[Tommy Gunn]

Well?

[Denver]

Yeah, but are they a non-shooter after you've demystified the art for them?:cool:

[Monkeyleg]

Took a client of mine shooting my 1911. The only downside is that he's now looking to buy a Glock 19. :neener:

[jsalcedo]

2 this week.

Both loved it and want to go again.

[RocketMan]

Two of my kids.
Some English and Japanese former coworkers.
All of them had a great time.

[Jrob24]

Took my sister, one of her friends and three of my friends. I'm planning to take a couple more next month.

[Chris Rhines]

Every chance I get.

- Chris

[Stay Low]

I paid for lunch for a lawyer friend for answering some questions for me once. During lunch, he got to talking about his mid-life crisis and facing his fears....one of which was guns. We left lunch and went strait to the range and shot pistols. From there, we went to Classic Arms where he bought a Beretta. Today, he has a carry permit and shoots trap regularly.

During that lunch, he talked about how if someone were to break into his house he'd "just give up." He also went off about cop killer bullets. I listened and laid out the truth for him. I saw him this week at the range and he told me about how he had been robbed at gunpoint. Someone surprised him from some bushes with a gun already leveled on him. He had a .32 in his front pocket....don't know the brand. He thought about pulling it but the guy had his sites on him already. He gave up his keys, wallet and watch but didn't get hurt. He was upset it happened but even more disappointed the training he had done wasn't put into play. He also had a Kimber on his hip and I bet he fights back next time or if that someone ever comes in his house uninvited.

[Psssniper]

Yes, recently took an extreme anti-gun guy from our church out shooting. We went to the desert and spent the whole two hour drive answering questions and asking many of them ourselves, also spent a good deal of time dealing with gun handling and safety. Shot everything from .22's to .50 cal. He now is okay with guns but isn't going to buy one anytime soon. A halfway convert.........so far.

[Standing Wolf]

Yeah, but not recently: there aren't many non-shooters in Colorado.

[cool45auto]

Cool, looks like we're doing our job. I've taken my fiance and my daughter. My fiance now has her CCW and a pistol and my daughter keeps asking when we're going back!:)

[4v50 Gary]

Many times. Convert them.

[Dave R]

Helped two of my son's friends get their shooting merit badges...

[ed dixon]

Wife, co-worker, brother-in-law. They're different people.

[Kentucky Rifle]

I enjoy taking women to the range. It began with my wife and her friend. They're both ~safe~, and good shots. Women listen to the part BEFORE going. They take notes. They bring the instruction books for their weapons. They seem to actually WANT to know how the weapon "works" and how to keep it clean. Then, they apply what I've taught them. It's easy and it's always turned out well.

KR

[stellarpod]

I try to introduce non-shooters as often as possible.

I've had opportunity to take two different people from the U.K. - one from Southhampton and one from Aberdeen, Scotland. These were memorable experiences on both sides. Neither individual had ever HELD a "real gun", much less fired one.

In both instances we shot everything from a "two-two" to a .44 Magnum, to several military-style rifles. Particularly enjoyed the historical aspects of the Garand. One of them called me a few days after returning to England to tell me about a conversation with his grandfather who thought the Garand was a "remarkable weapon". He has the targets from the .44 Mag, Garand and AR15 hanging in his office and says that he often recounts the range visit to his friends and business aquaintences.

Hopefully, the experience removed some of the negative mystique that abounds about firearms among the young and inexperienced in the U.K.

BTW - I hope I haven't offended any of our good friends from across the pond, as I know there are plenty of good people there who are not happy about the current state of firearm ownership (or lack thereof) in their country.

stellarpod

[taoshooter]

Yes - if taking someone that used to plink with a BB as a kid and wanted to learn a little about USPSA counts. Now they're shopping for their first auto :)

[Moparmike]

Does taking them out shooting actually change their politics (or help to change), or just introduce them to the sport?

I ask because I could see one getting into the sport, but then turning into one of those fabled "Duck Hunters" that looks at any gun but his single shot rifles and his break-open 12ga as un-necessary.

[Trempel]

Several dozen within the last four years. At least six people that I took to the range for the first time are now gun owners and shoot on regular basis.

[Dave Markowitz]

Does taking them out shooting actually change their politics (or help to change), or just introduce them to the sport?

