Greetings to all, and happy summer. School is out so drive carefully (no texting), and take a youngster out shooting every day.
April and May have been perfect months for training. We have had moderate temperatures in the 80s and low temperatures in the 50s. Meanwhile, our brethren down in Phoenix have already seen many days in triple digits. If you were not here in May, you have truly missed out. Colonel Cooper did indeed pick the right place.
In May we celebrated the birthdays of Jeff and Janelle Cooper our founders and John Wayne, my only favorite movie star, with the exception of Joe Mantegna who frequents Gunsite with his Gun Stories crew and some of the Blue Bloods.
We experienced record attendance on the ranch in May, and June is projected to exceed that. Increasing numbers of folks are confirming their interest in personal freedom. We are pleased by the greater numbers of ladies who choose to attend our school – in all classes. Indeed we encourage family groups to come to school as they may be called upon to function as a unit in a time of danger. Those who train together stay safe together.
At the time of this writing, most of the June sections of our classes are close to full. We have a few openings in the second 250 class, the 223 class, edged weapons and the Youth 250. In Indiana we have plenty of room in the three day shotgun offering June 27-29. Stop by and say hello to Ken Campbell and take a class at the cutest little range in the Midwest.
In July we have a chance to catch up after a very busy spring! Many of our spring time classes have been full and we added lots of tutorials and private special classes. It gets a little warm here in July but it’s at least 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix! We do have a 250 Defensive Pistol class the week of July 21-25 where day time high temps can reach 90+ degrees before the afternoon rains come and cool it down considerably. Summer time monsoon rains in the high desert are amazing! This is an awesome time to take a class- we will start earlier in the morning to beat the heat, and then enjoy the cooling afternoon rain!
For all our Alumni we want to remind you that if you can’t get to the range then get in your dry practice! 10-15 minutes twice a week can maintain and even improve your skills! Remember you need a quiet place, free of interruptions. Separate all live ammunition into a separate room- double check then check again to ensure you have an empty weapon and no ammunition anywhere near you. Pick a safe backstop and then for the next 10-15 minutes give it your full concentration! Dry practice can be of huge value in that without the loud noise and recoil of live firing, you can get a perfect sight picture and trigger press without any anticipation or flinching! It’s also a great time to practice reloads- both speed and tactical.
Our friends in Phoenix tend to schedule themselves into the high country as summer advances in the Valley of the (surface of) the Sun. So, if you’ve been thinking about these classes either for yourself or a loved one, now is the time to make contact.
GAS Match News: Our nefarious range staff is already plotting surprises for GAS attendants. Ron and his crew are very, very good at introducing confusing elements into a scenario – which may cause you to shoot someone you really mean to save. The courses of fire are always fun and challenging, which is the point of the exercise. We also hope to reinforce your training, so expect most of the skills you learned at school to be mandated in the stages. This is what makes GAS different from a regular shooting match. There is always a point to the exercise. Put this date on your calendar (the first weekend in October). We promise a rollicking good time, fellowship with like-minded people, good food and a bounteous prize table.
On either side of the GAS Match we’ll offer a selection of popular classes – something for everyone’s taste. This affords you an opportunity to plan a full week or two, with GAS on one end or even in the middle! Numerous studies have shown that total immersion is the best way to learn, and with GAS and a regular class you will have plenty of trigger time!
As always, Facebook and our website keep track of people and events surrounding the school and our clients. Jane Anne and Karen keep our Facebook presence up to date, and we have 16,300 likes to date. Join us on facebook and read about the media events, the television stories filmed here and see the pictures of all the classes you wanted to join in and just couldn’t make it.
We also are happy to accommodate groups that have specific interests that are outside our normal curriculum, or partake of more than one discipline. That includes a “bachelor party” class that we’ll host this year! We’re also more than happy to build you a corporate team-building event here at the ranch. Many industry members visit Gunsite for continuing education purposes as well.
Here in Yavapai County, we just attended our annual Friends of NRA fundraising dinner. We enjoy the good time we have and the many people in our community that come to the dinners and support our local clubs. This year the Prescott Trap and Skeet club received over $18,500 in grant monies for their youth programs. Over 80% of the funds raised in these events go to youth programs – which is where we should be putting a strong emphasis. Our kids are our future, and we always need more functioning Americans who know, understand and PRACTICE what is taught in our Constitution. The NRA deserves ALL of your support, so if there is a ‘Friends of NRA’ dinner being held in your area by all means purchase some tickets and bring your family for a good time and a good cause.
If you know a youngster, then you probably know one that would like to go shooting. Kids like being able to project power, and with suitable instruction they do that but they also get much, much more. Each shot, if it teaches something, builds the character of the shooter. As a Gunsite Family member, YOU are the right person to communicate the discipline, the moral character and the safe enjoyment of a fun pastime. Get out there and train the next generation. When they’re ready, bring them to Gunsite with you.
We thank you for your friendship and your support of our common cause. Thank you for being a Gunsite Family member. Read, write and THINK for yourself – and remember on June 6th we commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D Day, the beginning of the last chapter of WWII in Europe. Be thankful on this day for our Veterans. To hear one of history’s greatest speeches by Ronald Reagan on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day click on this link: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-d-day.htm
Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas,
Buz
