Is Shooting a Dieing Hobby?

[Mikem]

I use the word Hobby, as I doubt to many of us make a living at BR or any other discipline of shooting.
Around our club the average age of the members is slowly getting older, it seams to me that as time goes on, there are fewer and fewer young shooters.
Back when I was just a kid, there were lots of gun safety and shooting programs just for kids. And guns didnt have a bad connotation like it does with some people today.
I know of no statistics on this subject, so its just a feeling that it may be a sad sign of the times.
Is shooting growing or in decline per capita, what do you think?
Mike..

 

[JamesnTN]

From hearing others speak it seems it is the short range matches are seeing a drastic drop in attendance and with insurance as it is for clubs more and more are closing as well.

Sadly one day I'm afraid the UN will also get there way and we will be a firearm free country as well. Just hope I'm long gone before it does happen.

 

[M700]

Best thing we can all do is pitch in and get kids involved in safe shooting. My two boys have grown up shooting, handloading and hunting. They've brought along friends who have learned from me and my shooting buddies. I've hosted the whole doggone Boy Scout troop at "my" police range several times and have taught the rifle shooting merit badge several times as well.

What are you doing to bring young shooters into the sport?

 

[JamesnTN]

sad to say sems kids now days wish to play video games or run around acting like hoodlums so to speak. Yes there are the few good ones but seems the problem with alot of kids now days is the system is trying to teach them that firearms are bad. If you write an essay about hunting or firearms or the 2nd ammendment you get sent to the principles office and counceled about how bad they are.

If we don't take back control of our system it's going to get alot worse.

 

[mikecr]

Varmint hunting is surely on the rise.
These are younger shooters, it's less inhibited by old rules, and they have no need for a club.
A 'sniper' crowd, that target shoot in the field.

I've taken my son to matches, but he dislikes formal shooting. It doesn't make sense to him..
But he'd cross many fence lines to kill a varmint. And he likes reloading.

 

[Mikem]

James, I never thought about the school essay thing, but your right. With schools the way they are today they would freak, and counsel them at best. If they didnt call in the calvary and search your house.
Mike..

 

[steveyrock]

Just look what kids are doing with guns in schools these days and I fear there is not going to be an end to it.

Society has changed and that has brought a culture of thugs and misfits that see firearms as a way to make a statement about there discontent.This mentality is what will put an end to gun ownership.

 

[Forum Boss]

Out here in Southern California the problem isn't, directly at least, a lack of interest. The problem is restrictive political control. The local City Council/county supervisor types are restricting hours, closing ranges. Then you've got the folks in Sacramento making it harder every year to purchase fire-arms or reloading components.

Within a 50-mile radius of my house, in the last three years, two indoor and two outdoor ranges have closed. Three gunshops have closed, one is in the midst of a "going out of business sale".

The primary source for reloading stuff in SoCal went out of business last year.

We have young kids,scouts in particular) who want to learn to shoot but that's not going to happen if the local rimfire ranges are closed.

 

[armabill]

From what I can see, shooting is not a dieing hobby.

My son hunts and target shoots with me. We belong to 4 gun clubs.
Each one has something different to offer.

Hunters Ed. course at my closest gun club is always filled.

So far only one gun club closed in my area but that was very privately owned and suffered from neglect.

 

[rstreich]

...I've taken my son to matches, but he dislikes formal shooting. It doesn't make sense to him..
But he'd cross many fence lines to kill a varmint. And he likes reloading.

I was pretty indifferent when I went to my first rifle match while I was in the Army. Then the buddy that lured me there sat me down to watch bullet traces out of M-16s at 400 yards. After that I was hooked. Even though I knew exactly what was happening, to witness that bullet describing that wide arc,windy day) and still coming down in the center of the target time and time again,depending on the shooter of course) fascinated the hell out of me.

Just a thought,

robert

 

[Mikem]

I'm sure there are thousand of examples of guys teaching there kids gun safety and shooting, even reloading, but this is a shooting forum, and lets face it, were all at least a little bias about shooting.

I wonder what the thoughts and opinions are of the general public, or on some forum about how to raise your kids.

Remember I said per capita, that means we need a lot more new young shooters every year, just to stay even, or where we are now, and I doubt that were holding our own.

Schools and there representatives are not on our side, in general, so there no help, neither are City's, and States.

I hate this expression, but, Guns are not "politically correct" now days, over all.
Unfortunately.
But I hope I'm wrong.
Mike..

 

[mikecr]

Anyone with sense understands self defense weapons. But I'm thinkin that in todays public perspective, there is no more need for long guns than crossbows or canons.

They see assault weapons as useless, but dangerous. If they were exposed to BR guns, varmint rifles, or tactical toys, they would think much the same.
These 50cal,and now a 20mm) rifles jeopardize the future of Benchrest/long range type rifles. And let's face it, they cross a line of reason in the view of normal people out there. So the anti-gun crowd will embrace this 'war on terror'. You watch.

Kids will be no more concerned about it than most others out there. Eventual generations will never know what shooting and possessing guns was about. Just as they won't understand times when people smoked cigarettes.

Times a changin

 

[ballistic64]

I hate this expression, but, Guns are not "politically correct" now days, over all.

