New IPSC BC Doubletap

Slavex

Slavex

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ok so I got my new double tap today and read with interest the article by Don Maclahclan (sorry I left it at work and can't remember how to spell his last name). the article basically suggested that it would be in the best interest of us IPSC shooters to not wear camo, have bumper stickers that say things like "Protected by Smith and Wesson", cover up tattoos, especially ones that have skulls in them, and all to keep the image of IPSC free of any crazy looking people. He uses the argument that people that display any of the above will be easy targets for sensationalist seeking reporters and camera operators.
What do you think? I for one disagree, and disagree most vehemently. For years now we've been told to hide ourselves from the press, to be ashamed of owning guns, to keep a "low" profile for fear of offending someone or giving credence to their bias. Bull####, I say, IPSC and shooting general encompasses a lot of different, from a lot of different lifestyles. We should instead be proud of who are members are, and be happy that they come to our matches, tattoos and skulls and all. Instead of running away from possible controversial images or people, we should instead be making an effort to educate people about who are members are, what their interests are, and if that offends some people, too bad, hiding out and playing it all "clean and nice" hasn't worked for us in the past, why even bother anymore. The public isn't so stupid as to not know pumped up sensationalist reporting, and if we as a group of shooters are so scared to show who we really are, then what the hell is the point in coming out. Am I going to be told to take out my fangs, or my piercings because they might be considered extreme? Are the Team Darkside guys going to have to not wear their shirts because they have a skeletal type figure on the back (one who is stealing my fangs by the way ;)), is the new female shooter with all the tats going to be asked to cover those amazing pieces of art?
Seriously if we devote half as much energy to simply promoting the positive aspects of our sport and our glorious group of shooters, in all their colors and thoughts, as we do worrying about the possible "negative angle" some biased reporter might produce, we'd have an organization with twice as many people, at least.
And besides we could all dress up like church boys, the gun hating reporters are still going to do negative stories, that's inevitable. It's best that we set the pace and beat them to the story by making sure the right people report on us.
 
My feeling is that this is 'old school' groupthink, dating back to when rifles were considered ok, but handguns were thought of by and large as the tools of criminals.

I agree with you that hiding away from the public does nothing to help us. If anything it makes us less familiar to them and therefore more disconcerting. We need to be seen using our sporting tools and gear so frequently that people will think of a shooting as death by sporting equipment ....

I think we have a lot in common with the plight of US minority groups in the 1950's and 1960's who eventually found that they needed to assert themselves to gain general respect.
 
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Well written Slavex.

Whether one like tats, piercing etc. they are there and actually show a diversity of people in a SPORT. One must emphasize that this is a SPORT, especially to the media. This also includes plinking and any other type of shooting.

It would be very presumptuous of an organisation to ask you or anyone else to cover up/remove body art/shrapnel. If I was asked to cover up, by an organisation there answer would be "Go f*uck yourself" and if they continued to insist, I'd be gone and bring a lot of friends with me.
 
When anti's see a gun, whether it is a rifle, shotgun, or IPSC racegun, they are afraid, and are already in a defensive mode.

To my way of thinking, no matter how you dress this up or down, they will not be comfortable with it. A gun is a bad thing, and those that wield guns are bad people. You could be out on the range in a three peice suit, but pull out a firearm, you are automatically suspect in their minds.

I think we would go a lot further to stress how safe we are, and how safe the sport is, rather than outward appearances. The anti's by and large don't come out to the range, but if t hey did, I think would be more impressed by a skilled display of safe control of firearms. Then they would come away saying, "well, it's not for me, but they are at least responsible".

My 2 cents.
 
yes I showed my friends at work all those wonderul pictures. They asked if it was dress up like a ### German day when they saw BD's picture :p
 
I agree with you Rob but on another note if we as IPSC shooters have to start dressing like the ### german guy I may have to back to trap shooting:rolleyes:
 
PROTECTING IPSC’s IMAGE

• “Insured by Smith & Wesson”
• “On the seventh day, God bought a handgun”

You’ve seen them: cute bumper stickers; amusing little tags on someone’s range bag; humorous buttons.

A little harmless fun? Maybe -- to us. . . .
But they’re also provocative messages that “prove” to outsiders that competitive pistol shooters are warped and dangerous gun-freaks.
Those in-your-face bumper stickers, those death’s heads on T-shirts, even that camo clothing, are all image-wreckers that shooters in the 2007 IPSC Nationals here would be well advised not to display.
With top shooters coming from around the country and the U.S., we should attract some national media coverage.
Sadly, it is inevitable that some of the reporters will come with well-honed prejudices against guns and shooters – particularly when they find that we use real guns and live ammo.
Then it won’t matter at all what a shooter thinks of her cute bumper sticker or his skull-and-dagger tattoo. What will matter is what the reporter thinks, and the TV camera operator.
Seriously, nobody ever dashed across the street to buy a newspaper with the headline: “Bank clerk retires at 65, never stole penny in life.”
To “sell” the story to an editor, and to give the editor something in turn to “sell” to the public, the reporter visiting an IPSC range will immediately look for the controversial.
That “Insured by Smith & Wesson” sticker gives the reporter what he or she needs: an angle that the boss – and then the audience -- will find controversial and therefore interesting.
Imagine the “teaser” on TV promoting the Six O’Clock News tonight: “‘On the seventh day, God bought a handgun.’ On tonight’s news, the gun-freaks who are firing thousands of rounds of live pistol ammunition in your neighbourhood.”
Accompany that with video of death’s-head T-shirts or of an arm tattooed with a skull firing a racegun, and the story is a winner for the TV station or the newspaper.
Is that fair? Not in the least.

