“Out of adversity, opportunity.”
My latin’s very rusty, but I remember that expression very clearly. In fact, it’s been one I’ve tried to embrace. Life inevitably gives you unexpected twists and turns, but if you’re looking for opportunity in unexpected situations, you’ll find it.
Over the course of time, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and learn from very successful people who took adverse situations and made them turning points in their lives. They never fail to inspire me to stop complaining because things aren’t following my ideal trajectory, and remember that what happens isn’t nearly as important as how you respond to it.
COVID-19 didn’t bring this country together like a “normal” calamity. Instead, it brought our “them-versus-us" attitude more clearly into focus.
Part of the country wants, in fact, needs to go back to work. Another thinks it’s too-soon.
As someone who normally works from home, it’s brought into focus just how fortunate I am.
But listening to someone’s who’s inconvenienced, but still able to work remotely shaming people who must report to their jobs in order to earn a living, I get angry.
If you can work from home, you’re lucky. If you criticized the delivery drivers who delivered your groceries, medication or carryout meals while you’ve “sheltered in place” you are completely oblivious to the real world. For you to survive at home, others have to work outside theirs.
Enough on the divisiveness.
The point today is that the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many people to a realization that the ultimate responsibility for protecting themselves, their families and homes is, ultimately, their job.
They’ve responded by emptying gun store inventories.
Their uncertainty has created terrific opportunity for the entire firearms community.
I’m already hearing how smart retailers aren’t just taking their money and moving to the next customer, they’re reaching out to welcome these new arrivals to the world of responsible gun ownership.
That outreach includes everything from basic maintenance and safety instruction to complimentary range time and free classes. Some have gone so far as to create “buddy systems” ala the scuba world. New shooters are matched with experienced shooters from similar backgrounds.
They’re doing good - and simultaneously creating loyal customers. A win-win deal.
I’ve written many times that the industry doesn’t just need to sell more guns, it needs to create new shooting enthusiasts.
COVID-19 seems to be doing do more to sell guns while simultaneously creating opportunities to tell the truth about guns and gun owners to the previously undecided than anything we’ve ever imagined. Combined with the undeniable push by Democratic legislators to disarm us all at every opportunity during the pandemic, we don’t need to waste time talking to new gun owners about that, they’re already aware and acting on that knowledge.
We need to be welcoming them, teaching them how to be safe and responsible while still helping them learn that shooting, despite the deadly seriousness with which the guns must be handled and stored, is fun.
If we do, we’re going to setback the anti-gun movement, expose the widely-accepted “guns are bad” narrative for the lie that it is, and - wait on it- create another bunch of enthusiastic shooters.
Let’s get busy.
—Jim Shepherd
