Constructive Suggestions for AZSA

[Race Bannon]

I'm a huge fan of the concept of Zoot shooting. I strongly admire the guys and gals that have started this sport. My interest in the 1920s-1930s has finally ben met by a shooting sport. I'm trying to form a group in my area, but it's a tough road without a range. I read with some disapointment that there will be no 2010 Championship Zoot Shoot because a host range could not be found. To get Zoot shooting to grow and mature, What are the suggestions you have? Here are mine:

1. Publish more detailed safety rules, caper guides, and how to affiliate a group with the AZSA. This could be a download available from the AZSA website.

2. Help make female shooters welcome. Females should be allowed to use .22 rimfire rifles and pistols. My wife would love to zoot shoot using her Taurus pump action .22 and a .22 handgun. Since it's really about fun, shouldn't women shooting a .22s be welcome? Check out this link for a Thompson look a like conversion of the Ruger 10/22 1022FunGun.com | Home of the 10/22 Fun Gun! - 1022FunGun.com (http://www.1022fungun.com/store/pc/home.asp)

3. Family memberships, get a price break for 2 or 3 family members joining. Even if it is sans T-shirts.

4. Ask active members to post on this forum. There has to be great insight, and experience out there. I'd love to hear some.

5. Put something new on the AZSA website weekly, ask for guest blogs, photos & videos , anything new would be interesting.

Those are mine, fire away!

[Bawanna]

I think anything that helps promote or get the word out about it would be beneficial. To me, other than what little we see here it's a big gray area.
Like any other sport it would be beneficial for new members to be allowed some entry level perhaps less expensive guns, the 22's for woman would be perfect. This allows them to get a feel and see just how serious they want to get about it.
I'd sure love to go see an event if there was one anywhere close by just to see how it plays out.
A rule book that isn't too complicated to laymen would be a great start by itself. Perhaps it exist but I haven't found it. Haven't looked for awhile though.

[jocko]

funny u mentioned that even. We had a pretty big ZOOT shoot this last weekend about 8 miles from my home. Sad to say I hav enot attended one to see how it is all done either.

[Race Bannon]

Jocko, was that a AZSA event or another organization which sponsored the shoot. The closest Zoot shoot to me is about 350 miles. Too far just to go and watch. We really need a club in the Kansas City area.

[jocko]

Jocko, was that a AZSA event or another organization which sponsored the shoot. The closest Zoot shoot to me is about 350 miles. Too far just to go and watch. We really need a club in the Kansas City area.

really don't know. I just seen their sign along the highway pointing to a farm complex. have no idea who is putting it on..

[Race Bannon]

I hope HBOs Boardwalk Empire generates interest in zoot shooting. I also wish The Untouchables would come out again in syndication, this woudl generate interest also.

[Story]

I hope HBOs Boardwalk Empire generates interest in zoot shooting. I also wish The Untouchables would come out again in syndication, this woudl generate interest also.

When Boardwalk Empire is released, media-savvy AZSA organizers might want to invite some print and TV journalists to their shoots. Let a News Cupcake (TM) get dolled up in Flapper outfit, give her a quick safety & fam-fire class, then let her go to town on some targets with a .38 Special.

[The Hustler]

...media-savvy AZSA organizers might want to invite some print and TV journalists to their shoots...

How's this for being media savvy...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203513204576047843270055436.html?m od=WSJ_hpp_RIGHTTopCarousel_1

We're also on the front page of the printed version. Thanks for the advice, Story ;)

[Story]

Yer more than welcome, Bossman. Well done.

PM me when you feel up to talking to some more of them kind of folk.

[Race Bannon]

How's this for being media savvy...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203513204576047843270055436.html?m od=WSJ_hpp_RIGHTTopCarousel_1

We're also on the front page of the printed version. Thanks for the advice, Story ;)

Kudos to you Hustler, the WSJ was a masterstroke of public relations. You guys are "The Cats Meow"!

[The Hustler]

Thanks, guys! Here is some NRA media coverage from the same day of the WSJ front page article...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pR5GO52nZY

There is more to come, stay tuned...

[The Hustler]

Here's a current article in Guns & Ammo Handguns magazine mentioning the Zoot Shooters as a fun, new sport that welcomes 1911s...

http://www.handgunsmag.com/tactics_training/fun_with_1911s_030111/

[Story]

More positive press (even if it's just internetz blogging), from March
http://elmoiscariot.blogspot.com/2011/03/bullets-over-arkham.html

[Story]

Another suggestion is to tailor your 'capers' to mirror historical events, which offers the secondary benefit of educating the public and press.

Here's an ideal "defend the jail against the KKK" backgrounder article

http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/ku-klux-klan-met-its-match-in-putnam-county-in-the-1920s/1257351

From this, we can extract the following -
Given a dozen numbered targets, lowest numbered closest.

1. Draw pistol and engage multiple targets (#1,2,&3)at 3 to 7 feet from a doorway.
2. Secure pistol and door (drop-bar), move to window and engage multiple (#4, 5 & 6)(moving?) targets from 5 to 25 feet.
3. Secure shotgun, move to water pail and douse 'fire'.
4. Return to (second?) window, engage specific (leader, like # 9 and 11) targets at 50 to 75 feet with a carbine.

Twist : you can only engage the Target Numbers called - think of it as only those called are doing something illegal at that time, and the Sheriff can't risk just shooting up the whole crowd.

Note that there are more targets than engagements.

[DeaconKC]

That is a neat idea, it would be a challenging caper.