“If we don’t improve at cultivating new hunters and shooters, the sport we love and industry we work in will eventually die away. That’s a strong diagnosis, but a realistic one. Like many enthusiast sports in this busy, competitive world, people are leaving faster than new ones are coming in — and this is a recipe for industry-wide trouble down the road.”
“Shooting for a New Audience: Reaching New Demographics is Critical to Our Industry,” Shooting Sports Retailer, May/June 2007
“If you’re a kid looking for your first rifle, this is the gun you need to tell your parents about.”
“Marlin’s New Kid-Friendly Rifles,” NRA Family InSights, January 2, 2014
“I can’t remember how old he was, exactly, when he shot his first firearm – I think he was probably 8 years old – but I know he was around 10 when he shot his first machine gun.”
“Children and Guns – An Iowa Fail,” Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, April 21, 2014
“Lenin was famously quoted as saying ‘Give me just one generation of youth, and I’ll transform the whole world.’ With this in mind, developing the next generation in the shooting sports isn’t just a business decision: The survival of the firearms world depends on the political will of those who come after us, which is a direct result of their involvement in the shooting sports.”
“The Best Guns for Smaller Shooters,” Shooting Sports Retailer, April 30, 2015
“And of course, the problem with failing to recruit and grow is that numbers equate to political power. In an era when the private ownership and use of firearms, the right to ‘keep and bear arms,’ has come under increasing pressure, numbers and a young, vital membership are critical.”
“Is the Shooting Industry Getting it All Wrong?,” Shooting Sports Retailer, July 31, 2015
“What market isn’t tied to juniors? I really can’t think of any. Military and law enforcement firearms have civilian versions which are applicable. The Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) market has firearms which hold 10-rounds which is the limit for IDPA [International Defensive Pistol Association] competition. When the junior turns 21 they can get a CCW permit. What do they buy? It is usually a gun from a manufacturer they are familiar with.”
“A Word from Your Editor,” Junior Shooters, Spring 2012
“[W]e’re talking about a tiny gun intended for the very youngest shooters — the ultimate first gun. ‘We’re targeting the six- to 12-year-old range….’ With the number of hunters declining, it’s crucial to get kids introduced to the sport as early as possible. The HotShot [youth rifle] means that even the youngest shooters now have a gun sized just for them.”
“Test Fire: Thompson/Center HotShot,” NRA Family, January 2, 2014
“To help hunting and target shooting get a head start over other activities, stakeholders such as managers and manufacturers should target programs toward youth 12 years old and younger. This is the time that youth are being targeted with competing activities.”
“It is important to consider more hunting and target shooting recruitment programs aimed at middle school level, or earlier.”
Understanding Activities that Compete with Hunting and Target Shooting, 2011 Comprehensive Consumer Study, Executive Summary, National Shooting Sports Foundation, 2012
“[Y]outh ambassadors and others should focus on getting newcomers to take a first step into target shooting through any means, whether a BB or pellet gun, paintball gun, or archery bow. The point should be to get newcomers started shooting something, with the natural next step being a move toward actual firearms. Initial interest, however, should be embraced in whatever form it presents itself. “
Understanding the Impact of Peer Influence on Youth Participation in Hunting and Target Shooting, Executive Summary, Hunting Heritage Trust and National Shooting Sports Foundation, 2012
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