Texas -(Ammoland.com)-I wanted to share the message below from Jeff Sanford, General Manager of the Shiloh Shooting Range in northwest Houston.
We were all shocked by the tragedy perpetrated by a heartless terrorist in Orlando. As we as a country debate our response to this tragedy, it’s inspiring to see Jeff and the Shiloh Shooting Range reach out to the LGBT Community about the 2nd Amendment.
Jeff says it best when he says, “As gun owners and gun advocates, this is truly a golden opportunity to gain a very passionate group of 2nd Amendment advocates with open arms.”
I hope everyone has a safe and fun 4th of July weekend.
Thank you,
Justin W. Williamson
Director of Communications
Texas State Rifle Association
Dear Alice,
Thank you for reaching out to us here at Shiloh Shooting Range (NW Houston) about our offer to the local LGBT community. After the slaughter in Orlando, my family put our heads together to do something for the LGBT community here in town. We decided to offer free LTC classes to the friends of our friend and customer, Ryan Thomas. We asked him to spread the word among his friends and let the LGBT folks know that we were here to help and empower them. Americans helping Americans, Texans helping Texans. Ryan was very appreciative of the offer, and told us he would do his best to spread the word.
We thought we might have a couple of classes with 30-40 people total. When I was contacted by Channel 2 news the next day, I had a feeling that number would grow. And grow it certainly did! We are now at 13 classes with over 550 people signed up. I admit that around 200 students, as GM of our family owned and operated small business, I began getting nervous about the number of students we were racking up. I convened a family meeting and asked my folks “how many more of these can we possibly do?”
To which my mom responded with a smile “all of them.” And our calling to empower this historically vulnerable community plowed full steam ahead…
As gun owners and gun advocates, this is truly a golden opportunity to gain a very passionate group of 2nd Amendment advocates with open arms. This community’s response tells me they have been waiting for an invitation from us. The opportunity to take a class with like-minded folks, free of judgement, is what has appealed so greatly to so many of them. In the past, we’ve offered free classes to veterans, LE, faculty, clergy, animal rescue advocates, etc. Out of all of those free classes, we would be lucky to have maybe 20% who signed up actually show up.
After 3 LGBT classes, we’ve had 94% attendance. This is a movement among these folks, and this is our opportunity to welcome them to OUR community…
Shoot Straight,
Jeff Sanford
GM, Shiloh Shooting Range
Houston, Texas
ShilohShooting.com