INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Independence Day is a grand holiday for the Republic, but especially for the Gunsite family. Celebrating the day that guaranteed our unalienable rights is an unprecedented event every year. I still fondly think back on the young woman who publicly recited the Pledge of Allegiance for the second time since achieving her US citizenship prior to her Gunsite 250. She was rightfully emotional and proud!
We must share some very sad news with the Gunsite family. Long-time Rangemaster and recently retired Gunsite Gunsmith Mike Moore was killed in a traffic accident last week just north of Prescott. It is presumed that he suffered a medical event causing his crash. Ranger, his faithful companion service dog, survived the crash. Please keep his wife Bea, sister Bridgett and Ranger and family in your prayers. When we learn details of services, we shall share them on social media.
July starts out with one of our favorite classes: Youth 250 Pistol! We have twenty (20) young Americans arriving for their cook-out on the Gunsite Mess Deck on the afternoon of July 4 to meet their new friends. Class starts Monday 0730 with Gary Smith, Verlin Rector, Jay Tuttle and Schylar Cloudt. Their class is the same as the double 250 classes that run simultaneously next week. (Well, the same except they have young eyes, fewer bad habits and do not moan and groan and snap, crackle, and pop when they recover from kneeling and prone!)
We also have a BRAVE Carbine and Edged Weapons courses underway. It will be another full house.
As July continues, I get to teach the 150 Pistol Course in Lebanon IN, the Nashville Simulator Class at our partner Royal Range in Nashville, another popular Pistol Range Day, Youth 350, private classes for two US Probation Offices, media events, Youth 499, Tactical Concealed Carry Pistol, Youth 270 Rifle, Carbine Range Day, Colorado 123 Basic Carbine, Colt 1911 and AR Armorer’s classes, and more. Needless to say, July is not a slow month at the Gunsite Ranch. (Remember that we are 15-20 degrees cooler than Phoenix, so do not let the weather intimidate you and not schedule a class.
On July 31, we host the Larry Landers Memorial Match. Larry was a long-time Rangemaster at Gunsite and retired Arizona DPS. He passed earlier this year and we are hosting a shooting match in his honor, with proceeds going to Tunnels to Towers. Lunch is included. So, plan on a fun day honoring Larry, shooting with like-minded folks and supporting a great charity. https://www.gunsite.com/classes/larry-landers-memorial-shoot/
New classes under consideration for 2022. With comments by the Executive Branch recently, we are looking at courses in combat flight instruction with the F-15. The tuition and prerequisites may be hefty. Now, there may be some issues with the materials for the nuclear weapon class, but we are looking.
The 2022 calendar is up on the website: https://www.gunsite.com/events/category/gunsite-classes/
Remember if you enroll in 2021 for a 2022 class, you do not pay the slight tuition increase. With training numbers at record numbers, it may be wise to get enrolled so you get the class and time period you wish.
Let me close with a portion of an email I received this morning from a recent Gunsite graduate. With respect to the gun scribes that are kind to us in their articles, this is a concise report of her 250 class:
“Even though I’m a firearms instructor, I make it clear to my students that I am a first step. There is much more to learn and much more training needed to safely carry. A basic class is a FIRST step only. My trip to Gunsite proved that in an even deeper way.
Gunsite takeaways:
You don’t know what you don’t know.
You can be a dead ringer on a paper target with bullseyes all day long, but that doesn’t mean that you can accurately hit a nondescript target that mimics a more real experience under pressure.
Pressure is ESSENTIAL to training and all of the shooting in the world doesn’t create the pressure that instructors who are military and law enforcement veterans can add to the experience.
Don’t question real wisdom. Listen and learn from those who have been in the fire. Those guys are like oak trees and will know more than I will ever know. (Even the one who seemed to have it out for me )
1.5 seconds is……… well, FAST.
Don’t jump to draw when the target clicks away from you. Paul will yell. And don’t do it twice either. Paul will yell again. (and he’s correct)
I’m not as attentive to surroundings as I think I am. Clearing a room, I can miss an ENTIRE window. It was a BIG window. How?
Gunsite is everything good that I heard it was and I loved every minute.
I left completely unafraid to shoot a test in front of a ton of strangers and love my Glock.
Sometimes when you ask a stranger to take a photo of your group, it turns out he is a professional photographer from a well known magazine. (and Wendy thinks she can teach him how to use an iPhone camera)
Ken Campbell is as nice as he seems in the videos.
Ed Head is as nice as Ken Campbell.
The Pro Shop is an addicting place.
Lunch is great.
The House On Gunsite Road is the nicest place to stay.
My friends are the best traveling buddies and nighttime giggles make for great memories, even if you are old.
My daughter and husband were gems holding down the fort here at home.”
Thanks for sharing the kind words Donna. Please continue to share your knowledge you learned here at Gunsite and we hope to see you back.
The Offices and Ranges at Gunsite Academy will close at Noon on July 1, re-opening Monday morning July 5 so our staff can appropriately celebrate Independence Day.
Celebrate safely and appropriately!
DVC,
Ken
