Is the end in sight?

[Mikem]

Do you think the sport/hobby of shooting is on its way out?
I say this, because, it seams to me there are less and less kids and young people starting out in this hobby, computers are not required, and its hard to talk on a cell phone on the firing line. Gun laws are tightening in most states. Its becoming harder to build new ranges, and leases on land now being used as ranges are starting to run out. Some older ranges are having the towns moving in around them, then trying to force them to move or close. Its even getting much harder to find places in the boondocks to shoot or hunt.
Even the name Gun "anything", is starting to have negative connotations to more, and in more places, like all schools.
I hope im wrong, but whats your cristal ball tell you?
I'm not talking about this happening next year, but down the road 20, 30 or 50 years from now, I wonder what the shooting hobby and industry will look like then.
I do think some states will hold out longer than others. And some of us wont live to see it. But..... :'(
Care to comment?
Mike.

 

[CJ6]

Mike, I don't know .I teach Firearm Saftey in Minn. We have 2 classes a year 1 in the spring and 1 in the fall. When I started we had maybe 25-30 students per class ,now we get around 70-80 per class. I've been doing this for quite a few years in a town of about 22,000 so in our area I think it's picking up. Granted alot of the shooting they do is hunting (Phea,ducks,deer,smallgame,turkey).We are also seeing more girls/women taking the classes almost 1/2 the class(even a 73 yr old Grand Ma ;D).

 

[Gearheadpyro]

I don't think that the shooting sports are dying out, but I haven't been that involved in them for long.

I for one am looking to keep the shooting industry thriving. I'm fairly young comparitively, but myself and all of my buddies of similar age are shooters. I am doing all I can to keep the shooting sports alive. I take many new people out to the range with me to teach them what I know about safe, enjoyable shooting. I've even convinced a few older people (like my once very anti-gun grandma) that guns aren't all bad. I think we are brimming with new hope and fresh people, now if we can only get some more progunners elected.

Hunting is a little bit different, I could see it being diminished. Most people my age are much too fast paced to sit for hours waiting for a deer.

 

[Rust]

If you go back to publications forty years back, there was nothing like what is available today. Over a dozen custom action makers, over a dozen quality barrel makers, dozens of custom 1911 shops, several quality stock makers, dozens of custom AR shops, best match brass ever, lots of match bullet makers, more powders than ever.

And matches? F/TR and F Open were not around back then, thousand yard matches and ranges were pretty much non existant except for the classics like Perry. IPSC/USPSA. SASS, Speed Steel, and 3 gun matches where all non existant.

In terms of equipment, quality custom work, matches, information etc, things are better now than they have ever been. Yeah, vigilance at the ballot box is a must, and I still note that the NRA is still the only organization bringing gun cases to court on constitutional grounds which is why if you are reading this and not supporting the NRA, or if you don't like the way things operate in the NRA and are not actively working for change the NRA you shouldn't be complaining or worrying about anything.

Me, life member.

You?

 

[SS427]

Interesting observation Mike. Sure seems like I see less interest in guns among younger people, but on the other hand I tend to run with the old geezers now, so maybe I'm just not seeing the young ones who are invovled. At our club we have quite a few young people shooting, but it doesn't seem like as many as when I was a kid hanging out at the gun club. But again, that could be my persepective.

Gun sales are at an all time high. Would be interesting to hear some demographic statistics as to who is buying them, but I doubt the Feds keep those kinds of records.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Otter: My bet is that the biggest majority of the guns that were sold recently are because the folks were afraid that the present administration was going to put a ban on gun sales. Think about the availability of ammo and primers. It was pretty tight for quite a while. Looks like it has loosened up more now.
Computers, cell phones, IPods, video games etc. have taken over any spare time the younger folks have. You can't go anywhere without seeing someone with a cell phone glued to the side of their head.
If you use your cell phone for business, that's a different story. There has to be an interest in the shooting sport to make any difference.
And in California, the laws are getting tighter. Numbers stamped on the fired brass?? Passed the bill but the technology isn't there yet. How stupid is that? Not sure where the sport will go but it doesn't look to promising.

 

[Steve Blair]

I live in San Diego, Mike. This state is an anomaly. Gun sales have actually been rising for the last decade while crime has declined. Both could be symptoms of an aging demographic, but I see a lot of young shooters at our ranges. We have a large Marine Corps presence in San Diego and that could skew our numbers. Many service personnel are also shooters or hunters and they have served in large numbers in recent years.

