Passing It On

Passing it on. Those three simple words lay at the heart of the shooting sports. Though mental vigor is required to master shooting a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, as physical skills each discipline requires practice on the range to acquire the necessary motor skills to achieve proficiency. Experienced shooters almost always have benefitted by an older shooter who took them under wing and showed them the ropes.

As a young editor at Field & Stream, I benefitted from a primary mentor who not only helped me gain the necessary skills of an accomplished copy editor, but also took me to the range so I could improve my basic shooting skills. As I went afield, I found others who were willing to impart their hard-won wisdom and help an eager youngster along.

With all that in mind I direct your attention this month to The Simple Truth, which explains the importance of mentoring. Miles Hall believes that mentoring is a high calling, stating, “I firmly believe the core reason our industry is still around is that we are all part of a ‘mentored’ sport where many knowledgeable, caring souls teach, share, and inspire others. The reason I found an interest in the shooting sports all those years ago was due in part to several folks who took the time to share their lives with a very young man—in the process showing me ‘how it’s done.’ It was exciting to be invited into their world.”

And it is a special world. Though many of my early mentors have passed on, to this day I cherish their memories and the invaluable knowledge they imparted to me—sometimes with a humorous aside, sometimes with a gruff bark. Once an older editor called me to task on an article on which I was working. “What were you thinking?” he asked. I told him. He sat back shook his head, and said, “Well, it wasn’t a good idea then, and it isn’t a good idea now.” I was ready to scamper back to my desk in shame, tail tucked between my legs, but then he proceeded in great detail to explain just where I had gone wrong and how to correct my course. It was a lesson I never forgot.

As new shooters come into our world, it’s import for retailers and range owners to welcome them. As Miles relates, “Being a mentor can start very simply by just being aware of the folks in and around the range or store. Being open to answer any question in a respectful way is critical here. You are the face of the sport. Words, actions, and attitude all tell others 'is this something I can, or even want to, fit into’ or not. A snide remark will instantly turn off a new guest.”

I couldn’t agree more.