shooting range folks...

[latakia77]

Is it common for regular shooters, (by "regular" I mean frequent, league-type shooters,) to be, shall I say, Christian Right Crusaders?

I have been involved with competitive shooting since 6. I have shot with a pretty wide assortment, (muzzleloaders, smallbore rifle, highpower, longrange blackpowder, metallic silhouette, air pistol, and cowboy action.) In the last four years, though, I haven't felt comfortable with the people at the local ranges. I can't avoid the subject of religion while shooting with them. Those guys even send me emails concerning legislation about gay marriage, abortion, local donations to churches, and how to be a better Christian. In all of my past experience, this was not the case. We discussed guns, technique, gear, the weather, and other day-to-day BS. Any call or email was friendly and personal first, and then business of the club if it needed to be addressed. The range here is one of the most uncomfortable places I have ever been. (They also shoot at the easiest NRA targets ever printed instead of the more difficult international targets, which I believe makes them pansies, but I digress.)

I shoot with my brother at cowboy action matches in Baton Rouge, Louisianna every few years. These folks pray before the match, before their meal, and before they hand out the awards in thanks of a safe shoot. They asked me about my religous beliefs, and I replied that I do not attend church, nor have any interest in doing so. They leave it at that, and get back to the business at hand of throwing lead and complaining that the gumbo was to runny. Great people. I have always left feeling as though I was welcome, and I will gladly come back next time.

I really miss shooting twice a week. I was at my best, felt the most calm, and had that sense of being centered, if you know what mean. It helped define me. I have tried to get the same out motorcycling, but it just isn't the same process.

I've got to get back into it, but I just can't stand to be around these guys. Any suggestions? (And no, I don't have enough room in my house to shoot. I used to do that when I lived alone, though.)

Thanks.

Glen

[Paper]

Edited, and moved on...

[yjleesvrr]

I live in the so-called Bible Belt as well as the state in which the NRA is headquartered. Given that gun toters and religious types generally vote Republican, you may be on to something.

While I am a Christian as well as a firearms enthusiast, I never considered either to be related. I mean, I don't think Jesus would carry a gun if He walked the earth in the flesh today. I do notice however in rural areas that many Christians are among the anti-government fanatics you often see on TV.

In having said that, I've never seen anyone pray at the range I frequent. The only discomfort I ever feel is when I see somebody not following safe handling practices when it comes to their firearms.

[xaque]

I will agree with you...

I have a firearm for work, and routinely go to the range to make sure that I am sharp.

Luckily my employer has private ranges for us, but I have noticed what you describe. I consider myself a liberal but the vast majority of fellow shooters I have interacted with have been from the right... very right in some cases.

I used to be active in some on-line shooting forums, but I have since ceased my postings. Too often I was running into "anti-liberal" this, and "those damn good-for-nothing French" that. I enjoy shooting, but I don't do it for political or religious commentary.

When the conversations go that direction, I just shut up. If I can I leave and find another conversation. If they ask me about my beliefs, I'm honest with them... and they tend to loose interest in what I have to say. You mentioned that this happens with you anyway.

Hmm... after all that, and I don't really have anything to say. Oh well, you get my drift.


-Xaque-

[FGanger]

latakia77,

I lived four years in Kentucky (the Bible Belt) and went to shooting events every weekend. I've never seen what you described.

I have seen and experienced what Paper reports. You just may be "lucky.":roll:

Frank

[latakia77]

Frank-- Yeah, that's it, I'm "lucky." How dare I look down upon God's children for hounding me to follow them to the "Northern Plains Gay-bashing Jamboree and Homosexual Turkey Shoot"?! Forgive my sick humor, I'M KIDDING!

Xaque-- I checked out a few of those shooter's forums, too. I was looking for intelligent discussion about perfecting practice and what I found was a lot of guys with a very disturbing sniper fantasy and camoflage fetish, (not that there's anything wrong with a camo fetish..)

Yong-- Amen.

I am getting the impression you guys think I'm crazy concerning the prayer before and after the shoot. I swear it happened!

Paper-- I very much respect sporting clays. That just looks like an entire weekend of disappointment waiting to happen

[xaque]

Paper-- I very much respect sporting clays. That just looks like an entire weekend of disappointment waiting to happen

Yeah... that's my problem. Those clays never break when I shoot them... must have been a bad batch.

As far as the praying. I've never witnessed this, but I believe you saw it. I don't attend large group shoots or other events... so I wouldn't be likely to see it anyway.

I just mind my own business.

-Xaque-

[Shaman]

While I never understood praying before stuff that is not in all likelihood going to kill you, I dont mind other people doing it as long as it does not slow things down a terrible bit.

I just find it a bit conceited of oneself to think that a God (insert your own here) that allows famine, Disease, and natural disasters, will really intervene in whether or not you accomplish your (insert hobby) well. What makes one lucky enough to have him/her turn their face to you and guide your bullet true.

I don't mean to be anti-religious, I just wonder this from a more humble perspective I guess. And to be honest, even if I were ultra religious, I think I would want to give even an omniscient being a break and let him/her take his/her time on more important things than most of my petty wants.

