What are we without rules? Just a bunch a like minded persons out at the
range at the same time.



As an SO, SOI and MD and we have new shooters (Those who have shot very
little or new to shooting all together) show up at the range we give them a
small new shooters briefing and always make them go through a CoF last. This
will give them a chance to see how others shooters ran through the CoF and
more importantly for them to be able to ask questions about what they just
watched.



If they were to drop a mag with loaded ammo I give them a procedural then I
explain to them why they got it. This helps them to learn our sport and the
sport they want to shoot. Some will say "there new you should just warn
them" I say not. You can give a person a procedural without talking down to
them, or making them feel like they are scum of the earth. The more they
shoot our sport the more they will learn and make it their sport also. If
you shoot, SO or MD long enough in this sport you will see just about every
kind of new shooter there is. It's the guy who saw our sport on TV and said
I can do that. Or the girl who took a conceal carry class and heard someone
talking about IDPA as a good way to get better at gun handling skills or the
20 year IPSC veteran looking for more trigger time because this is a closer
match. If we treat them all the same and hold them to the same rules as
every other shooter whether new or old in the end we will all be the same.
(Shooters following the rules!)



No mater how good we tell some new shooters why we are giving them the
procedural some will get mad and never shoot again. If that is the case I
say good, we do not need those type people in our membership base. But I
think the vast majority of people will say "thanks for letting me know I
will make sure that I do not do that next time".





I try and have extra IDPA rule books on hand that I can hand out to new
shooters and encourage them to go online and to become a member. I tell them
of websites like this one, IDPA forum or Brian Enos this way they have a
somewhat anonymous way to learn our rules and more importantly our
sportsmanship and fellowship. I was under the impression that is what we
were supposed to do as MD's, SO's and members.



Just my .02











[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]