ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Legacy
Some years back, Cowboy Action Shooting surprised the market by gaining popularity hand over fist.
It became more than just "shooting" and became a sort of sub-culture. Some of the THR members, I'm sure, enjoy that aspect of shooting.
It created a social grouping that really hadn't existed before.
I'm sure it's not a new observation that people like social activities that allow them to belong and to do something interesting with like-minded people.
When I talk to CAS folk, they don't ramble on about technique, velocity, 50-yard groups, high scores, and so on; rather, they talk about having had a good time.
One couple talked about a weekend outing they had just South & West of Las Vegas, saying, "It was colder than heck, but we had a great time. Had trouble hitting a damn thing all weekend, but it's good fun."
It's good fun.
People go bowling because . . . it's good fun. People golf in that same mode. Sure, you can get all "scoreboard fixated" and competitive, but sometimes you just relax and to hell with the score.
We have a sport that's good fun.
Sure, we can bring out the cannons and scare everyone on the line; we can dress up in war paint and bring along the professionally tuned sport-rifle-of-death; we can share the secret handshake and cluster with the brothers.
Trouble is, that's a solitary endeavor, even an elite pursuit.
Within "the brotherhood" it's all good fun.
Seen from without, it can be exclusionary, even tasteless.
Still, we have a sport that's good fun.
People will latch onto the most amazing things as fads. Some of the stuff that passes for "the in thing to do" just leaves me cold. Nonetheless, it resonates with a large crowd.
Skateboarding, snowboarding, things like that, have a "coolness" factor. Not that many people stick with it, not many at all go pro.
We have a sport with all the cool it will ever need. Anyone can do this. No special athletic prowess required.
Not everyone will appreciate the Second Amendment for what it is. Not everyone will want to hunt. Not everyone will opt for self defense. Everyone, however, can enjoy a cool sport.
As folks become more familiar and comfortable with shooting, some will want to advance; some will go for self defense; some will want to hunt. A rare few will awaken and grasp the power and truth of the Second Amendment.
Shooting doesn't have to be all grit and bruises.
My son outperforms me in every physical sporting endeavor. I still out-shoot him.
Shooting is an equal access sport.
Inevitably, when you "socialize" a sport, you're gonna get people who wanna make a fashion statement as much as they want to do any good with a rifle. Every sport has them.
So we have a strength. We have a sport that everyone from 8 to 80 can do. People in wheelchairs can do it. It's fun. And it's a legacy.
Eleanor Roosevelt's favorite passtime.
Skill at arms, an American tradition. Keep the flame alive.
Some people throw frisbees. Some play softball.
Some make little holes in tin cans from 50 yards away.
More exposure. More familiarity. More comfort.
A sport for the whole community.
Make it fun.
Some years back, Cowboy Action Shooting surprised the market by gaining popularity hand over fist.
It became more than just "shooting" and became a sort of sub-culture. Some of the THR members, I'm sure, enjoy that aspect of shooting.
It created a social grouping that really hadn't existed before.
I'm sure it's not a new observation that people like social activities that allow them to belong and to do something interesting with like-minded people.
When I talk to CAS folk, they don't ramble on about technique, velocity, 50-yard groups, high scores, and so on; rather, they talk about having had a good time.
One couple talked about a weekend outing they had just South & West of Las Vegas, saying, "It was colder than heck, but we had a great time. Had trouble hitting a damn thing all weekend, but it's good fun."
It's good fun.
People go bowling because . . . it's good fun. People golf in that same mode. Sure, you can get all "scoreboard fixated" and competitive, but sometimes you just relax and to hell with the score.
We have a sport that's good fun.
Sure, we can bring out the cannons and scare everyone on the line; we can dress up in war paint and bring along the professionally tuned sport-rifle-of-death; we can share the secret handshake and cluster with the brothers.
Trouble is, that's a solitary endeavor, even an elite pursuit.
Within "the brotherhood" it's all good fun.
Seen from without, it can be exclusionary, even tasteless.
Still, we have a sport that's good fun.
People will latch onto the most amazing things as fads. Some of the stuff that passes for "the in thing to do" just leaves me cold. Nonetheless, it resonates with a large crowd.
Skateboarding, snowboarding, things like that, have a "coolness" factor. Not that many people stick with it, not many at all go pro.
We have a sport with all the cool it will ever need. Anyone can do this. No special athletic prowess required.
Not everyone will appreciate the Second Amendment for what it is. Not everyone will want to hunt. Not everyone will opt for self defense. Everyone, however, can enjoy a cool sport.
As folks become more familiar and comfortable with shooting, some will want to advance; some will go for self defense; some will want to hunt. A rare few will awaken and grasp the power and truth of the Second Amendment.
Shooting doesn't have to be all grit and bruises.
My son outperforms me in every physical sporting endeavor. I still out-shoot him.
Shooting is an equal access sport.
Inevitably, when you "socialize" a sport, you're gonna get people who wanna make a fashion statement as much as they want to do any good with a rifle. Every sport has them.
So we have a strength. We have a sport that everyone from 8 to 80 can do. People in wheelchairs can do it. It's fun. And it's a legacy.
Eleanor Roosevelt's favorite passtime.
Skill at arms, an American tradition. Keep the flame alive.
Some people throw frisbees. Some play softball.
Some make little holes in tin cans from 50 yards away.
More exposure. More familiarity. More comfort.
A sport for the whole community.
Make it fun.