Fear & Loading: Who Are the Real New Firearm Enthusiasts?

by
posted on September 16, 2016
senior_shooter.jpg

Most assume the record-setting gun-sales trend is fueled exclusively by a young generation of enthusiasts. Anecdotal evidence, which includes comments from store owners and the success of an all-new style of shooting ranges often called “Guntry Clubs,” support the claims, but senior citizens are also a growing part of the market.

Let’s face facts. Baby boomers are retiring and not all of them are interested in knitting or bingo.  A recent story in the Kansas City Star detailed one of that area’s gun ranges, where senior citizens line up for early morning firing lanes. Shooters interviewed in the article list a variety of reasons for their enthusiasm, including self-defense.

Gun ownership and training by Social Security recipients is paying huge dividends. Several recent incidents highlight the trend. In New Mexico, a 70-year-old man neutralized a criminal threat  by trumping a bad guy’s hockey stick with his .38 Spl. A 91-year-old Michigan man was forced to shoot an alleged robber outside a Rite Aid. No one was injured in this South Carolina incident, but the 80-year-old great grandfather is undoubtedly happy he didn’t forget his .25 ACP handgun that day.

If you know a senior citizen who expresses concern about their safety, it’s a great opportunity to politely bring up these stories and suggest quality NRA training. I had that chance last week when a woman—who retired 10 years ago from government service—was one of the people on my flight with an overnight delay. The flight attendant asked me to help her get to the hotel, I obliged, and the conversation in the shuttle was interesting. She brought up the subject of increasing crime in her neighborhood. Her husband owns guns, but “He said if I used one the robber would only grab it and use it on me,” she explained.

I told her criminals neutralize the primary threat first, in this case her husband, and that delay often leaves the spouse with a temporary advantage. I cited several instances, but here’s a recent case just in case you run into the same rebuttal.

No one should be injured or killed in a criminal attack, and no family deserves to lose a grandparent or loved one that way. I closed the conversation, as I always do, with the advice that if gun ownership and training isn’t an option, attending one of the NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim seminars is a great way to minimize risk and exposure.     

Latest

Remington 700 Bdl Ihtog 1
Remington 700 Bdl Ihtog 1

I Have This Old Gun: Remington 700 BDL

After Winchester came out with its iconic Model 70, Remington Arms had catching up to do in the sporting-rifle market. Eventually, its answer was the Model 700, a gun that became one of the most recognized bolt-action designs of all time.

New For 2024: EAA Girsan MC9 Disruptor

European American Armory's latest addition to its MC9 handgun line is aptly named, as the Disruptor is intended to provide an incredible range of features at a price point below other similar options.

I Have This Old Gun: Marlin 1894 Trapper

Collectors refer to these shortened carbines as “trappers,” but that term was never officially used by either Winchester or Marlin. Winchester referred to them as “Baby Carbines” or “Special Short Carbines” on the rare occasions when they were cataloged.

The Rifleman Report: From The ''Inside Out''

The term “inside out” can be taken literally or applied as a phrase to describe the thoroughness with which an idea is understood. In this month’s issue, we hope to illustrate that the latter especially is used as a guiding principle to keep the American firearm industry at the top of its game.

Colt CZ Group Makes Offer For Vista's Ammo Brands

Colt CZ Group made an unsolicited proposal to purchase the Sporting Products Division of Vista Outdoor, which includes Federal, CCI, Remington Ammunition and others.

Review: Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal

Firearm trends appear to be a virtual pendulum at times—it isn’t uncommon to see a theme grab hold of the industry only to be reversed entirely some years later.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.