How do we?

[dlpowell]

OK, since my last topic " What got you started?" something interesting has happened. A little investigating, reading all responses to the post, and low and behold, most of us got the bp bug back in the 60's and 70's.

Now, how do we get that excitement we share to the masses? :hmm:

 

[roundball]

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/192171/

 

[2172]

Don, it seems most of us got the bug from either tv or the movies...I don't see much of either putting on stuff we like...until there is an awakening...something like the rash of cowboy tv shows in the 50's, or the Crockett/Boone craze a little later, I don't think we'll get a big revival. It seems to me that Hollywood isn't much interested in our country's good, or its history...Hank

 

[RedFeather]

Just be glad you were not born too late. Maybe those were our shining times?

 

[Matt B]

Mine got started a few years ago going to my first rondy. That rondy has become our family reunion of sorts, the one time when we are all together. So just in our family it has grown from the first two shooters, dad and brother.
Now we are at nine total. I have four just in my family. Have got my father in-law going, wife, and two kids. Plus a friend doing BP hunt last year.

It was the smoke and smell that got me. We try to invite new people every year into the camp. Maybe we will get a few more hooked.

 

[Goldhunter]

I was fortunate to have a dad that got me started. He,like most of you, started in the 70's. He started me when I was about five my taking me to his shoots and Rony's. I have tried to get my brother and a couple friends involved. To a point it worked. Both shoot ML and hunt with them, but they have no desire to go to any events, which leaves me with no one to go with. :shake: I tried to get my wife involved, but she's not really interested. She loves to shoot my .54! But doesn't really like to dress the part. I'll drag her to a couple local events where she doesn't have to dress up so we can look at the blankets, but that's it.

I wish more people would get interested. I a lot of ways the "traditional" side of ML is going the way of the Dodo, slowing but surely.

 

[talbert]

There was the Fes Parker stuff for sure...
and all the fervor in the years preceeding
the Bi-Centenial....and every town in our county seemed to be having its Centennial celebrations
for that whole decade ... everybody was draggin out stuff from "back in the day"... that really pumped a kid up to get involved in re-enacting the past,and once I got a copy of the Dixie Gun Works catalog...thats all she wrote...

Shinin' times to be sure or this coon dont know
bull from cow....
Talbert

 

[TANSTAAFL]

"Now, how do we get that excitement we share to the masses?"

To me it is is not a religion, I could really care less about getting the "masses" involved.

 

[musketman]

and low and behold, most of us got the bp bug back in the 60's and 70's.

Now, how do we get that excitement we share to the masses? :hmm:

By a well placed bite...

 

[Claude Mathis]

"Now, how do we get that excitement we share to the masses?"

To me it is is not a religion, I could really care less about getting the "masses" involved.

I agree, but it is nice to share what I do with others on occasion.

On the other hand, if enough people aren't involved, that could seriously impact the amount of merchandise available to us and the number of events there are to attend.

I know, some people make all their own gear and don't attend events, but there's enough that do, for this to be significant concern.

 

[rebel727]

As far As I know the only thing in this area is C.W. reenactments. I don't know about where any of the rest of you live but there's very little public advertising for reenactments. Just a once or twice a day mention on local radio stations and a few fliers within a few miles of the event. IMHO if you want more people interested you've got to advertise and it just ain't happening.

 

[gmww]

Well said. It seems traditional ML has been feeling the pains of the masses going to Inlines. Just look at the Gun stores ML rack and check the ratio of tradtitional ML to inlines. There are other example previously posted on this and other forums.

I'll also add that I feel it is important for the masses to get educated about firearms be it ML or Modern. I believe they need to at least understand that firearms are not dangerous unless used in such away. Otherwise, we will continue to see voting against our sport by the masses due to knee jerk reactions to such tragedies like school shootings. See what happended in Australia after that massacre there.

It is the masses that control our goverment and the laws every election year. My point to the long post is the Masses are important whether we like it or not. Sorry about the soapbox. Been a Life Member of the NRA since I was a kid. :hatsoff:

 

[Big John]

It wouldn't hurt to peek at the public events category, and take a friend or two to an event. That not only would introduce new blood, but help keep our tradition going.

