Parents,Grandparents-Are You Doing Your Part?

Many of us complain Trapshooting is dying but are we doing our part to keep it alive? It seems most of the shoots we attend are populated by the 50 yo plus age groups. I find it hard to believe so few older shooters don't have shooting age offspring that should be introduced to our favorite sport.

Anyone come up with some good excuses why they refuse to bring along those kids and get 'em shooting?

 

If I had sons or daughters with weird tattoos, nose rings, and/or spiked pink mohawks, I wouldn't take them anywhere, much less trap shooting. Do you think I'm being overly judgmental?

Besides, most of the really "with-it" kids have already moved to Colorado. They're just way too smart for us.

 

Dawg,

I think a lot of folks that shoot trap and have sons and daughters or nieces and nephews or grandsons and granddaughters have tried to introduce the shooting sports.

Sometimes however, the experience doesn't take. Whether it's introduced the wrong way or the experience just didn't peek the youngsters interest.

Sometimes the youngsters just don't want to try.
Sometimes the youngsters parents don't approve for 1 reason or another.
Sometimes the cost is prohibitive.
The ATA has somewhat tried with free memberships to gun clubs.
The popular mentality in this country towards firearms isn't helping.
Also there are many, many other types of entertainment and sports that are more attractive to the kids.

Some of us are lucky that our kids or grandkids or nieces and nephews do take to the shooting sports.

A big problem is our school system.
IMHO every school, public or private, should have some sort of a firearm safety class that every student has to take starting in 7th or 8th grade.

These are some of my thoughts gleaned from 10 years of coaching youth shooters and 45+ years of hunting and shooting.

 

Being that the sport has been turned into a sport of perfection what would you think would happen? Could be the kids are smarter than you think.? A youth shoot at the CC just had a 199 and a 200.

The sport is gone.... Removed in the mid 90's

Reading your posts I had you pegged at 11. Strange huh?

 

There is no refusing to bring them along, mine is not interested. The schools have poisoned most kids minds that guns are bad. The kids today lean more towards electronic devices, this is my observation over the years. I still ask them if they would like to go. Rick

 

Interesting response. Are you sure you're not being forceful enough, does your wife help or hinder the situation, did you wait much too late with their introduction to shooting sports, is your child a non-athlete, and do you put limits on computer play time?

Certainly, schools and their approach to firearm activities has evolved. Is that an appropriate reason to run off to a shoot and abandon the wife and kids? Have you encouraged your wife to take up shooting?

These questions are not directly solely to you but all of us in general!

 

Over the years I have introduced dozens of young kids and adults to our sport, I pay the fees and supply guns and shells for their first 100 targets! A very few of them still shoot sporadically, some just plain didn't like it, some enjoyed it but the cost was an issue. I believe 95% if they are truthful will tell you there is no point in participating in such an expensive, time consuming sport knowing they have almost NO CHANCE of winning or even competing will the big dogs with unlimited resources.
In the 45 years plus I have shot I have truly enjoyed it, looking back I believe that is because I just like to shoot. If I would have put a lot of value in winning or trinkets or even money I would have spent my time at something else!

 

Yes, I have introduced my wife and kids to the sport.
The wife didn't care for it.
Both of my sons have been shooting SCTP and AIM/ATA for 10 years.
I have introduced 12 other youngsters to our team over the years that still participate and a couple dozen others that didn't care for it.

I believe we all have tried. Some have been successful and some aren't.

We just have to keep trying.

 

As long as there a people goofy enough to say "just keep trying" there is no hope. Clueless statement.

Handicap system and target presentation was destroyed in the mid nineties.

Space Gun gets it. PumpgunBob wouldn't understand without 20 more clues.

 

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. Many of today's young mustangs just see the world through a very different prism. Golf, shooting, tennis, the one-man sports require way too much committment for this modern group who are just as happy sitting in Momma's basement playing video games. For them, fishing or sitting in a tree stand at 4:00 AM at 22 degrees and flurries just isn't their cut of tea. Does the term "Girly Men" ring a familiar note? I guess the good news is that there are still enough young Americans who are willing to volunteer to protect our freedoms in places like Ramadi and Fallujah. Without them, I don't know where we would be.

 

Smithy,
I don't know why you have such a hard on for anything I post.

Regardless of how the sport has "changed" or been "destroyed", the game today is what it is. You can complain about it all you want, but complaining isn't what is going to put it back.

I do what I can to strengthen the sport by "trying" to introduce as many people of all ages and genders to the sport.
What do you do besides bitch and moan about the " way it used to be?"
At least I try.