Depends on the person.

But oftentimes introducing somebody to firearms in a positive way will remove any phobias they have about guns. Removing the fear of guns is the first step to bringing an anti around.

[David4516]

Yes, 3 friends of mine.

The first thought it was cool. I ended up getting him a Turkish Mauser for christmas one year. So far it's his only gun, but he said he has plans to buy a .22 pistol in the future...

The second one now goes target shoothing with me all the time, and has a few guns of his own. He's got an SKS, a Ruger 10/22, a Nagant, and a TT-33 Tokarev.

The 3rd one seemed really nervous on the way to the range for the first time. He kept asking "are you sure we won't get in troube for this?". He was under the impression that target shooting was illegal I guess...

I've taken him to the range a few times now, and he has lost his fear of guns. I dont' know if he'll end up being a shooter like the other two, but at least he isn't an "anti" anymore...

I have taken several others to the range who were pretty new to shooting, but not first timers...

[PATH]

I am like a missionary. I am out to convert as many people to the wonderous joys of shooting as I can. It is only by reaching out to those who have not enjoyed our wonderous experiences that we can grow as a community.

Okay. Yeah! I take folks out shooting. Better to have more shooters than less.

[Black Majik]

Ever since I was a kid I have been into guns, shooting, etc.. I'm 21 now.

My interest didn't really peak until right before I turned 21. Two of my friends wanted to go shooting (they also didn't shoot regularly), so me, another friend, and the two girls who originally wanted to shoot (ironic how the girls were the ones to get us to go shooting with them).

We went shooting, tried out the Glock 9mm, Sig Sauer P226 9mm, and a Kimber .45 ACP and a .44 magnum.

We all had a blast, I had the time of my life! After that day, I've been researching and my interest in shooting peaked farther than the 2 girls that took me shooting.

1.5 months later, I now own 2 handguns (Sig Sauer P226 and a Colt Government .45 ACP) and 1 shotgun (Remington 870 Wingmaster 12 ga.)

I take a lot of my friends out to go shooting, most who have never shot a gun before. All of them so far seem to have opened up to the sport, but still have that fear of firearms in general. I guess living in California partly is the reason to it.

They all love to shoot, but none of them will consider ever owning a firearm. But at least they dont have a problem with it.

[Spieler]

I actually took three teenagers shooting for their first time this weekend. We were visiting my mother-in-law who has some acreage in central Florida and I always take a few firearms with me as I usually can sneak off for an hour or so to get some shooting in. I have been trying to get my youngest step-daughter to shoot for some time now and I finally convinced her to try some handgun shooting. Up to this point she has only shot my .177 air rifle. Some family friends were at the house with their two teenage sons and they had never fired handguns before either, so off to the back forty we went. I gave them a safety briefing, impressed the 4 big rules on them, showed them the basics of sight picture, grip, stance and a rundown of how each gun operated. I started them off with my Beretta M21a (.25 acp) and moved on to my S&W M10 and G17. They all had a blast and were pretty proficient in keeping all hits in the kill zone of a standard silouette in addition to making some cans dance! It broke the monotony of the afternoon, I got some much needed practice in and hopefully got three good kids interested in responsible firearms sports. A good day all around!

[Dorrin79]

introduced my wife, several of my friends, and two coworkers to the joy of shooting.

All enjoyed it, some took to it more than others/

[DF357]

Working on number three in three weeks. Took my wife 2 weeks ago who just couldn't understand why I liked guns, Now she wants her own and wants to go shooting more. Took my son this past weekend who never really was into it but is now. Next week I'm taking my 11 year old grandaughter for the first time. Can't wait.

[ChickenHawk]

Two times (one was my wife).

Neither were Anti's, but neither was involved in the sport either.

Now, my wife goes shooting with me.

Cheers,
ChickenHawk

[pytron]

Took my neighbor the other weekend to shoot some guns his dad had given him. He took my other neighbor the week after that (They wanted me to come along but I was hunting). Both of them non-shooters before. Then I found out one of my other neighbors is a shooter and a hunter and I told him if he ever needed a buddy just to call me.

I haven't talked to the rest of my neighbors, but I imagine some of them might also be receptive. So far 4/9 are good. I suspect at least two others would probably be interested. Maybe we'll start having the neighborhood night at the range (which is only about 2.5 miles away).

