June Newsletter

As we tell the students on Monday morning as their Gunsite class begins, “blink and it will be Friday.”  That seems to be what has happened here in May.  We blinked and Mother’s Day, Jeff Cooper’s Birthday, The Yavapai Friends of the NRA Banquet, Armed Forces Day, John Wayne’s birthday and Memorial Day has passed us by.  Not to mention 250 and 350 pistol classes, 223 Carbine, Edged Weapons, Close Quarters Pistol, Defensive 3 Gun, Defensive Vehicle Tactics, many tutorials and several media events happened. Whew . . . . .

We start all over again in June with 250, 350 and 499 pistol, 223 carbine and the outstanding 250 Youth Pistol 250.  (Is your favorite Young American going to “camp” this summer?  If so, why not “gun camp” at Gunsite?)  In my 35+ years of public service, one of the most rewarding activities was supporting youth shooting programs such as 4-H Shooting Sports and Appleseed.  Teach a young man or woman to be responsible with firearms and it will carry over to life in general.  We have another Youth 250 Pistol week scheduled in July.  (All I ask is a copy of the “What I did on my summer vacation” essay the English Teacher will have them write . . . .)

June is also Flag Day.  “Old Glory” should be flying at your home every day, but certainly on June 14.  Fly her proudly.

Have you thought about Dad for Father’s Day?  What better place to shop than the Gunsite Pro Shop!  We have the perfect “manly” gifts that Dad would be happy to get.  No more ties or golf balls (A waste of a perfectly good rifle range).  We have several items on sale as well as new items.  Shown is an urban camo hawaiian shirt which can be bought in our ProShop.

While I’m discussing the Pro Shop, we had some IT issues related to the web store upgrade and it unfortunately took a bit to diagnose and fix.  (I limp down the shoulder of the information superhighway.  Please don’t ask me to explain it!)  If you had issues checking out, please accept our apologies and try again.  While we are discussing “the information superhighway,” we are trying to learn more and more about Twitter (@GunsiteAcademy), Instagram (#Gunsite) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GunsiteAcademy?ref=aymt_homepage_panel).

If you participate in these modes of communication, please “Like” us and “Follow” us.  We post regularly on these mediums to keep you apprised of happenings and we hope you will help us share the word.

Planning for the GAS Match October 3 is also well underway.  As always, it promises to be “a social event slightly interrupted by gunfire.”  New stages have been designed (Did someone mention Garland Texas and Glock?), new side matches (A suppressor side match is one!) and a new caterer.  The shirt design has been approved, menus discussed, and more.  If you haven’t registered, don’t wait!  We are well over half full!

As we know June will fly by. You need to plan on your Independence Day celebration.  If you have a range available, training and gunfire would be appropriate.  Gunsite Offices and Ranges will be closed on Friday July 3 in observance of Independence Day.  Please note accordingly that staff and their families will be celebrating our Republic’s independence and not here to answer calls, etc. (Shari and I are looking forward to our first Prescott Rodeo Days!)

Gunsite Staff is the best in the world and we can offer the “bona fides” to prove it!  Congratulations to Rangemaster Walt Wilkinson.  We have received report that he won the Hunter Class and Hunter Class Group at the Spring Regional Fifty Caliber Shooter Association 1000 Yard match at the Whittington Center.  He also finished second in Light Gun Score (shooting from the ground against the machine rest guys on the bench).   Congratulations Walt!

 

We hope to see you soon at Gunsite so you can experience the “Gunsite Epiphany” as so many have.

As former Gunsite Rangemaster and outstanding instructor the late Louis Awerbuck was like to say:

“Check 6”

Ken