowing right away it seemed as if you were disturbing their day? The cranky guy behind the counter, the one with the cheap 9mm hanging in frayed nylon holster, eyed you almost with hostility--as if asking you silently: "What are you doing here? We don't know you." The dog growled, the floor was filthy, inventory sat ignored on dusty shelves and the air was still and stuffy. Remember that? Remember how you felt? You could hardly wait to get out of that place. I couldn't wait either.[/FONT]
[FONT="]And that time at the range when all the locals ignored you, acted put-out when you asked for a pause so you could put your target up. Stood in a corner and looked over at you as they talked quietly? Remember that day? I do, and it kills a new shooter's enthusiasm mercilessly. It almost killed mine once.[/FONT]
[FONT="]So shame on us.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Let's take this opportunity and turn it around for the good. When you see a new shooter at the range, in a store, at the magazine rack or anywhere, say hi. Reach out, offer a hand, make a friend, and don't make them feel silly for asking questions, embarrassed by their poor first-performance on the firing line, or confused, without a direction to reach for solid help. If you see a gun store clerk mis-handle a new customer, maybe stop them outside and offer your own assistance, guidance, or as a resource to answer questions. A positive smile, a "hey, I've been there myself" comment or two and a simple offer to answer some basic questions will turn someone who might have only been curious, into someone added to our ranks.[/FONT]
[FONT="]And if you do it--good for you. Good for us.[/FONT]