Prince Yamato
Member
I've been browsing the UT Austin shooting website. Do you guys shoot anything above .22 there? Just curious.
Odd observations from handing out flyers for college campus shooting range (UTRPC)
- Thread starter MatthewVanitas
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Working Man
Member
Thats something that a lot of people miss. He was not anti violence for just
the sake of peace (although he felt very strongly about it) but because he
could foresee the aftermath of a violent conflict with a better armed foe.
He was a well learned man from many thoughts of teaching including many
Asian teachings.
I get a lot of *rolls eyes* "I already know how to shoot" from the South Texas types.
someone else's comment on this line made me start to think. There has got to be a way to roll this into something positive.
How about 'okay, great, then help me convert these citybreed folk that guns aren't evil'
'hey, you should come down and give us a hand!'
'you already know how to shoot you say? Are you actually a good shot or just a crappy one, because we got a standing offer, first person who can outshoot 'Ted' (best shooter in the club) wins $100
someone else's comment on this line made me start to think. There has got to be a way to roll this into something positive.
How about 'okay, great, then help me convert these citybreed folk that guns aren't evil'
'hey, you should come down and give us a hand!'
'you already know how to shoot you say? Are you actually a good shot or just a crappy one, because we got a standing offer, first person who can outshoot 'Ted' (best shooter in the club) wins $100
DMK
Member
Good thinkin' That sounds like fun!
Ya gotta get some purple ones in there for bonus points.
bravo
Matt-
You seem do do singlehandedly much more than most to promote the sport/culture that is a gun owner, to dispel the myths- even the knife giveaway thing helps(*). You seem to be a true believer, for lack of a better term, and genuinely dedicated. If only we were all as dedicated as you are...
Much applause,
C-
(*)p.s. i am beginning to forgive you for participating in looting ( http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=3000029&postcount=7 ), since you are in fact giving the loot away; at a financial loss to yourself, at that.
Matt-
You seem do do singlehandedly much more than most to promote the sport/culture that is a gun owner, to dispel the myths- even the knife giveaway thing helps(*). You seem to be a true believer, for lack of a better term, and genuinely dedicated. If only we were all as dedicated as you are...
Much applause,
C-
(*)p.s. i am beginning to forgive you for participating in looting ( http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=3000029&postcount=7 ), since you are in fact giving the loot away; at a financial loss to yourself, at that.
Uenoparker
Member
I'm thrilled to learn of your recruiting. And I'm not at all surprised to learn that foreigners and those who feel 'oppressed' by modern US society are your most consistent takers. I've been fortunate enough to work with many folks from Japan, the UK, Germany, etc. Most of these people have never used a firearm, and their feelings range from feeling a bit intimidated by such loud *bangs* at close range to feeling that guns are the root of all evil. I've invited many to accompany me to a local indoor range, and taught them to safely use one of my pistols. And the response has been overwhelmingly positive. A couple of the UK natives who were initially vehemently opposed to personal firearms ownership underwent a seemingly miraculous conversion to thinking that such an enjoyable experience could not be associated with something abhorent. Others, more open minded (such as my Japanese wife) have gone on to include firearms in their lives (my wife has her CCW, and can outshoot me so long as the firearm isn't too large or heavy for her).
Hook 'em horns! (Texas Ex '89)
Hook 'em horns! (Texas Ex '89)
Eleven Mike
Member
Very funny.
OP
OP
MatthewVanitas
Member
Just .22LR. Our backstop can take more, but if we allowed it:
a) It'd be more noisy inside, and worse, it might be audible further away and lead to noise complaints (which would give antis an angle to complain about us)
b) Even harder to convince twits that they can't bring their own guns from home
c) Our main "style/vibe" is Olympic-type shooting, so sticking with .22LR keeps us all light-hearted in nature.
