Lou Graham, # 26112

I put more pressure on myself when I'm practicing both mentally and pushing physically to make the perfect pickup or shoot faster, or whatever it is I'm working on at that time. I found out a long time ago that I do a lot worse getting all spun out because it's a state, a regional, etc. A stage is a stage is a stage. Every one of them is an opportunity to execute with perfection and a possibility of a train wreak. I can easily pick up on posse members tension, angst, etc and it does have a negative effect on me so I try real hard to not be one of the ones "transmitting" that kind of energy.

I believe the only specific thing is related to external mods. Previous post mentioned a shooter with a mod on the long gun to accommodate his prothesis hook. That's an example of a legal external mod as it's necessary for maintaining control of the firearm. I've shot with several people over the years with various needs. A one-size-fits-all set of hard and fast rules doesn't fit with the reality of the array of ranges we use. Some are dead flat with nice concrete pads, some are built into a dirt cliff that turns into a waterfall if it starts to rain...…….. Some ranges just aren't accessible for wheelchairs and the SASS club most likely is using the range, not in control of it. On an accessible range, we ask the shooter what they need help with (like moving guns to loading table) or what they may need modified in stage instructions (like staging pistols every time) and then we do it.

It's easy to define gun mods, target distance, average number of misses per shooter, etc. The thing that is harder to define is attitude. Some used to refer to it as the Fun Factor. The highly focused and very serious in the posse may not care about that. I'm not saying every good shooter is necessarily a humorless jerk, many love a good laugh here and there during a match. But individual clubs as well as major matches have an attitude or even what could be considered a personality. Some clubs foster and encourage the Fun Factor and some don't. Targets up, tables out, here's the gun placement, here's the target order, shoot. Repeat 5 more times, let's get out of here. No storefronts, no props, no lines, no theme to the match - a slightly tense, efficient machine of 20 people all trying to get it over with as fast as possible. "I shot terrible but I had a GREAT time." is now too often replaced with "I shot terrible." Maybe we should tinker with out attitudes instead of the target placement...……..

Tell Painted Lady Lou says "YEE HAW - are you ready to try BP now?"

Curmudgeon on the outside and a kind heart on the inside. I'll miss that up-to-no-good twinkle in your eye Tom. RIP.

I think the part we're missing here is that anybody can go to the airport, park, stroll into baggage claim and open fire. He didn't have to come on the plane. I've checked guns and ammo many times when I fly. I generally don't bother with the ammo anymore as it's not enough to get through a match and just send it all ground. It can be in a factory box or reloader's box, either is fine as long as it's not over the weight limit. In all the years and times I've flown, I have never been asked for my permit and have only had a couple of nasty people from either the airline or TSA. Often the gun case just comes down with the rest of the luggage, which I don't like. Some airports are more careful and you have to pick it up at the baggage office by showing the claim check or they call your name on the loudspeaker and ask you to meet the baggage person at a specific location. I like that better. Even moving security to the entrance to the airport won't help, he did everything per the rules and would have gotten on the plane, gotten off at his destination, gone to baggage claim and we would have the same result. The issue is how did a mentally unstable person - and a vet to boot - end up not getting the help and attention he needed before he went totally off the deep end and killed a bunch of people?