It is not my usual practice to spread negative information about any person, club or organization. But, today I make an exception. Since relocating to the Port Orchard area, my husband and I have been scouting prospective shooting facilities in the area. My husband, (Vietnam Vet), enjoys long range rifle shooting, and it requires an outdoor facility. In my usual way, I first went to Google to find ranges in the area. Gig Harbor Sportsman Club is the closest to our location. Shooting at an outdoor range can be very enjoyable, in good weather. As I currently teach women’s classes, I thought there might also be a chance to offer some classes at their facility as well. Many women from the area have asked if I offer anything on “this side of the bridge”, (Tacoma Narrows). The answer is always the same, “No, I don’t access to a range.”
Living in the outskirts of Port Orchard is beautiful and peaceful. And, there is no cell phone reception. So most of my communication with the outside world is through email.
I contacted the Gig Harbor Sportsman Club, by email, and requested information about their membership and facility. I explained that my husband and I enjoyed shooting as a sport, and that my husband was a Vietnam Vet. Often clubs will honor the vets with discounts. I was honest and up front about my interest to offer women’s classes. I had been warned in advance by a couple of friends that this club was run by a group of “Good ole boys”. Nothing new, really, in the gun community.
The following is the first response to my request, and I quote:
“The Gig Harbor Sportsman’s Club has very stringent protocol and qualifications as to who is able to use the facility for teaching firearms related classes.” No other rhetoric. Nothing was mentioned about us joining the club. I responded by saying I was glad they are so safety conscious, and asked if I might be told what those protocols and qualifications were.
The following is the 2nd response to my request, and I quote:
Mission Statement “To provide a facility and organization that safely, enjoyably, and economically allows our members, guests, and our community to participate in the shooting sports and fellowship of the Club.”
I guess a woman shooter and her husband who is a veteran of the Vietnam war does not deserve the same treatment as everyone else in the community. This kind of attitude is exactly why I teach women only classes.
*This experience has prompted me to not only write this post, but create a new category titled “Not Women Friendly”.
Gig Harbor UnSportsmanlike Club – Don’t go there.
Janice said:
Well stated. Thank you for the comment.
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tacticalprofessor said:
This utter lack of social skills and understanding of context is far too representative of those who run gun clubs and shooting ranges. Whenever I have occasion to deal with owners, directors, or managers, I gird my loins for an unpleasant experience. That doesn’t always happen but it does often enough that I have found it a wise precaution.
As a former boss of mine remarked about someone in our office, “that guy needs to take a Dale Carnegie course.”
I would recommend NSSF invite a Dale Carnegie speaker to the next SHOT Show but I doubt anyone in the industry would attend. 😃
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