Mike Yardley's positiveshooting.com - Facebook

[Sixshot6]

Really don't think the gaming outreach is that good an idea.

You should never discount something wholly, even if you don't quite get all the people you wanted, its a win if you get some, or even get some people to hear your side of the argument and see that things the other side says about you is often wrong. Best to go in with eyes wide open and keep a neutral mindset. Plus you never know, not everyone of the COD gen is a sexist violent narcissist. Actually engaging might bring in the people who are pretty sensible and be able to help you engage further. Like I said, we recruit or we don't. Also get some PR going too.

[Alpha1]

You should never discount something wholly, even if you don't quite get all the people you wanted, its a win if you get some, or even get some people to hear your side of the argument and see that things the other side says about you is often wrong. Best to go in with eyes wide open and keep a neutral mindset. Plus you never know, not everyone of the COD gen is a sexist violent narcissist. Actually engaging might bring in the people who are pretty sensible and be able to help you engage further. Like I said, we recruit or we don't. Also get some PR going too.

Not quite sure I understand the above I do know that COD refers to the Call of Duty gaming series. I don't understand the reference to the COD gen. I'm 64 I assume you mean generation. I have every copy of the game for PC starting from COD2 I map for it play in sniping league's for it and have been involved in the experience from day one. So its definitely not a generation thing.

[Sixshot6]

You should never discount something wholly, even if you don't quite get all the people you wanted, its a win if you get some, or even get some people to hear your side of the argument and see that things the other side says about you is often wrong. Best to go in with eyes wide open and keep a neutral mindset. Plus you never know, not everyone of the COD gen is a sexist violent narcissist. Actually engaging might bring in the people who are pretty sensible and be able to help you engage further. Like I said, we recruit or we don't. Also get some PR going too.

Not quite sure I understand the above I do know that COD refers to the Call of Duty gaming series. I don't understand the reference to the COD gen. I'm 64 I assume you mean generation. I have every copy of the game for PC starting from COD2 I map for it play in sniping league's for it and have been involved in the experience from day one. So its definitely not a generation thing.

I didn't think of it like that, I just use it unconsciously I guess. I think some of the videos mentioned use the term to refer to the large demographic of young people who play that stuff. For future's sake they are the one's to engage with. It's no less of bad than engaging with people who played Cowboys and Indians as children. I guess I used the Gen/generation to refer to that group as I mentioned. There are players of all age groups as there are people who shoot of all age groups. You can do both and enjoy them. It helps to have outside interests. My interests have been in the Metal gear series as the story telling has generally been top notch (the next game will deal the subject of child soldiers among other things). But for the people my age and younger, as that video Fedyakin uploaded shows, you'd be surprised what you'd get for shooting by engaging with them. Most people are smart enough to know the difference between real world and computer generated violence and can keep the two separate while being taken to do some shooting.

Like I said earlier, the NRA/BASC need to put some funds to use with having a PR company or even a full time rep. Most professional organizations have a PR rep. Also better use of social media is a must. Some here might groan at that suggestion but it will make the world of difference.

[Fedaykin]

Really don't think the computer/xbox/PS4 gaming outreach is that good an idea, what about County Fairs and Game Shows for shooters?

Country fairs and Game Shows for shooters? They already have a strong shooting presence with BASC in particular running multiple stands. It would hardly be outreach considering the vast majority of people who attend both have at least some kind of exposure to shooting.

Outreach into the computer gaming community is frankly an untapped frontier. Why is outreach into a group of people who have a surprising knowledge of guns and a significant disposable income yet probably never handled a real gun a bad idea?

[Sixshot6]

Plus the idea of outreach is by definition reaching out to people you've had contact with and as I said it doesn't hurt to try.

[James K]

Really don't think the gaming outreach is that good an idea.

You should never discount something wholly, even if you don't quite get all the people you wanted, its a win if you get some, or even get some people to hear your side of the argument and see that things the other side says about you is often wrong. Best to go in with eyes wide open and keep a neutral mindset. Plus you never know, not everyone of the COD gen is a sexist violent narcissist. Actually engaging might bring in the people who are pretty sensible and be able to help you engage further. Like I said, we recruit or we don't. Also get some PR going too.

OK, I see your point.

[Sixshot6]

Correction I meant to say no contact with before and it doesn't hurt to try I feel.

[DaveFirearmsUK]

Regarding the CoD Generation(probably my generation as i've grown up with some of the earlier games) I've taken a few workmates who are keen "gamers" clay shooting and they enjoyed it. They weren't any less safe or mentally unstable. If anything they were much more interested in it and experiencing the real thing. They just didn't know how to do it.

[Sixshot6]

Regarding the CoD Generation(probably my generation as i've grown up with some of the earlier games) I've taken a few workmates who are keen "gamers" clay shooting and they enjoyed it. They weren't any less safe or mentally unstable. If anything they were much more interested in it and experiencing the real thing. They just didn't know how to do it.

And that is where we come in then I presume Dave? We show, we show them our point of view, even if they don't do more than a couple of times shooting, and only a few get FAC/SGC's, we get more people on our side. Its a win, win as far as I'm concerned. And after that, a PR agent, better use of Social media (there are people out there who know how to get the most out of it, look at Pewdiepie the youtube lets play guy, he's a millionaire off what he does and while there are likely no repeats of that, we can still use that for our purposes).

[DaveFirearmsUK]

Definitely in order to secure and improve the future prospects of shooting we do need to get more people out and about having a shot( I understand it's harder for clubs right enough). I've taken about 15-20 people for their first try at shooting so far I've only had one person apply for a certificate but everyone walked away smiling at the experience, it was totally new to all of them, they all enjoyed it, some want to come back with other friends. The important thing is as you say it changes opinions and creates positive outlooks.

Also everyone I asked was happy to sign our then current .22 pistol petition(puts some shooters to shame) after having the experience and other people who I didn't get the chance to take out also signed when I brought it up and explained a few facts to them. Many people only go by what they are fed by the media, I've found a lot of older people are a bit stuck in their ways but many younger people are more prepared to accept facts. I think a great problem is that our system is designed to put people off who may be more interested in shooting as a casual hobby.

I messed about with some calculations a year or so ago. Right now we are about 1% of the British population if every shooter could introduce 1 new person to shooting each year and lead to them applying for a certificate and maintain that ratio within a certificate lifetime almost half the British population would have certificates or experienced shooting. It might be very optimistic but that would be a serious game changer, especially if new people have a progressive mindset.