Get up and do something besides being so cynical. You're not helping anything being so negative about everything.

 

Pumpgun

So we should accept the sport being trashed and not trying to change it? What a joke. You have now proven you know nothing about the past and care little about the future.

You embrace the problems with the sport like they are your invention. You beg us to not discuss the issues as if you hope no one will notice the sport's near collapse.

You even said the SCTP has a contract next year at the WSRC. Try to get it right once.

If you dont want to discuss trapshooting and what will help it maybe forums arent for you. Not saying you arent needed. Who else would say such dumb crap?

 

Whatever smithy, I'm wrong, your right again.

But I do have a question for you.

If the sport has been broken since the mid nineties as you said, has 20 years of bitching and moaning about it done any good?

Obviously not if it's still broke.
At least I haven't been sitting on my ass waiting for it to change.

All games have changed and evolved over the years.
My belief is you either adapt to the game or quit playing.

Bitching about it only shows how shallow and selfish you are.

You must be a miserable son of a bitch to be around if change bothers you that much.

Do you still drive a horse and buggy to shoot your side by side at glass balls?

 

Earth to PumpgunBob ....on the planet dumb.

Great questions you put out. They show how you have found a way to embrace the dumbing down of our sport. We know why.

Most of those that cared pgb left the sport. How can anyone in trapshooting not know that? Anyone can post here regardless of knowledge of the sport. Another pgb moment.

But what should I expect. You never shot trap when trapshooting was flourishing and it never has in your home state.

Actually I was thinking that was where your head is. The statement:

The period in which glass balls were being shot was a very competitive period. Glass balls would be an improvement. I would pay to do that. Research on the forum a fellow by name of Bogardus. Your parents can help with this research.

Caring about the future of our sport proves I am selfish? Earth to planet dumb. Bad example.

That is the problem pgb. We have lost 2/3 of our members and you dont care. They left. The SCTP also left the WSRC. The sport is in ruins.....and you follow up with a typically PumpgunBob stupid statement. "The sport is what it is."

As to the shot at the Amish or folks that ride horse and buggies. The Amish are great shooters in my area. They like a challenge.

Study up Bob. Get your parents to help with this stuff.

 

Smithy,
I am entitled to what I believe in, just like YOU.

To you, my opinion means nothing.

I made absolutely no reference to the Amish and you know it. That reference was to your age and a gesture to the way the game has changed from Bogardus day. BTW Capt. Bogardus was from Illinois. He was credited with the invention of Trapshooting I believe in ,1831., And
I also grew up with Amish neighbors.

As far as the sport losing so many participants, do you really think 20 years of complaining about the way it has changed is working?
The more you complain about it the more I don't care what you think.

The sport today IS what it is.
Complaining on this forum is not going to bring back 3 hole targets, up the membership, or the Grand in Vandalia.

As far as my home state goes, until the Cardinal adds more trapfields we are second only to the WSRC with 60 traps at our state homegrounds.

I didn't need my parents to help me with anything I've said yet.
They did teach me to respect my elders but the lessons fail when the elder has no respect for me.

 

Amazingly, we only have a very few posters duking it out over a very important subject. It seems many are too embarrassed to admit they're part of the problem-not a solution. Most of us know trapshooters are often notoriously cheap-like spending thousands on a shotgun but always threatening to quit when target prices go up a dollar and wads .25/bag. Is it possible there are many others out there not doing their part, hiding in the shadows and afraid to discuss the subject?

 

Great point Dawg!

Our forum rocket scientist thinks we have been discussing these issues here for years. It has been slightly more than a year that we have had a forum that permitted this.

 

Dawg,

I tried to answer your question and thought I did pretty well in what I am doing to help introduce folks to the shooting sports but others feel I'm the resident idiot.
They never explained what they are doing.
Only complained about what I am doing.
Blaming me because I was perpetuating the sport the way it is instead of jumping on the bandwagon to bring back the game the way it was.

 

YES!

YES!

 

You are the man, Smithy!

Know all, tell all.

What are you doing to help the sport?
Are you talking your grandkids or great grandkids to the range?
Are you helping with a youth shooting team or a young man or woman who is struggling?
Are you helping at the local range you frequent?

Come on and answer the questions truthfully with no B.S.
Can you or will you answer?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

My kids understand they would be shooting for trinkets and that the handicap system is broke. You may find a few at meat shoots in PA and OH. Better attendance now at some of those shoots than many pretend grands.

They will never visit a gun hating state to shoot. Good parenting.