Your right Mike and it just goes to show how easy the mass news media can brainwash the general public into believing that the 2nd most important right,that was handed to them on a silver platter)they'll ever have is better left to the government entities to protect and serve us.Theyve also successfully vilianized the one organization that has been the greatest watchdog of the 2nd Amendment,the NRA.
Most uniformed people with no exposure to guns believe just that.Its easier and safer to dial 911 on thier cell phone.The bias news media coverage of firearms,they have never once mentioned that the basic right of self,family and home preservation is tied deeply into the heart of the 2nd Amendment.The general public also doesnt realize that once lost,that these rights wont be brought back by a simple vote at the election machine.
I have a bad feeling of our next presidential election,and if a certain senator from NY or the likes of her ilk is elected,God help us all if this country has to be defended.

Sorry for the rant a little off topic.I hope Im wrong but I think the handwriting is on the wall.

On the positive side of this post there are some programs in our schools,but not nearly enough) that dont vilianize firearms such as the NRAs Eddy Eagle gun safety program.I also believe some schools have incorporated trap shooting programs that students get credit for,not actually held at the school).All in all,kids being introduced to the shooting sports is done more on a family level than anything I believe.In our area also,as was posted above) if you want your child to attend a gun or archery safety course you may have enroll them ahead of time as these classes fill very fast.There is also a rimfire competition program held by a local gun club at the Nat'l Guard firing range for teens.They are trying to fund thier own range but as usual its an uphill battle.
If we as gun owners manage to survive the legislative onslaught thats going to come in the near future,I believe that a greater number of people will have to become involved in shooting sports in order for it to survive over the long haul.

 

[dreever]

What I fear is that we have a Democratic House, Senate, and next a President and have another horrible incident like a school massacre will occur.
You'll see legislation passed in record time, and then that will be that. Confiscation. There is already enough of a paper trail for them to find you.
And don't think that some of the anti gun factions wouldn't orchestrate just such an incident. Sacrifice a few for the good of all. It's been done before. Think not? Look at history.

 

[JamesnTN]

They can't get what they can't find.........

I'm sorry but I will go to my Grave before I turn over my saftey to some guy hired to supposibly protect me.

 

[steveyrock]

Man this thread is really getting depressing but confiscation I believe is coming in some form.

The golden era of firearms I fear has passed and is no longer viewed as honerable hobby or necessity for people even living in rural areas.

The non shooting parts of society just don't tolerate it like they used to.Many of that generation have died off and the new ones figure if they don't need a gun why should we.

 

[JamesnTN]

Unless we stand up and chage the way Taechers and the media protrat firearms and get kids more involved in saftey and hunting of firearms you are right.

Too many people do just as we are here moan and bitch about it but yet don't take an extra hr a week to help the kids growing up learn and cherish what our fathers handed down to us.
What is it going to take to regain common sense and stand up for whats right in this country?

I like to ask for those of you living in other countries besides the US.....

Would your country change it's laws and schools to if us americans came over and bitched about being desciminated against because you teach or believe in another religion than what we would?
Would they make it law that if you do contract work for the govt you had to hace someone tere to speak the english language?
Would they hold back kids in shools learning so that american children can that live in your country can comprehend just partially of whats being taught?
will they stop prayer at any sport event because an American thought it violated there cival rights?
I could write and ask all night long how our system and the USA has bowed to the liberals and illegals in this country and taken from us that work to provide for them.

 

[StephenPerry]

Shooters
From the positive side. The volunteer armed services seems to be putting a positive spin on the purpose of guns. That is to defend our troops and destroy our perceived enemies. I don't feel we have had that feeling among the general public since WW11. Just received a file of Pearl Harbor Dec 7 photos that is going around the Country. Everybody in the free World should have this photo series. Lest we forget what a real terrorist action looks like.
I say fight fight fight and reload and fight some more. Actually in our Sport, short range BR, numbers are going up overall. On the National level the last few Nats have set attendance records especially in UNL competition. In our SW Region level Angeles will replace the Program we lost at San Gabriel. Sacramento coming on board several years ago with short and long range BR is great. Visalia and Phoenix are steady. Reno and the 2 Utah Ranges, new in the last 10 years, pretty well covers our SW Region.
Stephen Perry

 

[steveyrock]

JamesnTN
I agree totally but,and I don't mean to open a can of worms here but it is factual and something to consider.

Have you seen or heard of the prospected growth or decline in each of the prodominant races in the US within the next century?

if not do a little research,they ARE NOT the target shooting,sportsmen, hunter,ect that will be the majority at some point.This is a factor I would think in the fight to keep and bear arms.

add to that the millions of illegals that they will never do anything about and what do you got????? This ever increasing sector of the population SURE ARN'T WORRIED ABOUT GUNS FOR TARGET SHOOTING.

 

[mikecr]

I'm not suggesting anythings wrong with 50cals, or any other toys. What I'm saying is that normal, everyday folks, would not naturally see them as rational possessions. They would have to be convinced of it...And good luck.

Drop the tailgate and slide one out in public. Ask each passerby what they think about shooting enthusiasts having and shooting these. You'll get between "There ain't no reason for anyone to have guns like that", and "Cool.. Can you shoot through walls with it?"
Neither is good for us.

These guns can too easily be touted as a threat, and fear sells like candy. What other guns will fall victom to their banning? Well, all kinds of 'longe range weapons' fit the profile.
It's just as crazy an 'assault weapons' ban. Right? I lost my Benelli to that one.

I think sometimes it's appropriate to throw the pack a bone.
To give the public a little confidence in us as reasonable and self controlling. And I think the NRA should publicly distance itself from 50+cals to do just that.
If NRA led a proposed a ban on them, they might gain ownership of it, and actually foster public support! Has that ever happened?
I'm as pro-gun as anyone. But I've been around long enough to see our direction. Popular or not.