BLAZE Magazine Special Edition 2006-2016 | Page 41
Outdoors & Education
CHIP McEWEN
T HE I NSTRUCTOR ’ S C ORNER
T
FEAR vs. FACTS
he members of Outdoor Women
Unlimited (OWU) who are Accepting
No Limits can be found on a wide
continuum of outdoor enthusiasts.
This presents a challenge to feature some
information that will be encouraging to
that wide range of experience. Beginning a
journey with encouragement to just do it as
well as for the experienced women to see
their role as challenged mentors exemplifies
the OWU vision-to lead the organization into
the next decade of service to women.
As a volunteer NRA firearms instructor with
Outdoor Women Unlimited, my service has
been rewarding and enjoyable. The personal
satisfaction received when the “light bulb” of
understanding turns on “makes my day! This
usually signals a degree of confidence and
understanding.
However, an unpleasant emotion by being
aware of danger can rise up within us and
the light bulb dims. This will hold someone
back in many things in life, its name is FEAR.
In my work career in providing training
for team building and sales management
this was a topic that was so simple to see
but was the first thing that had to really be
overcome to build a high performing team
or make the sales presentation. Some of the
most memorable and exciting moments we
remember are when we conquer it.
In training classes I try to help students
understand that FEAR is not their enemy and
is easily defeated!!! Just remember that FEAR
is really False Evidence Appearing Real. So
to defeat this “self-limiting” thinking we just
need to replace it with FACTUAL EVIDENCE
consisting of new learned behaviors which
bring success or simple facts
Accept No Limits | outdoorwomenunlimited.org
Competent training in an activity from
certified experienced Instructors helps
provide, truth in fact, that an activity can
be completed safely. In my experience with
members of Outdoor Women Unlimited,
who have participated in OWU Classics or
attended OWU sponsored training courses,
have faced their FEAR and with new learned
behaviors no longer are concerned about
touching/handling a firearm.
When these “light bulbs” turn on the new
person becomes an outdoor enthusiast.
The more experienced realize how they
have personally witnessed the birth of an
enthusiast and see their obligation to mentor
these persons.
Go to outdoorwomenunlimited.org and read
all the stories about all the OWU members
who faced their FEAR of “IF I HAD NOT”
and were successful on their hunts. They
defeated the FEAR and replaced it with the
actual FACTUAL experience.
As OWU moves into its next decade, each
member has the opportunity to turn FEAR
into FEARLESSNESS! You are a part of
an organization which is helping in the
movement to increase the participation of
women in the outdoor “laboratory of life!”
They say you can “lie with statistics” but
people like to use “statistics” to prove FACTS.
So, here are a few statistics and put the
challenge to defeat FEAR in your hands.
Whether you are that new member just
beginning or the experienced member
who is leading the way as a mentor, the
information below will share awareness to
the “fastest” growing population in firearm
participation today.
FACTS
-- National Shooting Sports Foundation
(NSSF) reports participation by women
INCREASED in both target shooting (46.5%)
and hunting (36.6%) over the last decade.
-- A 2009 NSSF survey reported the number
of women purchasing guns for personal
defense increased a whopping 83%.
-- According to the DOJs Bureau of Justice
Statistics, U.S. gun related homicides
DROPPED 39% over the course of 18 years
from 1993 to 2011.
-- FBI background checks for gun purchases
in 2012 totaled 19.6 million which was a
new annual record and a 19% increase
over 2011.
-- Introducing outdoor recreation and
physical activities early in life has a lasting
effect. Among adults who are current
outdoor participants, 75% had physical
education and 42% enjoyed outdoor
activities in elementary school according to
the 2015 Outdoor Foundation report.
-- The total number of women hunters surged
by 25 percent between 2006 and 2011, after
holding steady for a decade, according to
Census Bureau statistics. At last count, 11
percent of all U.S. hunters were women,
compared to 9 percent in 2006.
ff you have any questions about this article or
firearms in general please feel free to contact
me at [email protected].
Chip McEwen is a NRA Training Counselor &
Chief Range Safety Officer.
SPECIAL EDITION 2006-2016 |
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