Holland&Holland wrote:I thought you said they could not afford $500? Yet now you say they have discretionary income.
Also, no one in there mid 40s was buying guns in 1982 unless it used rolls of caps.
Get adults out if you want you should have plenty of funds to do so with your firearm investments. But, don't poo poo those of us who get kids out.
My wife's step mother lives in government funded assisted living, she has discretionary income but a mere $50 would seem a fortune to her.
discretionary income is just that, one's choice. If one cannot justify the expenditure to themselves of one thing over another then it is unaffordable regardless of the cost of the first item or the income of the person. That may be a difficult idea to some but I learned it in a high school economics class. I also learned it with my foray into golf. It was fun in my early teens as dad picked up the tab but when he decided I should pay my own way I dropped it. I had the clubs, balls, tees, etc but the cost was not worth the fees.
I bought my first firearm at 13 years of age, my dad may have filled out the 4473 but every penny of the purchase price was earned by me. I know many that have similar stories. Other than an air rifle and my dad's single shot 22 he gave to me upon graduating FAS, I bought every firearm I owned until my 40s.
Please point out where I have denigrated youth programs or stated youth were important? I believe I stated they were but their payoff is further down the line rather than immediate. That is true with youths in general as those starting out in the world tend to have a greater impact later in their lives than early. I have stated there is a demographic that is NOT being reached or addressed which could make an immediate contribution therefore should be courted.
I have also agreed with some that the youth hunting seasons are mostly "singing to the choir" in that the majority those making most use of them have already started their hunting career. Modifying the seasons and/or regulations to include those of all ages in a start in hunting will cast a larger net to include some that have the ability to dive in.
This is a sales job: which do you go after- the ones dependent on the whims of the money holders or the the ones holding the money? I know H&H will bring up something about me buying my own guns so the kids will do so too but the reason I (and others I knew) could afford our own guns was due to someone else picking up the tab for our food, clothing, lodging, transportation, medical, education, and other expenses. My shooting funds did take a good hit when I bought my first car as that absorbed a lot of my "spare" money. College ate up even more and many I knew stopped shooting at this point of which a significant portion did not pick it up later due to job, family, and other reasons.