It’s one of my favorite times of year, the time when many of us celebrate our faith and peace on earth, good will toward men.
Here at El Rancho Elliott, we celebrate Christmas, but whatever you celebrate, I wish that you do it with love, good wishes, and the gracious company of the people you care about.
I wish you receive a really great airgun-related present. Maybe it’s as simple as a tin of your favorite pellets or perhaps something as grand as a fancy new airgun. But whatever it is, I hope you enjoy it in good health and safety.
I hope you are smart about your airgunning. . . that you will not shoot at resilient spherical objects (because the pellets will ricochet right back at you), that you – and everyone at the firing line – will wear eye protection, that you will always keep your airgun pointed in a safe direction, and that you will not be so foolish as to take brand-new airguns apart. (If there is a problem, let the warranty handle it. If there isn’t a problem, leave it alone!)
Further, I wish that you will be generous with your time. Introduce someone to the joy of shooting sports or take the time to help an airgunning “newbie” through some of the issues that first-timers seem to suffer. If you enjoy an abundance of airguns, you might even consider donating an airgun to a youth shooting program.
For the sake of all of us in the sport of airgunning, I hope that you will be smart about how you deal with your neighbors. If you have a new neighbor, take the time to introduce yourself. Let them know that you are an airgunner, but cordially reassure them that you are as concerned about safety as they are, and they have nothing to fear from your airgunning. You might even invite them to shoot with you, if that seems like a good idea.
If you participate in online forums about airgunning, my wish for you is that you – and everyone you deal with – will be extra courteous. Whenever possible, give the other fellow the benefit of the doubt, and respond with good will. Remember that what appears to be a harsh word may not have been intended that way.
Enjoy the season, your friends, your families, and your airguns.
Til next time, aim true and shoot straight.
– Jock Elliott
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