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$Todd Jarrett Wins \\World Shoot X - uspsa$

BY MICHAEL BANE, TY-34671 When Media Attacks! edia...can't live with 'em...can't shoot `em...so what's a shooter to do? Seriously, in dealing with the media, we as shooters often find ourselves between the proverbial rock and the hard place. On the one hand, the media has at the very least been guilty of an outrageous level of bias against us; on the other hand, the media represent an unparalleled opportunity to publicize our sport to the largest number of people. The question is, how do we take advantage of the opportunity without shooting ourselves in the foot? For almost three years, I've had what has been called the worst job in the firearms industry—I'm the guy who deals with the national media on a daily bask. Through the National Shooting Sports Foundation's media education program, we've taught dozens of top journalists, including names you'd recognize, to shoot. There's already been a lot written about what we taught them, but let me turn the tables here and tell you what they taught us...and what you and your club absolutely need to know about dealing with the media. The biggest thing we have learned is that our problems with the media stem not so much from bias as from ignorance, and both sides have to share the blame. Journalism at the higher levels is an interesting and largely urban club; gun ownership and participation in the shooting sports is rarer than a subscription to the World Wrestling Federation magazine. Unfortunately, misinformation tends to get recycled. It's also a fact—and I speak as a life-long professional journalist my- REVOLVER SHOOTERS ...LOOK! "THE GIZMO" WILL ADD SPEED TO YOUR DRAW! FITS SAFARILAND 002 and 003 HOLSTERS. THIS IS A MECHANICAL DEVICE THAT DEFEATS THE TENSION OF THE HOLSTER WITH A FLICK OF THE WRIST. "IT WORKS" - JASON PETTITT, STOCK GUN CHAMPION. "I DROPPED 2 TENTHS FROM MY DRAW" - JOHN BAGAKIS, 2nd B Class 2000, 2nd A Class 2001, International Revolver Championship. MADE IN THE USA BY PERRY R. AND D. EASY TO INSTALL. AVAILABLE FROM BAY AREA SHOOTERS SUPPLY, JIM AND SUE MOORE 209 - 847 - 2746 visa and mastercard accepted ONLY $75.00 Order for standard or bull barrel holster. self—that journalists tend to go to people they know, their sources, for information. Our enemies took quick advantage of that fact and made sure they were known, visible, and in touch with journalists. We, on the other hand, tended to limit our contact with the world of media to fiery letters to the editor, which might have made us feel better, but was the media equivalent of throwing rocks at a thunderstorm. Ideally, how should you as a USPSA member or club representative deal with the media? Here are a handful of tips, every one taken from the "Real World" and learned the hard way. If you have more specific questions, e- mail me at MBaneACP0 aol.com , or contact NSSF (bbrassard0 nssforg) for more info. • Be prepared! You learned it in the scouts, and it's still true. Discuss with your club members what you might do if contacted about a story, focusing NOT on old wrongs perpetuated by the media, but on YOUR MESSAGE that you want to get across. Here are some of the thoughts I use when talking about USPSA shooting to the national media: ) We shoot because it's fun and competitive. We are not training for insertion into Afghanistan or the coming collapse of the government. 2) USPSA is the Indy racing circuit of competitive shooting; we are the Big League. 3) Our sport is derived from -combat shooting." Big deal. Virtually all the sports in the Olympics have military or warfare roots. Football is simulated combat. So is chess. 4) Our sport is wildly diverse, enjoyed by men and women of all races, all economic strata and numerous professions from doctor to mechanic to soccer mom. 5) Our sport is international in scope, with more than 50 (I can FRONT SIGHT • July/August 2002
