Malik Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Before i started shooting i couldn't of told you where shooting related activities took place, how you'd get involved in them and what the different types of shooting activities include. If it wasn't for my girlfriend that suggested "having a go" at Clay Pigeon Shooting one day for something different to do, going on the internet trying to find it. i'd probably still to this day never know... Once i get involved in something (me being me) i tend to commit a lot of time and effort to it. My SGC took 6 months to get sorted, so it gave me plenty of time to have lessons every week, research a lot and ask my tutor a million and one question - i ended up finding Pigeon Watch in that time as well I don't claim for one minute to know everything but i certainly know enough to get me by and help the odd person out if i can. Now that i am aware of shooting i can tell you where sells shooting magazines and where doesn't, the clay grounds in my area and some further a field, Gun shops, types of shooting and other shooting related stuff. The majority of the shops around my area do not sell shooting magazines, i only know of one local news agents that does and they stock a huge variety as well. I have never seen any shooting grounds, gun shops, gun manufacturers, shooting products or anything else shooting related advertised whilst i am out and about or in the paper, on TV or radio. Only in a shooting magazine and on the internet if you look for it... Since i have been shooting my close friends have come to know i shoot, i have taken a few of them with me shooting as well, was it not for me they probably wouldn't have a clue either. This question is based on my own observations: why is shooting so low-key? I say low-key, because coming from a family that has never owned guns or done any shooting sports and living in the city, if it wasn't for the internet i wouldn't have known these grounds, shops, manufactures, products etc even existed. There are plenty of newbies that sign up to the Forum who have just started and want to know more information as well so surely i wasn't the only one in that boat. Plus as i mentioned above, its not really promoted anywhere Shooting has been around in Britain for 100s of years and it is my understanding that we have a quite a shooting heritage. Not to mention a good sized list of British gun makers and shooting product manufactures. So how come it isn't really promoted and people well aware of it? Surely the more people are aware and are correctly educated about shooting the more strength and future stability the sports will have...? Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 I take your point and I was in a very similar position to you, and its thanks to my cousin who introduces me to plinking with an airgun in his back garden when I was about 12 that sparked my love of shooting, and 38 years later shooting makes up a very large part of my life, let alone my income! Many sports don't promote themselves generally in the traditional media, not least of all due to the cost but thanks to the internet shooting grounds and clubs can promote themselves effectively. There is more to do I agree and I am please that one of the clay grounds near to me do advertise in the local press from time to time. A lot if it is down to word of mouth and a lot of people take up shooting when introduced by friends or family and this should be encouraged. The British Shooting Sports Council sponsor the National Shooting Week that the CA run, but I have always thought that more could be done with that as the main thrust of the advertising is on the CA's web site and in the shooting press, sort of preaching to the converted some may say, but the budget form the BSSC is only a few £thousand. We have tested running introduction to shooting days for adults, based on our successful young shots days and when we advertise in the local press we get a good response, with our growing network of shotgun and airgun coaches we hope to do a lot more, I am sure there is a demand for this, I am sure you would agree? But what else could we do, not just BASC, but all of us, to push shooting? David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Welcome to the world of shooting and I wish you many happy years ahead.i feel there are many reasons why shooting is not widely known about.one if not the main one is the media and their biased attitude.if you look at shooting we have in our midst some of the finest the world has and possibly ever will see champions.yet the press only ever report on guns when they are involved in a crime.football.rugby.cricket.tennis.snooker.all command many pages everyday.yet our nations achievements at shooting are ignored.in any other sport if there was a world champion with 22 titles under his belt he would be a national hero yet ask the man on the street who he is and I doubt 1 out of 100 would know.we won gold at the olympics yet hardly a mention yet we have just got a bronze in the winter games and you can't be off seeing it on tv and papers everywhere you look.if one newspaper was brave enough to push shooting in a positive light we would soon see a rise in the profile of shooting in a good way.this in my opinion is a small part of the problem I am sure others will have many other reasons.you may also come across many shops that refuse to stock shooting magazines yet fill their shelves with gaming books filled with the latest computer games where killing is the theme.we live in a strange world that's for sure.good luck for the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 (edited) Good thread this. I was totally unaware of the shooting grounds in my area until I got my first SGC. There are four well equipped clubs in my area plus several more informal get togethers and yet even during national Shooing week not one of them advertises their presence in the local papers. I have introduced several kids to shooting through Young shots days,and used to cart them about the counties to various venues. They' re all adults now and return the favour by inviting me to their shoots from time to time. I think a lot of it is down to us as individuals but would like to see the organisations doing much more. We are faced with all manner of rabid anti propaganda, including the media, none of whom are beyond telling he odd porky if it suits their agenda. It's an uphill struggle, but all it takes for them to win is for us to do nothing. It's that simple. Edited February 12, 2014 by Scully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mighty Prawn Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 It's a funny one isn't it, we're all keen to preserve our sport and generally all accept this means a constant influx of new blood, yet we're told by FEO not to tell people we shoot, certainly not that we have firearms in our houses - I get the security reason but I will happily tell people I shoot, only way to stop it sneaking off under a bush to die a sad lonely death, also gives you a chance to challenge the misconceptions people have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Yep we should be proud of what we do. I tend to bore people I meet with my activities but get very very few negative reactions. Highlodge shooting ground (John Bidwell) in Suffolk run have a go sessions every 1st of the month which is very popular (I've taken a few people there and daughter had hen do shooting) and I hear on the grapevine Suffolk has an above average SGL application rate so there is some progress but we all must at every opportunity promote/support/defend our sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malik Posted February 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Thanks for replying guys, its nice to see people can understand what i meant by my post. Word of mouth does play a strong role in promoting our sport. i like many, have told friends and family and dragged them a long to have a go etc. with the occasional one showing eagerness to carry on. I was wondering if the reasons many shooting grounds are kept low key was due to reprisals from anti-shooting campaigners? With the view that, if they don't know they exists, there will be no issues? Having done some research on the matter of shooting awareness as a whole, the attitude in the UK does appear to be Anti-Gun. Would the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) even allow an advert or publication that showed shooting in a positive light? Anything that glamorises or normalises guns and gun culture, or makes it appear that guns are fun or cool normally get complaints or are banned. "THE ADVERTISING STANDARDS AGENCY (ASA) has banned billboard ads for the film Wanted after they received 18 complaints from members of the public. Actors Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy are seen holding guns in a variety of positions" Clay Shooting for me and many others, is a very enjoyable pastime... Edited February 13, 2014 by Malik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.