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 The
physically challenged: who are they and why don't we
see more of them at cowboy shooting matches? I saw two at End of Trail this year, though there may have
been more. One,
The Winchester Kid, was totally confined to a
wheelchair, and the other rode a motorized cart.
I would have liked to have seen more competitors
that are physically challenged, but I guess two out of
over 700 at the SASS World Championship is about
average, but hopefully there were others out there.
I have
seen people at cowboy and silhouette matches without a
hand, an arm, a leg, that were paralyzed, or with other
problems that kept them from walking far or at all.
I always feel an admiration for their
determination and perseverance.
They always seem to have a great attitude, and
they are personable and fun to talk to.
However, I think we may be missing an
opportunity. I
would like to suggest that we take a proactive approach
to encouraging and inviting more physically challenged
shooters. There
are probably many ways we could do this, but here are a
few suggestions. Call your local rehabilitation center, hospitals, and
Veterans Administration and see if you can make a
presentation and pass out materials on cowboy shooting.
See if you can contact those that are interested
and invite them out to a local match.
You may have to design gun leather or firearm
modifications, such as a strap on the end of a rifle or
shotgun or special holsters, that will allow them to
adapt to the shooting scenario.
It might also be a good way to promote your local
club by making flyers about the club and the sport of
cowboy action shooting and making them available to
these potentially new cowboy shooters.
If you have a shooter with a disability in your
club, it would be great to take them with you to put on
a presentation, dressed in appropriate clothing, where
you can show off the guns that you use, as well as talk
about cowboy shooting.
Editorial
Continued
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