Invasive Species Alert

Zombies in the Heartland-Pandemic 2014, will include 10 stages and five side matches with targets that emulate the pleasing manner in which movie zombies fall over, walk and even explode.

“Shooters are encouraged to bring their ARs, AKs, shotguns, pistols and all the…magazines they can carry, because this event will test their skills,” said Neil Davies, marketing director for Hornady Manufacturing. “With a fun, challenging course of fire, Pandemic 2014 promises to attract shooters from all over the country.”

Don’t criticize the whole fake-zombie approach until you attend one of these matches as an observer. As always, gun safety is first and foremost. But I was shocked how the theme adds a stress-relieving level of fun for recreational shooters-bringing many of them back year after year in costume as if it’s an Addams Family Reunion. Hornady has cartridges specifically for the sport, and plainly states on its Zombie Max web page, “No human being, plant, animal, vegetable or mineral should ever be shot with Hornady Zombie Max ammunition. Again, we repeat, Hornady Zombie Max ammunition is for use on ZOMBIES ONLY, and that’s not a nickname, phrase or cute way of referring to anybody, place or thing. When we say Zombies, we mean….ZOMBIES!”

Zombies in the Heartland-Pandemic 2014 will take place at the Heartland Shooting Park, near Grand Island, Neb., home of Hornady ammunition. And in the interest of fair reporting, people with undying zest for ensuring the rights of the undead have started a Zombie Rights Campaign.