Many states have passed concealed carry laws, rescinded contiguous-state sales laws and the Governor of Montana thumbed his nose at the BATF.

It does not look like all doom and gloom to me. You can help to insure the future by joining and supporting the NRA. As Rust said, "Life member. You?"

 

[NorCalMikie]

Part of being a member of our Gun Club is being a member of the NRA. Both work together.
We have a big group of "young" Trap shooters so at least they're into something besides video games. But if their folks arn't into shooting, it won't get pass down to them. And our range is surrounded by newer homes. When the home is bought the folks sign a statement stating that they know there's a shooting range close by. Still getting law suits trying to close down the range.
Lucky for us the local DA is a member of the club, plus all the Sheriff, local Police and the CHP shoot and practice there. Along with Fish and Game and the Probation department. And I think the range has a 99 years lease that won't be up till 2050??

 

[squirrelduster]

Kalifornia is a different place than when I grew up in the 60's.
The new administration has helped new gun sales but in this state the antigun and lawsuit crowd put a serious crimp in shooting ranges.
I live in northern California and we have one local range that charges 10 bucks a day allows everyone in. Some of the stuff you see is scary, the guy with a bore sighter in the barrel with the hammer back, or the guy that tells his wife to just shoot the damn thing and she splits open her forehead. Off to the hospital for stitches.
A guy I know is trying to set up a new range with up to 1000 yard capability and has had nothing but trouble. I would love to see a range within an hour or so drive that has long range capability with a trap range. I believe if you could get the financing and the permits it would be a moneymaker.
I think there are a lot of young people in the area that would be interested in trap shooting or some precision rifle classes or competitions.
One way to get more people involved is to provide additional places to shoot with some competitive venues in a safe regulated environment. Keep out the riffraff and people would want to bring their wife and kids.

 

[StraightPipes]

Our young people are easily programmed in todays world. Get them up off their back sides and drag them outside! Too many "shooting" type video games. Put something real in their hands!

"Project Appleseed"

 

[fdshuster]

Because of states recognizing and accepting neighboring states concealed carry permits, we are now able to drive from Pennsylvania to Florida, and legally carry a concealed firearm, while traveling thru each state. Until about a year ago, this was not possible. Yes, I realize this is not possible when states like New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, etc. are in the "middle", but these same states, for the most part, do not even permit their own residents to carry concealed, so I'd not expect them to permit "outsiders" to carry. I believe that is the reason you will never see a "National Carry Concealed Permit". What does the future hold? Who knows. I'm very skeptical about someone who can predict the future.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Our gun club is "Members and guests of Members Only". The place is clean and well kept.
A pleasure to be there. The only "public" area to shoot looks like a land fill. Trash all over the place. Took a ride up there one morning and some dumb $hit had set the shooting bench on fire. You don't want that type of person in your gun club. The Members have pride in the range.
We open it up to the public for Turkey shoots. That way they get a taste of what it would be like to shoot on a "good" range. We've picked up a few members that way. Hunter Safety and CCW classes going all the time. Some that take the classes have joined the club. Not too many other places that are safe to shoot. The Pistol range has IDPA as well as Cowboy Action shoots. Mostly older guys are involved but a few have wondered over to see what were shooting on the rifle range. A few of the folks bring their kids so some of the youngsters are getting into rifle and shotgun shooting. At least they're out in the fresh air. Might get a few converts that way??
All we can do is hope for the best. As far as having a CCW in our County, If you pass the background test, you're in.

 

[Mikem]

Just one of California's gun problems is, limited reciprocity with other states concerning CCW, Calif is so strict, unless other states meet our standards, we wont except there CCW, so they retaliate and wont except ours. I think Calif excepts about 20 other states.
And its vary different from County to County, my County is small, about 180K but its physically a large county, and we have about 1 in 10 with CCWs. But look at San Francisco Co. About 1 million people, and only 11 CCWs, and most of them belong to politicians, like Dianne Feinstein (D) and Barbara Boxer (D) I know you know who they are. Both big anti gunner's, but they have CCWs, D.F. also has a 357 mag, go figure.
And now we have to sign and give a thumb print, plus DL # to buy hand gun ammo, (I wonder if D.F. has to sign for her 357) good thing I reload.
Mike.

