For generations, the staccato sounds of BBs or pellets hitting metal targets is music to a shooter's ears. It is the sound of good fun, a challenge that must be mastered, the beginning of a lifelong passion. For many years has been a background score to the NRA Annual Meetings.
The airgun range is among the Annual Meetings favorite and most enduring traditions. Now under the sponsorship of a leading airgun seller, the Pyramid Air Air Gun Range is better and busier than ever. Traffic through the range's 12 firing stations has been brisk throughout the big show in Houston, and on a record-breaking Saturday afternoon, there was an eager line to take a turn at five shots for $1. Most in line held a handful of tickets. "I bought lots" reasoned a teenage Texan named Josh, "because I like to shoot." That was echoed by volunteer Jose Mayol who was selling tickets. "Some people just want to get their feet wet and get one ticket. But almost always they are coming right back through the line." Taking their turns were shooters old and young, ably assisted by some 30 volunteers a day serving as range officers and helping NRA staff in many chores.
Plink, plink, plink. Plink!
"Our mission is to grow the shooting community and help everyone enjoy shooting," explained Val Gamerman, President of Pyramid Air. "I just like to see their faces when they leave. As an online business, we don't normally see the faces of our customers, so this is awesome."
It wouldn't be NRA without shooting, and many believe there wouldn't be shooting without NRA. At the Pyramid Air Air Gun Range, Annual Meetings attendees are adding a new chapter to that legacy.
