Nothing like the smell of gunpowder on a frosty morning.
Imagine yourself standing on the line, waiting for the beep, preparing yourself to engage multiple targets in a 180-degree environment. You are about to spend the majority of the day competing amongst your fellow shooters in a game of intellect, speed and accuracy. You will have fun, you will have a rush of adrenaline and you will gain confidence in yourself that you didn’t know was there. This is the one sport where your direct competitor is the first to loan you a gun, ammo, or a better stage plan. The camaraderie and sense of family is unmatched by any sport in the world. Participating in competitive shooting sports builds self-esteem, fosters responsibility and provides a venue to connect with people who share many of your same values.
You learn to shoot in some very uncomfortable positions.
Participating in competitive shooting sports nurtures and promotes responsibility and awareness. As a competitive shooter, you have to run, duck and dive, kneel and perform various athletic activities all while holding and shooting a loaded firearm. You have to be aware of where your gun is pointed, where you are moving and always have a plan. You learn performance under stress and how to quickly assess the problem in front of you and find a way to fix it. One of the most interesting parts of shooting is stage planning. You have to figure out the most efficient, effective, executable plan within a short amount of time. This ability to learn to think on your toes will apply to so many other aspects of your life.
Participating in competitive shooting sports builds an individual’s self esteem and confidence in themselves. Because it provides immediate results, individuals learn very quickly that hard work, practice and a strong mental game will propel them toward success. Shooting competitively builds self-esteem as you progress through the sport. Participating in competitive shooting sports promotes your self-esteem by teaching you that you can accomplish things you never thought possible. Take a firearms enthusiast at their very first match; during the first few stages they may seem nervous and unsure of themselves. By the end of the match they have already learned that they are much more capable than they thought.
Competitive shooting provides a great way to meet great people.
Participating in competitive shooting sports provides a venue to meet like-minded individuals who share a similar passion. It helps you to meet people who are active with their firearms and usually quite knowledgeable. It is a great way for one to create a network or “family” that shares your love of firearms. Within your competitive shooting network you learn how to sustain your 2nd Amendment Rights and how to protect them.
In summary, participating in competitive shooting sports has changed my life forever, and it can change yours, too. I have found my calling and there is nothing in this world I would rather do. The self-esteem, the responsibility and the people I have connected with are priceless. I highly recommend that if you enjoy spending time outside, want to boost your confidence with your firearm and want to meet people that share this same interest that you should look up your local shooting club. Once you find a club, see when their next competition is and go. I want you to watch and learn; you will see that you may have just found your new passion, and way to further protect your 2nd Amendment rights.
For more information on the shooting sports, check out the following links:
- National Shooting Sports Foundation
- United State Practical Shooting Association
- International Defensive Pistol Association
- 3 Gun Nation
- Generation III Gun
- NRA Competitive Shooting Programs
Brownell’s Lady 3 Gun ProAm, the very first all lady 3 gun match.