never remember the real number!) countries actively involved. 6) The cool thing about USPSAstyle shooting is that it offers three challenges—the necessity for planning, the ability to move quickly and efficiently from position to position, and the necessity of "shifting gears" to the fine precision movements of sighting and pulling the trigger. That combination of skills, interestingly enough, is very similar to rock climbing (route finding, using major muscle groups while performing fine precision movements). • Reach out! A contact from the media is an opportunity! Sure there's a risk, but there's also a risk in crossing the street every morning. The WORST thing you can do for both our own sport and the gun culture at large is to refuse a contact, because that single action reinforces EVERY negative stereotype about gun owners. I believe you should be contacting them (but that's another story!). Pboto by Rob Taylor Lisa Munson and Kim Stroud talk to the media at the 1997 Limited Nationals. • Be enthusiastic! The single biggest factor in the success of the NSSF Media Seminars is the overwhelming enthusiasm of our instructors (like Todd Jarrett, Lisa Munson, Kay Clark-Miculek, Jerry Miculek, Dave Thomas, Matt Burkett and others). Enthusiasm is very contagious. This is more than just one of those self- esteem homilies, by the way. The concept of mirroring, replicating behavior we observe in others, is apparently built into the operating systems of primates. Monkey see; monkey really do do!). You are a salesperson for USPSA, and you've got one hell of a product to sell! Get Ahead Of The Pack With New C OM OVATIONS FROM CLARK! CLARK CUSTOM LIMITED STI CONVERSION ::aditional Clark Custom Accuracy, Reliability and Trigger work HR Technologies Grip Clark's Exclusive Big Bushing, KW Reverse Plug, Durable Powder Coated Slide / Brushed Hard Chrome Lower, STI Magazine Well, EG;•\ Fiber Optic Front sight and MMC Low mount adjustable rear sight, • $2,550 Complete Gun • $1,950 Conversion on Customer Supplied STI Frame Kit POWDER COATING Slide is pictured with Silver Vein Powder Coating over hard chrome base. Powder Coating is available in a variety of other colors including Basic Black. Vermillion, Bright Red, Lime Green, Chevy Orange, Grape Flake, Translucent Teal, etc. • $250 as pictured. THR TECHNOLOGIES GRIP MODIFICATION performed on your grip piastic - :2 week turnaround( • Si I Sl PlaAic 575 blao, ,RIF:.or 27. -I; S.-. P-07 00 black / 5110.00 colors (purple, blue or red) • C.:,• • •125 TRIGGER Jos 1, \iln[- 4 or 10/22e 4$60 plus return shipping, Xeed Irigger Ole week turnaround 1 NEM 450 Marlin Conversion on Remington Ruger Bolt Action Rifle. Roger 10/221 Mid-Weight Conversion. Tactical Elite Shotgun Conversion on Remington 1:00, 11-87 or 870. Call for more details. Long Slide Also Available... Call For Quote CUSTOM GUNS, INC. MEMBER AMERICAN PISTOLSMITH GUILD Dept. F • 336 Shootout Ln. • Princeton, Louisiana 71067 1-318-949-9884 • Fax 1-318-949-9829 • Toll Free Ordering: 888-458-4126 Shop Online http://www.clark custonlguns.com JulyiAugust 2002 • FRONT SIGHT
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Page 13: USPSA Junior Shooter Saves Mom's Li
Page 17 and 18: Photo by Robin Taylor. Todd Jarrett
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Page 33 and 34: venue for the traveling Nationals v
Page 35 and 36: • •2 0 • V SHOTGUNS Patrick E
Page 37 and 38: y Anderson Munitions for several ye
Page 39 and 40: Left: 3-Gun Standard Champion Benni
Page 41 and 42: more rounds into his shotgun withou
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Page 45 and 46: sponsors contributed." Cheryl Lambe
Page 47 and 48: s. OPEN 9asc Supported by Your Favo
Page 49 and 50: Data center. With tens of thousands
Page 51 and 52: in a semi-auto versus a bolt action
Page 53 and 54: C U STO G u N TALK - By Dave Dawson
Page 55 and 56: tice. It hangs up on your leather,
Page 57 and 58: STIP4OCE STI "California Edge" S175
Page 59 and 60: 10( ,,(Y\ JUNIORS continued from pa
Page 61 and 62: Photo by Nyle Loatham. Bruce Gray u
Page 63 and 64: Photo courtesy of HK USA The Jet Fu
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BY PATRICK SWEENEY, CA-/57 m odifie
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Charles Daly 1911 package, used = $
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quired to receive an ATF "Form 6" i
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Avast! It's a "Feed Tube!" c•FORY
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1. Area 1 Championship Medford, Ore
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2002 Tennessee Section IPSC Champio
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"The Pocket Pro is the fastest way
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Jul/Aug - uspsa

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