 

[mongochicago]

As a former firearms instructor for the Chicago Police Dept. I share your concern. I left the range about 3 years ago, and you would be shocked at the lack of firearms experience. The majority of police recruits have NEVER even touched a firearm previously. Many are outright afraid of it. And a surprising number state that they wish they didn't have to have one. It is very difficult to teach someone who really doesn't want to learn.

 

[Rustystud]

MikeM:

Kids today are more urban than rural and even the rural kids are playing video games and not shooting real firearms or hunting.

Our culture is moving away from the shooting mentality. This is helped along with our media and liberal educators.

The North Carolina Sportsmans Aliance tried to get a book A Family Goes Hunthing written by Dorthy Henshaw in every middle school in North Carolina. It is very well written and intended for the middle school aged child. Weh had multiple Media Specialist refuse to shelve the books after they were given to the schools. This is pure sensorship.

If you go to a Benchrest match it is made up of a bunch of old farts who may or may not on any given day have their grandson or grand daughter along.


Looking at the Long Range aand Service rifle shooter discplines there are a few young shooters shooting Service Rifle and F-Class.

Another barometer to the decline in youth shooters is the decline in hunting license sales.

Yes, we should be concerned and try to do something about it.

Nat Lambeth

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I consider myself fairly young, early 30's, and I enjoy the shooting hobbies. I hunt, shoot paper and thoroughly enjoy myself. I know of others in my age group that enjoy the same. Some more enthusiastic than myself and some alot less but, none the less the sport is alive. My nephew, 19 yrs. old, will be getting introduced to the hobby here as soon as the weather breaks here in SW Michigan.

The biggest problem, that I can see, is the liberal do gooders that some how some way got elected to represent us. These "idiots" try to push through lesgislation that a fair cross section of the American public neither wants or needs. They do this under the disguise that they're representing their constituency when in all actuality all they're trying to do is take away the American publics ability to defend themselves agains the "tyrants"! I am in the process of getting a CCW. People ask me why and I tell them, because I can. They need no further explanation. Some people in this country need to hear a loud pop, that being their head coming out of their ass, and see what is really going on! Thanks!

Mike

 

[katokoch]

I think it's safe to say that at 20, I'm probably in the group of people we're talking about. I'm old enough to buy anything but a handgun and can easily get myself to ranges, matches, etc.

You'd be surprised as to how many people my age want to go shooting. Not for the sake of just blowing stuff up like in a video game, but to learn how to shoot a gun or simply experience it. Most of us aren't as careless or stupid as you would think so you don't need to worry about that.

Just wondering why young people aren't participating won't do anything... If you know of a younger person that is curious, just ask them if they want to go shooting. I can almost guarantee they would jump on it! I have taken alot of friends out shooting and both guys and girls enjoy it (actually I think girls are more curious!).

If you want to see more young shooters, the question isn't whether or not they will want to go shooting- the question is where they are.

 

[North Fork]

I think one of the big problems is money. You take a young man married with to kids it's pretty hard to explain to his wife why he is spending 4 or 5 thousand dollars on a gun and reloading equipment.And not home on weekends.

 

[katokoch]

I think one of the big problems is money. You take a young man married with to kids it's pretty hard to explain to his wife why he is spending 4 or 5 thousand dollars on a gun and reloading equipment.And not home on weekends.

No kidding. I'm in school and books for just one semester could cost as much as a new scope or lower end rifle. Money is definitely a big limitation.

 

[Mikem]

I just read a lot of good reasons, and some answers, and I can understand the money thing, so we need to help them at least get acquainted with the sport/hobby.
I have taken young kids 23 years old to the range, and that's a kid when your 66, I even instructed kids as young as 15 with there dad standing there, and I enjoyed it as much or more than they did. And when we were done, I gave them the target and an empty case, so they wont soon forget, and I dont think they will.

Our club has several programs for kids of various ages, there must be a minimum but I dont know what it is.

I started at 10 with a BB gun, at 13 I got my first real fire arm, a 22LR that I still have, and maybe that's where all should start, it also keeps the cost down. When your young, you dont need to start with a custom BR rifle and a loading bench.

I did live in the country as a kid, and do again, and I think that's a real plus for learning about guns over living in a big city today. And having a dad that shoots is also a big plus, so is just having a dad around.
This is something we all need to think about and try to get the opportunity to help young people enter in to our sport, America will be better for it.
Mike.