But if it attracts viewers and readers, then it’s certainly “fair” from the competitive business perspective of the news director, managing editor, and radio station owner.

And we would have brought the lousy image on ourselves.
So let’s not. Not at the 2007 Nationals and not even at our local games.
Let’s instead present our sport as what it is: challenging, interesting, safe, and about as threatening to the TV viewer and newspaper reader as the local fencing club and the weekend archery range.

Let’s all be aware, and thoughtful, and careful. Let’s peel off the smart-ass bumper stickers and put away the goofy buttons. Wear something other than that death’s-head shirt. And if you have a skull-and-dagger tattoo on your arm, wear a long-sleeved shirt to the range.

After all, that spectator watching you could be sizing up his shot – and just about to call a cameraman over to film it.
 
Oh my God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay maybe not my god as that would be pollitically incorrect. I wondered how long before sensorship would really attack our sport and here it is. Everyone has valid points but ... Sorry i will write more later after i take my kids to school,,,in their urban camo and skull tee shirts.

Kelly
Okay im at work now, First i would like to say Bravo to Rob, well written and i am impressed(sorry this dosnt mean i want to cuddle). Also Mark points are well made and seeing as massive development is encroaching on Burke where the Nationals are going to be held the club will be very visual and most likely well publisized. Im sure they dont want to offend anyone and as shooters we get picked on alot.

Now having said that, yes here it comes, we need to make a list of all things potentially offencesive.

1: police uniforms, somebody might mistake IPSC as aggressive training
2: Lawyers robes, sorry Steve somebody might think your Darth Vader
3: Camo Clothing, we dont want anyone to be mistaken for a tree or dirt
4: Tattoo's,,,,er i got nothin oh thats it "Ya might be a biker" oooo scarry
5: Colored hair, somebody might mistake you for Henning Walgren or a phat Brian bosworth
6:Jewelry depicting firearms, yep Ya might be a redneck,,,,,guilty
7:Reading the Koran,Bible or Fahrenhiet 451, Nuff said on that one
8: Shiny chrome gun, ya might be mistaken for a rapper
9: Bone thru the nose, yep nobody trusts a cannibal
10:Trailer hitch with Glock logo, Crazy blonde with a gun, need i say more!
11: Clothing with plunging necklines, NO COMMENT
12:Anything with "Smoking Gun" on it, you figure it out and again GUILTY
13:Fangs, i think biteing is all that needs to be said ahahahaha
14:Hawaiin Shirts, Ya might be an american or a redneck Hi Cliff
15:Liscence plates depicting anything to do with shooting,,,,,DVC, Bammerz Ha gotya both
16:Tshirt with "Gobble this II", hmmmmm lets ponder the meaning
17: Team Darkside, cant trust these sneeky bas..ds, trophy hoarding monsters
18: Team Dragon????? errr oh no godzilla, sorry thats the best i got
19: Opinionated grumpy old dudes,,,oops that would wipe out half the IPSC population,
yah im goin to get flak for that one but i didnt want to leave anyone out.
20: Suspenders, yep yas might be a redneck or a lawyer or a grumpy old dude
21: Ninja's, arent you dangerous enough already, i mean really!

My question is what do we wear that wont offend anyone, i say no to plaid.
I love this thread, feel free to hijack. I appoligize for those i may have offended,living or undead and the views may not exactly reflect those of the author or this establishment.

Lov ya Mean it, i need a cuddle as i feel soiled

Please feel free to add more as when it comes to political correctness do we even know when to draw the line
 
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Busta Capp said:
When anti's see a gun, whether it is a rifle, shotgun, or IPSC racegun, they are afraid, and are already in a defensive mode.

To my way of thinking, no matter how you dress this up or down, they will not be comfortable with it.
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Not exactly.

Antis are not the people that we need to influence. Their minds are made up. They hate us. They will do everything in their power to remove our firearms. Period.

It's the person who is neither pro gun nor anti gun; on the fence that needs to be influenced, as they are the people we need to stop antis, bad politicians, and bad laws.

Proper education as to our sports and pastimes is essential. We're good people, not hurting anyone, having a great time.