I am looking into getting us a dedicated .22LR AR-15 from KKF. I have vague ideas of doing a $5 raffle to buy us the lower receiver, with winner picking the image and text (of a positive nature) engraved on the lower. Keep it to 10rd mags and it's no more abusable than anything else we already own. Kids would enjoy it, the ROTC types might get some good training on it, and it'd help newbies realize that an EBR is nothing magical.
-MV
Beagle-zebub
Member
I've noticed that Chinese people my age react to descriptions of firearms regulation very unfavorably, and I suspect that this is because they or their direct fore-bearers came to America from China as much (if not more) to escape governmental oppression and general lack of liberty than to seek economically greener pastures--people who emigrate from Europe (after 1850 or so) are usually the opposite, and I suspect it is for the opposite reason.
Europeans are frogs in a slowly-heated pot of water, whereas the Chinese were frogs thrown into an impossibly hot pot. It seems like all of my Chinese friends that have an interest in politics are libertarians.
Europeans are frogs in a slowly-heated pot of water, whereas the Chinese were frogs thrown into an impossibly hot pot. It seems like all of my Chinese friends that have an interest in politics are libertarians.
aerod1
Member
All of the Chinese I know are very pro gun and pro Bill of Rights. My very best friend is an ABC (American Born Chinese). He was born in San Antonio, TX and he is very much into shooting, hunting, gun collecting and etc.
only1asterisk
member
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Some want a story to tell their friends at home, some are naturally curious, some want to check it off their Madhu Kakileiti’s list of 101 things to do in the US. I’m glad to have them at the range. I’ve helped more than one legally purchase their first gun. It was so popular at one time I was taking to the Indian Student Association about sponsoring a range day.
David
OP
OP
MatthewVanitas
Member
Whoa, now I'm curious. Could you elaborate?
I was thinking similarly about Texas Hillel and Chabad (Jewish organizations). We have at least one hardcore shooter with Hillel, and the Chabad guys always seem interested in our flyers. We've had at least one former IDF armorer (with the, watchamacallit, the IDF foreign non-combat volunteer program) come coach at the range.
I'd like to get the Pink Pistols to sponsor their own event, as we seem to have some receptivity there. I don't want to be pandering, but it would be good to address specific campus communities.
I need to get better at tasking out the viral-marketing here. Have a few good ins, but need to utilize them properly. I'm coming to the tragic conclusion that individual intiative is worthless in the long run unless I can prepare folks to carry on the effort, and not try to run the whole show as my personal project.
Don't know if there's a cultural reason, or just fluke, but after the East and South Asians, our primary foreign exchange student presences are Turks, Aussies, and Spaniards (got a phone#, w00t). Again, not sure what is UT demographics and what is trend. The Turk thing was originally unrelated to me, but increasing because I like Turks.
This past week, had my first symbolic destruction of a flyer: some white kid with long hair and bell-bottoms took a flyer, then crumpled it up and threw it away. On the bright side, am still averaging one flyer every 30 seconds when I distribute, and this week had my first bicycle near-accident. Some hipster girl was pedalling past as I pitched "UT Rifle and Pistol! Free guns, free ammo!", she waved me away, then slammed the brakes and skidded out two meters past me, came back for a flyer.
Dang, I love flyering!
Overall, things going quite well. Am pondering a raffle to raise funds to purchase a .22LR M4gery from KKF, as I'm sure it would get much use, and help de-mystify EBRs. Am thinking a $5 raffle, with winner getting his choice of (appropriate) engraved image and text on the side of the lower receiver. This would also help endear us to the ROTC folks who own the range which we use (without which none of this would be possible).
-MV
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Prince Yamato
Member
Most Asians, other than the Japanese, have faced massive civil upheaval in their countries within the last 60 years, so there are multiple generations alive to recount it. They move to the US and say, "never again". Take a look by country of origin. Chinese-yes, Vietnamese- yes. Koreans- some of the younger ones I know are kind of put off by guns, but then again, there's sometimes a two-generation gap that can't remember the Korean War.
Strings
Member
Yamato: oogle "Korean store owners = Watts" and see what you come up with...