I feel blessed that my child is in good health, that my wife is wonderful, and that we are living in relative comfort. Since those things have been provided, I'll try and make due on my own for the most part with the rest of the daily routine and he/she can use my share of 'wishes' on someone in more 'real' need than myself.

[Biff's R]

I pray before every shot.

I pray that I blow that damn clay pigeon back to where it came from.

I also pray that I hit at least 20 out of 50 in sporting clays. 20-25 can be classified as a bad round, but less than 20 and you tend to catch hell for a while.


BUT those type of prayers are the only ones that I have ever seen at a shooting range.

[Paper]

Edited, and moved on...

[Pat]

Whoa, they be praying bunches......!
I can bow my head outa respect for those who invited me to their table.....
I suppose I can do the same if I'm sharing company with a gang-o-folk who like to pray before.... whatever.

- but -

....whoa. That's a world I'm unaccustomed to visiting on a regular basis.

If they can take to me as easily as I would choose to respect their little praying routine, then I suppose there would be no problems. But if they start to pressing me to find out how I might agree or disagree with their general philosophies....... I'm gonna hafta thank 'em, tell them that it's been fun, and excuse myself from their cult.

Shooting's one thing, but don't use it as a vehicle to persuade me over to the popular mind-set among the folk. If they ain't a-try'n to recruit me into their ooga booga, I might consider it all good!

Must be a cultural thang thar....

Hey! Anybody got a need for holsters & belts for PPC 'L' frame, 1911 4" w/compensator Action Match, inside the pants concealed carry 'J' frame, Duty competition 1911....... and 'stuff'?
Been cleaning my garage & happened upon this stuff that I used when I had a 34" (or bigger) waist.

I would love to get back into competition, but I've since taken up beer brewing, then it was photography, then back into motorcycles (again)...... I'm a "has been" anymore in soooo many things. Now I'm a home owner and trying to do a little Martha Stewarting......

[gelbe Kulter]

I know of at least two people around here that attend paranoid Baptist churches where they urge the members to keep a gun in every room and bury a case of ammo in the yard in case the government comes for them. That's just the tip of the iceberg with those guys.

[wncbmw]

I have never seen that in NC at the private indoor range or outdoor gun club range. I suggest you find some other ranges if it makes you uncomfortable.

I just silently pray that my old eyes can magically bring that front sight back in focus!

Never heard of churches urging people to bury ammo either around here! Not that it might not be a bad idea!

[jonothan]

Sadly, it's the nature of the sport. It attracts those kind of people.

Before the new gun laws came out here (after the Dunblane Massacre), gun clubs were very common. But having visited a couple of clubs with friends who enjoyed the sport, it became very evident, just like you say, that they were frequented by some pretty strange people, some with a very odd and quite alarming mindset.

Whatever the hobby, there are certain types of people, with whom you have nothing in common with except for that leisure pursuit. One exception that I've found is motorcycles. The other? Scuba diving.

Now gun clubs here in the UK are almost outlawed to the point of extinction but it is as easier than ever, or so I've heard, to buy just about any firearm on the black market.

As you guys say, go figure.

Jonothan

[rph802]

I'm not an avid shooter, only been a few times in my life but growing up in VT, if you dont have guns, you know folks who do.

Last time I went was with a co-worker at the time. Knew the guy from work, nice enough fellow, worked hard and was almost always very plesant. We met up at a local Dunkin Donuts and went to his gun clubs shooting range. Boy did I get a shock when I jumped in his truck. Hanging off the rear view was a Madonna (religous icon not the pop star!!) and a Glock in the center console!!! WHOA BOY!! That threw me more than a little.

He brought most all of his guns with him that day. Fired a .357 Magnum for the first time!! Loved that kick!! Also had a 12 guage, Glock and Beretta 9mm and best of all was the AK-47. Very cool toy!!

Craig

[fnfalman]

It takes all kinds. But "generally" speaking, shooters tend to be more "conservative" type. But there are plenty of those who aren't either. I'm not a holy roller, nor am I a liberal. I have shooting buddies who are hard core Klintonizers and hard core Bushbots.

It takes all kinds.

[Ansink66]

latakia77:
Christian Rights Crusaders...I guess you’re talking about some kind of extreme Christian religious group. For as far I know, we don’t have anything like that in the Netherlands. But (according to news reports) there are some small Moslems groups in the Netherlands who have a radical religious point of view. So far I never have encountered any of them on any of the shooting ranges I visited here in Holland. This is not really surprising since it’s hard to get a firearm licence in Holland. Firearm licences are only given out to those whom are active in gun sports. Licenses requested for other purposes, like for self-defence, will be denied.

jonothan:
What has happened after the Dunblane Massacre in the UK is something I sincerely hope will never happen in the Netherlands.
Recently that scenario came very close when there was an incident involving a member of a gun club.
A Dutch politician decided to come down hard on the (legal and registered) gun owners in order to bring down the crime rate involving firearms. Completely ignoring the fact that the firearms used in crimes are usually illegal and not registered!
Thank goodness we do have an organisation like the NRA in the Netherlands called the “Koninklijke Nederlandse Schutters Associatie” (KNSA) that was powerful enough to prevent a similar situation like the one in the UK from occurring.


Cheers,
Emile
Taurus PT 101 (.40 S&W)
Walther GSP (.32 S&W long and .22lr)