Like it or not, the fact of the matter is that 99.9% of people are prejudiced by your appearance; in milliseconds, they make an assumption (be it positive or negative) about you before you even get to open your mouth. We simply have yet to evolve past it.

In order to convey who we really are to the "no-opinion people" we must at first be non-threatening and open, otherwise we will send them to the antis for their "education". :eek:

I'm not coming out for or against the article, (I really don't know where a line can be drawn) just tossing in my 2 cents.
 
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I can understand the no camo argument due to being labelled with the para military training issues .
As for the rest of it , give me a break .
No matter how sanitized you try to make IPSC it will never be PC ( unless it goes paintball or airsoft )
Today Bikers are nothing more than discovery channel firemen , Tatoo's are so wide spread it would be impossible to label to one group ( discovery channel again ) .
Polite society no longer wears a suit and tie only , today most people celibrate our diversity .
If you want to create a lasting positive impression its all about projecting a positive attitude ( ie : happy/open/welcome) and not about your actual "image".
JMO
 
diggler said:
And remember kids " Say no to Zombie Hunter t-shirts"
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If you're talking about the Canadian Undead Neutralization Teams shirts...I couldn't agree more (although I suspect you were trying to be sarcastic)

They are completely offensive to a portion of the Recreation Firearms community that we work hard to encourage...the ladies.

I have yet to see one at an IPSC match in Ontario...nor do I ever expect to...

I'm not suggesting we all become PC...but going that far out of your way to be offensive is hardly helping our cause.

...just because you can...doesn't mean you should.
 
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This has to be one of the most relevant posts in our sport. The issues discussed here perfectly describe the strangle hold on our sports popularity and publicity. With some small acceptions Rob's post really hit home. As Dan can attest, this dilema is eastcoast and west. I personally have faced huge barriers in the short year my son and I have been shooting IPSC. We had the pleasure of shooting with Rob through the Nat's. He was a huge influence on my son as well as myself. He coached to perfect strangers not only in skill development but the sport politics and how to avoid conflict. It was a pleasure Rob, watch out for BD he's trouble. We have had a great season.We have shot all over Ontario, Quebec, Vermont and New York. My son's first
season was amazing, he ended up #3 junior in the province.....Not bad for a 78lb 12 year old. Last week after my son came back from the "Eric Clinic"
my wife (who is not a shooter) said to me that it was to bad no one would do a sport's write up on Curt accomplishments over the year. I explained to my wife that there had been many offer's and I refused. Can someone tell me why that is? Why do I not allow my son to tell of his exploits to his freinds at school? I feel like we have to live two lives and this does not seem fair. Maybe someone can tell me why this sport can not be publisized? Rob was right, I know many proffesional people who could care less of what others think of their clothes, body piercings or tatoo's. OK so they do not cary guns
but an earlier statement I read holds true, there are a lot more people on the fence than are out to see us disarmed. Maybe we are newbies and do'nt know "the real picture" but much like minorities, if we ignore it or try to hide it, we will always be haunted. Now if we can all get together....... well who
knows.

Sig
DVC
 
yeah, if the sport went totally PC and you were forced to wear some sort of PC clothing ...or whatever... I would do something else with my time.

I have seen camo at some matches..and I really dont care. WE should maybe focus on getting more members not alienating some that already shoot because of attire or appearance.

To say somebody shouldnt shoot because of attire or appearance is really offensive. Whats next no black people? The idea of some petty beurocrat deciding what is and what isnt allowed is pretty much the antithesis of the firearms community... or at least it should be...

seems some feel differently.
 
USP said:
yeah, if the sport went totally PC and you were forced to wear some sort of PC clothing ...or whatever... I would do something else with my time.

I have seen camo at some matches..and I really dont care. WE should maybe focus on getting more members not alienating some that already shoot because of attire or appearance.

To say somebody shouldnt shoot because of attire or appearance is really offensive. Whats next no black people? The idea of some petty beurocrat deciding what is and what isnt allowed is pretty much the antithesis of the firearms community... or at least it should be...

seems some feel differently.
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I think you're kinda missing the point.
You're not being forced to wear any PC clothing, it is being suggested that there are some things you probably shouldn't wear. You don't have to obey - it's only a suggestion.

If you want to focus on getting more members, don't scare them off by looking like a wanna be Rambo. People will not see our sport as a sport, but as a bunch of rednecks playing weekend soldier.

Don't bring race into the discussion.

Unfortunately, petty beurocrats have already decided what is and what isn't allowed. That's a whole issue on its own.
 
^Camo isnt an issue for me, as I wouldnt wear it to an IPSC match anyways. I think I was #####in more about those who are always looking for more and more rules..

The whole suggestion is sort of stupid. Honestly would it put you off shooting with some guy/girl who had lots of tats? Or tonnes of piercings? Or who was wearing odd clothes? For me as long as they are friendly I dont really care..

The media is always gonna put a bad spin on it no matter what.
 
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