I'm doing my part.

W

Wat_Tyler

New member
I got married earlier this year, to a woman with 2 young boys. Neither she or her sons have ever fired a gun. She knows I have some and she is very interested in shooting. We talk about what's going on in the news about guns and how every single story tries to portray guns in a negative light. Politician after politician will do whatever they can to ban or restrict firearms ownership. 100 yard ranges are harder and harder to come by. Maybe it's due to zoning, maybe there aren't enough of us willing to pitch in and get a local range set up.

Anyway, we have already talked about me and her 2 boys going shooting in the spring. I also plan on bringing my 13 y/o nephew, who has never fired a gun. Wifey is pregnant, so soon I'll have another boy to introduce to firearms. I plan on him spending lots of time with me in the workshop, reloading ammo and talking about guns.

In the past couple years I have offered to go shooting with a buddy that had recently bought his first pistol. After some time at the range, another mutual buddy of ours decided he liked our guns and went out and bought a .45. One of that guy's friends set up a meet and there were 5 of us shooting, and having a great time. We all plan on doing that again.

My point is that the absolute best thing any of us can do is to get other people involved in the shooting sports. I assume a large number of members here are 55+. Does every one of your grandkids have a firearm? If they are too young, their parents could keep them in the gunsafe until it's time to shoot.

Fathers, are you teaching your children how to shoot, and give them rifles/handguns/shotguns when they reach a certain age?

I let my NRA and GOA membership lapse but I will be signing up again and will eventually go for life member.

These are the things I am doing at the grassroots level to encourage not only more firearms ownership, but actually using those firearms instead of keeping them locked up.

What are YOU doing to help out?

(P.S. The wife is getting a Marlin 70 for xmas, so add one more gun owner to the national tally)
 
Fathers, are you teaching your children how to shoot, and give them rifles/handguns/shotguns when they reach a certain age?
Click to expand...

Yep! Bought all my children firearms. My oldest daughter (28) has a 20ga shotgun and a .22lr Marlin Model 60. My son (23) has a Ruger 10/22 a Ruger .22 single six, and two Remington 511 bolt actions. His twin sister (23) has a Ruger 22/45. All bought buy me. Four Grandkids two of which are getting to the age to start with a .22 rifle, maybe even summer of 2015.
 
My point is that the absolute best thing any of us can do is to get other people involved in the shooting sports.
Click to expand...

Truer words were never spoken my friend.

I work in an university environment where I meet a ton of undergrads,,,
Since my gun ownership and shooting is 95% recreational,,,
I simply invite lots of the kids to the range.

Honestly, I can't think of a better use for my guns,,,
Than to try and sponsor some interest in the young folk.
Click to expand...

Keep up the good work,,,
It's gratifying as all heck.

Aarond

.
 
While I don't have any children,I have taken both my nephews shooting many times,being responsible is key. It's great to see the love and tradition of firearms being passed down through generations. Helping to do my part as well. :)
 
My children aren't old enough yet, one isn't even born yet. But they will have the opportunity to shoot guns. If they are anything like me, then fhey'll like them. When my wife and I were dating she had never shot a gun. As long as my kids like it, I'm sure they will, we'll take several range trips. My dad only took once a year to make sure my rifle was sighted in for deer season. He'd shoot it once or twice and so did I. Dad only liked rifles. The only hunting we did was deer too. Well I like to shoot and it pained me to only shoot a few bullets a year. My kids won't have that issue. And hunting just deer got boring. I'm going to fix that with my kids. I'm also going to let them pick their guns out. Sure it will be price limited but I want them to have something they want, not something I picked out and they get stuck because I got it super cheap.
I appreciate what dad did but giving me a gun because it was basically free isn't exactly the best gun.
 
I have been able to take many of my nephews out for the first and many time after. What I have been doing lately is teaching reloading to friends that complain about the lack of ammo.
I would like to make one suggestion. Do not take them out as a group if its their first time. If it is there first time only take one at a time for the basics.
Having to many there at the same time can turn it from a lesion to a play time.
You need to have there undivided attention all the time your on the range.
I would suggest taking your wife out alone first then we can help when you take the younger ones.
 
Good idea on taking adults first. My sis actually may be open to going as well. She's never fired a gun either (our dad was a hippy and has never fired a gun. :o )
 
I have taught my sons to shoot and am now teaching my grandchildren. I also help teach Hunter Safety. I have taken many friends out shooting for the first time and like to think I may have introduced at least some of them, to a new hobby. I am not gonna break my arm patting myself on the back tho.
 
Taught most of my nephews how to shoot. Taught my neice how to shoot. Even have them walking a stick from 10 yards to 15 yards. They think it's a lot of fun. This Thanksgiving when they came up here, I gave them and my sister a refresher lesson. Day 2 was cut short because of the mud and the danger of slipping.
 
I'm proud to say I (for the most part) taught myself to shoot. The forum has certainly gave me all the information I could ever need, of course. Along with some outstanding members who've helped me along the way. :)
 
I have introduced my wife and all the kids. I would caution, that at the range, experienced shooters should equal or exceed inexperienced shooters.
 
When I am at the range, and people start looking at my guns, I will let that person shoot a burst of 3-5 rounds (no more than that number, for safety reasons). For almost all of them, it is their first full auto experience.

How can we expect to repeal Hughes if the vast majority of gun enthusiasts have never shot full auto?

Shooting a belt fed or an MP5 is one of the top shooting experiences, IMO, and most people will never know them.

People must know what Hughes has taken from them.
 
This Mother, a certified NRA Instructor and RSO, has taught her, now teenage, son how to shoot safely and accurately and he enjoys his time on the range.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top