 

Don, it seems most of us got the bug from either tv or the movies...I don't see much of either putting on stuff we like...until there is an awakening...something like the rash of cowboy tv shows in the 50's, or the Crockett/Boone craze a little later, I don't think we'll get a big revival. It seems to me that Hollywood isn't much interested in our country's good, or its history...Hank

Many have been inspired by movies and tv shows.

Gone with the Wind
Davy Ceockett/Fess Parker
The Alamo/John Wayne
Dr. Synn/Scarecrow
Jerimiah Johnson/Robert Redford
Gettysburg

To a lesser extent:
The Grey and the Blue
Gods and Generals
The Hunley
Last of the Mohicians/Daniel Day Lewis
The Patriot/Mel Gibson

Let's not forget the Civil War Centenial and The US Bi-Centenial.

The biggest problem is the ridicule of our country's history and the failure to pass that history on.

CP

 

[TANSTAAFL]

I agree, but it is nice to share what I do with others on occasion.

On the other hand, if enough people aren't involved, that could seriously impact the amount of merchandise available to us and the number of events there are to attend.

I know, some people make all their own gear and don't attend events, but there's enough that do, for this to be significant concern

I agree with you on the sharing (and receiving, I get more out of it, than I put in) aspects of the sport, or, I would not be a member of TMF. What I do not agree with, is growth, just for the sake of growth.

When I am afield, and someone approaches me with curiosity about carrying a gun as long as I am tall, (which is not very) I answer their questions politely and factually as possible. If they exhibit a genuine interest and their questions are sincere, I inform them where they may obtain further information. If I get the old ignorant usual drivel, I am done with them, I do not proselytize to change minds, or even try to convert such. For those that have the want, the how is readily available.

 

[Claude Mathis]

When I am afield, and someone approaches me with curiosity about carrying a gun as long as I am tall, (which is not very) I answer their questions politely and factually as possible. If they exhibit a genuine interest and their questions are sincere, I inform them where they may obtain further information. If I get the old ignorant usual drivel, I am done with them, I do not proselytize to change minds, or even try to convert such. For those that have the want, the how is readily available.

We're on the same page. :thumbsup:

 

[Homesteader]

Didn't notice the original topic, but thought it might be worth mentioning here that it was books that got me interested, long ago. Bradford Algiers' (sp?) "How to Stay Alive in the Woods" was a simple intro to the whole outdoor thing, and then later Eckert's "The Frontiersmen" made me fall in love with smokepoles and the 18th century. I knew absolutely no one who even camped. I was an abberation back then in my neck of the woods. Still am, I guess. (At least I now know I'm not alone. :blah: ) The first time I actually brought back a pelt I trapped (just a muskrat) my mother nearly fainted. And when I mixed up some simple powder to use with an old piece o' manure flinter I traded for, I'm sure my folks thought I was on my way to being a mad bomber.

Sad that kids today don't get to have that kinda fun, eh?

 

[arcticap]

As someone who lives in an eastern city, the main way that I could foresee recruiting people to the sport would be by offering a training course. It could be offered through a hands on "how to" course or through local public access television, (which requires training of it's own by the way, and funds :winking: ).
A public notice of some sort would need to be made through a local media (newspaper?) and arrangements and/or permission would be needed to obtain a venue.
An adult education "how to" course could possibly be offered through the local board of education, but unfortunately, permission would probably only be obtainable for providing book instruction on school property without any weapons being brought in to the school. The display of any weapons would have to be done at a private range, (out of town and harder to access and to hold the course at to begin with).
Range time would need to be arranged in order to perform any live fire exercises.
And then after all the arrangements were made, if no shows up, or signs up (or watches the program) due to a lack of interest, all the planning would have been for naught. :grin:

 

[gmww]

Other ideas to reach out would be to help the Boyscouts, Girlscouts, etc. The gun range where I live is run by the County Parks dept. They offer gun familiarization to women and have a practical shooting at the end. A women in period clothing might tickle their fancy. Of course she will be carrying a gun.

 

The 4H has a great program that introduces kids to the sport of muzzeleoading. As a NYS Hunter Education Instructor, part of our training involves muzzeleoading and I hit it real hard and have had numerous students over the years that have showed some interest in it.