And this kinda caught me: "I think those would be Tejon's Eloi.". Now wait a sec... they can't ALL belong to El T. The rest of us have to eat too!
And kudos on the recuiting!
And this kinda caught me: "I think those would be Tejon's Eloi.". Now wait a sec... they can't ALL belong to El T. The rest of us have to eat too!
And kudos on the recuiting!
svtruth
Member
Hey, Model
Don't know how far it is from you, but Oberlin (yes, Oberlin) has a gun club. They shoot at an indoor range about 10 mi from campus.
Good luck.
Don't know how far it is from you, but Oberlin (yes, Oberlin) has a gun club. They shoot at an indoor range about 10 mi from campus.
Good luck.
ArcherandShooter
Member
Leadership is more than just "follow me"
Matthew,
Right there you have expressed on of the most important leadership lessons you will ever learn! You already know this about college, but it is true about any endeavor where you are a leader, and particularly those where you are starting something: planting a church, launcing a business, founding a club. The lesson? YOU WILL NOT BE THERE FOREVER, and if you care about the church / business / club / cause more than the personal satisfaction of having people following YOU, then you must actively prepare for the day you are no longer in charge, or no longer there.
Leadership is more than just "follow me"; it involves accepting responsibility for the ability of your group to survive and thrive.
Within your first year in a leadership role, find other people who share your commitment to whatever it is, and work with them to be able to carry on the work. That way, what you have founded will survive you, and the good work will continue through time, rather than dying when you do.
Matthew,
Right there you have expressed on of the most important leadership lessons you will ever learn! You already know this about college, but it is true about any endeavor where you are a leader, and particularly those where you are starting something: planting a church, launcing a business, founding a club. The lesson? YOU WILL NOT BE THERE FOREVER, and if you care about the church / business / club / cause more than the personal satisfaction of having people following YOU, then you must actively prepare for the day you are no longer in charge, or no longer there.
Leadership is more than just "follow me"; it involves accepting responsibility for the ability of your group to survive and thrive.
Within your first year in a leadership role, find other people who share your commitment to whatever it is, and work with them to be able to carry on the work. That way, what you have founded will survive you, and the good work will continue through time, rather than dying when you do.
Eleven Mike
Member
About Ghandi:
Someone once told me, "He was a pacifist, not an idiot." According to this person, he believed in arms for defense, but not for offense. So, a commemorative Ghandi rifle might not be as appropriate as a commemorative Ghandi pistol.
Someone once told me, "He was a pacifist, not an idiot." According to this person, he believed in arms for defense, but not for offense. So, a commemorative Ghandi rifle might not be as appropriate as a commemorative Ghandi pistol.
Eleven Mike
Member
Strings
Member
Eleven Mike: I assume the [G]Handi-Rifle would be chambered in .300 WinMag?
tinygnat219
Member
Single consistently worst reaction: the Free Palestine table that recruits on campus. Man, real hostility there, even if it's staffed by people I've never approached before. In fairness, I did myself no favors with them today: THEM: "we don't believe in guns" ME: "How ironic!"
Matthew,
I enjoyed that last part of your post.
I am probably going to burn for this, I'd approach them again with a "Rockin' Good Time" flyer that espoused rock throwing tips. Maybe have Nolan Ryan pictured in there with his trademark scowl. When you get the "we don't beleive in rocks" comment, it can be backed up, since they tend not to hit anything.
Matthew,
I enjoyed that last part of your post.
I am probably going to burn for this,
I'd approach them again with a "Rockin' Good Time" flyer that espoused rock throwing tips. Maybe have Nolan Ryan pictured in there with his trademark scowl. When you get the "we don't beleive in rocks" comment, it can be backed up, since they tend not to hit anything.Dravur
Member
Well...
You know... Whenever someone hands me a flyer, they are saying to me..."Here, throw this away for me"
You know... Whenever someone hands me a flyer, they are saying to me..."Here, throw this away for me"
'Card
Member
s'OK. Guns believe in you.
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