The Firearm User Network has been in a state of metamorphosis since its inception.
Originally, I started HunterShooter (then called Hunter’s Shooting Association, or HSA) and was looking to create a tiny (about 2000-3000 folks), somewhat elite group of shottists focused on field marksmanship.
Membership would be open to anyone, but the only hunters likely to be interested are those with similar interests. Member and club information was managed in a simple desktop database application and through a 24 page quarterly newsletter. The complete information to actually participate and setup events was published in a 108 page Instruction Manual.
I soon learned a few things the hard way.
In order to sign up 2000 folks as active, card-carrying members I’d have to figure out a way to get the word out several times to at least a quarter million potentially interested people.
Consider the NRA, with a $100 million annual budget, 130 years of experience and four million members. They haven’t figured out a way to create a shooting event that attracts more than 50,000 participants, a scant 1.25% of the members who pay to receive NRA literature.
The gun industry as a whole has little intention of doing anything to motivate the majority of end users (gun owners) to become skilled, or just competent, with their firearms. Of the 130+ publishers and shooting/hunting companies and organizations I initially contacted with the notion of organized shooting events for big game hunters, I could count on one hand the number who even bothered responding (and I wasn’t even begging for money!)
Admittedly, this operation was small potatoes then, but there isn’t any interest to do this anywhere else. The problem isn’t that they wouldn’t promote HunterShooter/HSA; the problem is they wouldn’t promote anything that will motivate the rank-and-file venison fetcher to get more range time in.
In an attempt to rectify this situation, I penned a couple articles and submitted to American Hunter and American Rifleman magazines. The articles were to inform the NRA membership about NRA programs that can help hunters, namely Sporting Rifle and the Marksmanship Qualification Program. I made no mention of HunterShooter or any non-NRA program.
However, despite the fact I’m a Life Member, the editor rejected the queries because
“Unfortunately, that subject just doesn’t fit in well with the mix of articles we are planning for the next year’s issues of the magazine, so we can’t encourage you to try it for us.”
It isn’t my lousy skills as a writer that were rejected, because the editors never looked at the manuscript. They rejected the notion of promoting their own programs to the big game hunters among their membership because “…that subject just doesn’t fit in well…”
Seriously, WTF?
I’ve been running things in a “monkey see, monkey do” fashion, modeling this program after all other shooting programs and that was a huge mistake. History has proven that even the best shooting programs are dismal failures. A bold statement? Consider that organized marksmanship outdates baseball and football and compare which entity is a failure or success.
Some time ago I went to attend a High Power match. I had never been to this particular range before, so when I arrived in a nearby town I stopped at a gas station for directions. Not a single person living and working ten miles from that range had even heard of it, including a thirty-something who told me, “Look, buddy, I’ve lived in this town all my life and I don’t know where you’re talking about.” This wasn’t the first or last time I’ve experienced this.
Anti-Gun attitudes are a symptom of the gun industry’s inability to promote events. Gun owners remain largely unaware of shooting opportunities.
Doug
Nov 27, 2009 @ 05:25:54
I’m in my mid-50s and purchased my first hunting rifle about 2 years ago. As mandated by NH, I took a hunter eduction course and am in my 2nd year hunting (no deer yet). I’m the kind of person who enjoys learning so I spent a lot of time looking for places to learn to shoot. The local shooting range has lots of shooting events, but no instruction. The NRA offers Basic Rifle, but infrequently and never closer than 2 hours from where I live. The most recent course listed at the NRA site is for a town that doesn’t exist and at the ‘Jolliday Inn’. Maybe I’m being an elitist but I’d kind of like to know that an instructor was able to spell before I hand over $200.
I’ve purchased several books on marksmanship. They spend a ton of time discussing ballistics and then devolve into ‘hold still when you squeeze the trigger’.
I ran across your blog during my search for marksmanship/shooter training. When you teach, you teach well. You just don’t teach very often; I’m not interested in the politics of gun rights or high non specific guidance; I’d like to know how to shoot better.
OK, then. Here’s what I take away from all of this. Shooting is easy. To kill a deer, you need to be able to put lead inside an 8″ circle from whatever distance you’re likely to be shooting.
So, I’ve set up a small range on my land, purchased a .17 air gun, a couple of .22′s, and my .270 and spend time working on hitting what I aim at as if I were hunting (ie I use bracing as well as off-hand shooting).
Is this the best way to go? No, but it’s the best I can do for now.
Re the NRA. You DO understand that the NRA is a political organization, right? They’re interested in politics and lobbying first and ‘things for the gun owner’ last (waaaay last)
Keep up your good work; I very much appreciate what you’re doing and look forward to your posts. If you’re ever in NH, I’ll buy you a beer and we can go to my ‘range’ for some shooting.
John Buol
Dec 05, 2009 @ 09:28:25
>> So, I’ve set up a small range on my land, purchased a .17 air gun, a couple of .22’s, and my .270 and spend time working on hitting what I aim at as if I were hunting (ie I use bracing as well as off-hand shooting). Is this the best way to go? No, but it’s the best I can do for now.
I would argue that this IS the best way to go, and you are clearly putting more thought and logic into your shooting and hunting than most. The sad thing is, your effective approach is rare.
>> When you teach, you teach well. You just don’t teach very often
You’re right. Pointing out flaws and oversights of other organizations is less effective than just setting up and running something better.