The Gift of Marksmanship

In a few days, joy and wonder will be everywhere. Guitars, guns, and all sorts of presents will be presented. Anticipation will abound. After a few sessions, where fingers become sore from pressing strings and loading magazines, reality will set in. And, one of three things will probably happen.

• The guitar or gun will be stuffed in the closet, only to be withdrawn in exhibition.
• The guitar or gun will be sold to finance some other endeavor.
• An serious effort will be made to learn how to use the thing.

This effort to learn can start with a book or video. Even more popular today, Google will offer advice on how to become proficient with your new toy. Interestingly, going to school is rarely considered. This is odd since we wake our children every morning and send them out the door to learn. As much sense as school makes, it seems adults regard it as a last resort.

I’d not dare discourage someone from wrapping up a new Gibson Hummingbird, Martin Dreadnought, Ruger Single Six, Marlin 336 or Colt 1911 and putting it under a tree. Regardless of your sex or age, unwrapping a gun or a guitar is a special thing. But with the brilliant colored paper at your feet and the wood and steel in your hand, there might also be some realization; realization you really don’t know how to use this thing.

There is also the fact that the procurement of a gun should be as personal as obtaining underwear. I don’t want anyone buying my underwear and as much as I would like a new gun – I can give those interested in making a purchase a long list – I would much rather pick it out myself.

If you are considering giving a gun for Christmas, I might have a better idea. The thing that makes a gun enjoyable is being able to use it. What if you could give someone the gift of shooting skill? What if you could give someone the ability to handle a handgun with speed and precision is a defensive situation? What if you could gift field marksmanship for a hunter? Yes, a gift of a gun is special but this would be remarkably wonderful

I’ll wager my Nighthawk to a Glock that in almost every case where a guitar is given for Christmas, after the unwrapping the giver says something like, “We’ll sign you up for lessons.”

What a novel concept!

Why is it not applied to gifted guns? Long term, over a years time, the cost is about the same.

There is a way. There is an academy in Paulden, Arizona that has been teaching people how to manage, manipulate, and master bullet placement for almost 40 years. It is the oldest private firearms training academy for civilians in the world. It has been called the “Camelot of the Great Southwest” and the “Harvard of Handguns.” It is Gunsite Academy.

From experience I can assure you that anyone who has graduated a Gunsite Academy course, will tell you it was life changing. I’m not talking about those who have attended media events or product launches on the property, I’m talking about those who have registered for, attended, completed and graduated a real, honest to goodness, Gunsite Academy class. Graduates leave fully immersed in the gun culture. They leave with the skills and knowledge to help them enjoy firearms. They leave ready to fight or hunt with a gun. And, just importantly, they leave as a member of a new family, the Gunsite family.

Yes, without question, few things are as exciting to find under the Christmas tree as a guitar or a gun. Both require proper schooling before they are useful for anything other than looking at. I think we should start a new gift-giving trend. Let’s give those we love and care about the gift of marksmanship. Get them a certificate to Gunsite Academy so they can learn the gun.

Then, they will have the knowledge to go out and do something else that’s immensely enjoyable; make music by pulling a trigger. And, with some good experience under their belt, they can shop for and purchase the gun they really want. That might even be more fun than unwrapping one.