-Pytron

[Ivanimal]

Yes dang it! The girls in my office are gonna break me in ammo costs alone!:cuss:

[Fire1]

Yep, various friends and co-workers. The last one was a friend that I have known for like, 16 years or something, but still had never gone to the range with me. So when he visited a few months ago I took him the range and sat him down with my AR-10 :cool: He was hitting the steel targets at 350yd with regularity a few minutes later:D

I also taught my wife to shoot. Now she has a rifle and several pistols that she calls hers (even though I can carry, or take any of them to the range whenever I want to) A few weeks ago she put a new Springfield Microcompact on layaway. That didn't last 10 days!:D I'm in love! (with the wife, that is!)

[Darrin]

I took my nephew shooting before my brother (his Dad) did! :D

[JamesTheScot]

i have on numerous occasions. i can say with complete accuracy that no one ever comes away from the experience more averse to guns than they were before.

some have completely turned to pro-gun, some are ready for handguns but not military type guns, some have expressed an interest in shooting again but not purchasing, but all universally enjoy the activity.

i think the key is to de-mystify guns. put a gun in the hands of an anti-gunner and they suddenly see that one isn't posessed with a murderous compulsion when they shoot one. let them rattle through a 10 rounder, slap a new mag in there and then they start to understand that magazine capacity limits are idiotic. let them shoot some milk-jugs with a civilian AK and it starts to look like any other rifle.

demystify and educate. we have to make them take an all or none approach to gun-control. if we can make it an either or issue we win.

[natedog]

I think taking fence-sitters or anit's to the range and converting them to gunners is the best thing you can do for the RKBA. An NRA membership costs about $15, if i'm not mistaken. A brick of .22 and a box of 9mm costs about the same.

[WeThree]

Yes... he's since purchased a CZ, and has his eye on more.

[Schuey2002]

Um.. nope.

I simply don't know any anti's. I don't hang out with anybody that could even be remotely labeled as an 'anti' (family- All "Pro's"/ friends- likewise). Plus, all my co-workers are gun fanatics.. Heck, even my neighbors are all "Pro-gun". (Of course, I only have two..)

Maybe I live in a Bizzaro World, or sumpfin.. :o

"The benefits of a classical [boondock] education.." :uhoh:

[Hot brass]

Introduced girlfriends, sisters, sisters friend, my friends, cousin( bought 1911, sks, Marlin .22, and .20ga. shotgun). My kids both shoot.
Yeah, I guess I have.;)

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

Yep, converted my best friend not too long ago, he is just itching to get his hands on a K-frame .38 Special.

[Skunkabilly]

Of course. Most of the folks I take have never gone shooting before. Then there are people who shot maybe once as a kid.

[Jonesy9]

taken several out shooting. even got my dad back into it after a 30 yr hiatus

[C.R.Sam]

Been doin it for years.

Sam

[Archer]

Lots of people. Some have become extremely avid.

One of the more memorable ones: The entire Swedish Womens Olympic Archery team. In Phoenix a couple of years ago. Tough way to spend a day... not !

:cool:

[Correia]

Whole mess of people.

That is why I've finally buckled down and decided to become an NRA certified instructor, and a Utah CCW instructor. I've been doing it anyway, so I figured I might as well make it official. Should be all done by the end of January.

[Tommy Gunn]

Yes dang it! The girls in my office are gonna break me in ammo costs alone!

You need to reload. Lee (http://leeprecision.com/) makes affordable equipment.

[DualBerettas]

hopefully these people will become gun rights activists...plenty of people shoot as we have 80-120 MILLION plus gun owners, we need more activists...if nothing else take an anti gun and at least turn them nuetral so they won't send money to the Brady's...

DB

[Guntalk]

Great minds thinking alike, I guess.

Just today I posted a similar survey, but with more options, on my web site. Not only trying to find out if people had, but trying to figure out attitudes and what kind of help shooters want in taking new folks shooting.

www.guntalk.com for the survey.

[tlhelmer]

Many!

I have also preached the Pro 2nd amendment position as often as they will hear it.

[Peetmoss]

Took a non shooter to the range today. Gave him a crash course on saftey and the range rules. He did really well and had a great time. Witch kinda surprised me seeing he is blind in one eye do to my cousin shooting his eye out when we were kids.