Only the "forum idiot" (your words) would ever maintain that the problems with the ATA is bad parenting. Another great statement from the planet dumb.

OK all get it here......bad parents have caused the ATA problems! It is what it is.

 

I knew you couldn't do it.
Where do you come up with this crap?
Where did I or anyone else mention bad parenting? Only you mentioned parenting.

Is someone else reading the posts to you that can't read?
Are you only hearing every other word when they read it to you?

I introduce as many people as I can to the sport. They can make up their own minds about shooting registered and joining the ATA.
I don't push it. I let them make up their own minds.

There are other places to shoot besides Illinois and Ohio for that matter.

 

Yes, there are many parents/grand parents out there introducing kids to the sport. Look across the country at the various high school programs. Some are affiliated with the SCTP some are not.

I don't know the exact numbers but I would guess the high schoolers numbers approach 20,000.

Most of these kids will not shoot a registered target other than those forced by the SCTP. But they are introduced to the sport which was your question.

 

Earth to the planet dumb.

It was implied in the OP.

Pumpgun....if the air is not to thin on planet dumb - please read the last sentence of the original post. Who said "forum idiot."?

 

The clubs as much as anything have hurt new people coming into trap .
To many grumpy old men who think nothing should ever change.

 

Dawg are you serious, force them, nobody can force me to do what I don't want to do and I have never forced them to what they don't want to do. Your unbelievable with that statement.

 

Forcing them might just include something as simple as reducing their video game play time. It might also include something as simple as saying we're going trapshooting this weekend and we're all going. Give 'em enough chores to keep 'em busy if they won't go along can change some minds too. Of course, if you didn't encourage them at a very early age you might have waited too long. As the seed is sown so grows the wheat says the bible. Take charge of the kids or they'll take charge of you one day!

 

My parents tried forcing / coercing me to be on the swim team. I have small hands and feet. You know what they say about small hands people? Small gloves and cant swim.

 

This kinda reminds me of other fathers who refused to get their kids involved in shooters for reasons unknown. One in particular has a like new K-80 sitting in it's case since 1985 when he quit shooting after posting a poor score.

His #1 son often complains his father never encouraged him to shoot. An unfortunate accident left him paralyzed shortly after leaving the Marines and he will remain in a wheelchair forever.

His #2 son has been in and out of rehab for heroin addiction, spent time in jail for a DUI with his young son in the car and likely won't ever be allowed to own a firearm.

Sure worked for him!

 

I coach young athletes. My dad was a coach. Peer pressure is stronger than parental pressure. You have to learn to use it to your advantage.

Kids quickly measure the risk reward. The ATA has continuously made it more difficult for the blue collar and new shooter. Fix the handicap system and quit over penalizing the limited financed person and we may have some successes. I dont see that happening.

Until the ATA can make changes ... and they wont, we can turn them on to meat shoots and calcuttas.

 

Yes, peer pressure accelerates development. First, someone must be willing to put other personal things aside and take them where the competition exists.

Another good reason to attend local money shoots. There's my payoff in a $5 Lewis last week for a 49/50-high score on a windy evening. And you wonder why they draw over 40 squads every Thursday on some pretty tough targets. Quite a few youngsters and newbies shoot there too!

 

I can take a guest, they can be 8 to 80, to an Event that offers a "pit-pass" or "back-stage pass" ... purchase one and the person gets pumped about going.

I can take someone, they can be 8 to 80, to a large "ATA" Event, and they can get a free verbal price list from all those Carnival Barkers trying to get their money. You can meet all the best in the Sport, if you are willing to pay enough money for a DVD, Clinic, or whatever they are selling. Then not hold up the line so the next person can pay.

You can go to a "League Shoot" and break all the targets, and every young or new shooter wants to know about your choice of shotgun, shells, what you had for breakfast, and so on. I have NEVER been to a large "ATA" shoot and seen a group of interested shooters around the "Top Dogs" being able to ask these questions.

You get what you give ... and when you quit giving, you will be forced to take from the weak.

 

I have introduced more people and kids than I care to remember, times are different, once they discover the real cost of participation they find it easy to walk away ... We used to give out shells, free rounds, instructions, Life Memberships to the State Association, and even some guns to try and entice them , to no avail ... Many times its not the parents but more so the other person figuring the return is not worth the investment ... Been there, done that ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Sure, it's expensive-so's Sporting Clays but our local course is swamped with young people each weekend. Just go into most upscale restaurants in our area and they'll be packed with young people eating high priced meals and drinking expensive imported beer. Much of what WPT is saying is certainly true but there are plenty of exceptions!