Posted: 12/12/2011 6:31:24 AM EDT
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On Saturday, I took two of my friends to "Gun World" Gander Mountain in Germantown. Friend #1 migrated over here from England about 10 years ago. He's been talking about buying his first gun for a year now, and finally saved up for it. His sister visits from England a couple times a year, and I had taken both of them to the range a while back. She took her shot up target back overseas, and it's quite a talking piece as it hangs on her door. People see it and ask "Did you do that??!!!". XD9 for friend #1. He wants an AR-15 next. Friend #2 I haven't known very long, but he wanted to partake and also hook up his first gun. He opted for the Sig p229, he had his mind set! I went over the gun safety rules speech over and over with both of them, and will be taking them to the range this weekend to break their new purchases in. On a side note, my buddy (friend #1 England background) had just finished his 4473 form. He asked what you have to do for private (person to person in-State) transactions. I said as long as they aren't a felon or other prohibited from owning a firearm, exchange the cash, and done (very simple terms). He couldn't believe it was that easy, and thought that was a bid odd, seeing how he just went through his tedious 4473 form and needed a background check. I just stated welcome to America :-) |
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Solid! Always good to convert a couple to our sport. The more of us, the better!
Hopefully I can find the time to get some people from work that are 'gun curious' out to the range and help them get into shooting sports. Logistics is the issue. I drive an hour to work, so doing it on the weekends is sometimes an issue. Not to mention syncing schedules. |
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I think that v-range at the Madison (or La Crosse) Gander is perfect for this. It’s a sort of a firearms training wheel equivalent to ease the initial gun phobias of raw newbies. If only they’d rent guns to use on the live-fire range.
So many people have misconceptions, phobias and myths about firearms and firearm ownership. Can’t really blame them because if all there experience with firearms has been what they see on TV. I’ve dealt with my share of these people and it’s always been very rewarding to see that spark of excitement when the myths and misconceptions are dispelled. Many of these people had close encounters with unwelcome night time visitors and realized how vulnerable they are and the value of personal firearm ownership. Defense is one application, but when it comes to shooting for recreation it really helps to have a mentor. Because many people don’t know other gun people, having access to no-commitment, no-investment shooting activities are vital. So good job and keep mentoring. |
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Quoted:
So many people have misconceptions, phobias and myths about firearms and firearm ownership. Can’t really blame them because if all there experience with firearms has been what they see on TV. I’ve dealt with my share of these people and it’s always been very rewarding to see that spark of excitement when the myths and misconceptions are dispelled. Many of these people had close encounters with unwelcome night time visitors and realized how vulnerable they are and the value of personal firearm ownership. Defense is one application, but when it comes to shooting for recreation it really helps to have a mentor. Because many people don’t know other gun people, having access to no-commitment, no-investment shooting activities are vital. I found the same when I was a hunter safety instructor. It was rewarding to teach the kids, but even more so when there was a "newbie" adult who really and truly wanted to learn something, and wasn't just there for a piece of paper for 'legal requirements'. I knew that "converting" them and dispelling all the TV crap they believed to be true, was just as important as getting the kids started safely. I focused on handguns a little more than others, because I was/am a handgun hunter myself. Even the adults were a little "awed" at the sight of my 10" barreled .44mag Dan Wesson revolver with a scope on it. But that was 15-20 years ago, when it was a "big" gun, before the .500 S&W and other "hand-cannons" were available. 
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Quoted: ....and other "hand-cannons" were available.   Ah, one of my favorite Pulp Fiction quotes: Vincent: Why the fuck didn't you tell us somebody was in the bathroom? Slip your mind? Did you forget that someone was in there with a goddamn hand-cannon? Jules: You see the size of that gun he fired at us? It was bigger than him. |
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The Girl and I stopped at Central Wisconsin Firearms up in Wausau yesterday, she put $100 down and ordered an M&P22.
"Well, your Walther is getting pretty worn, and it's a .22 version of your carry gun, so you can use it too. It makes sense for my first gun..." 
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Ah, one of my favorite Pulp Fiction quotes:
....and other "hand-cannons" were available.
Vincent: Why the fuck didn't you tell us somebody was in the bathroom? Slip your mind? Did you forget that someone was in there with a goddamn hand-cannon?Jules: You see the size of that gun he fired at us? It was bigger than him. I love that movie, got the DVD... and my wife hates it. Too vulgar for her tastes, so I can only watch it when she's not home. |
