First Thunder IDPA Match
by
Gary W. Burris
The newest IDPA club in the Houston, Texas area held their first official match on Saturday the 11th of January, 2003. They plan to hold their matches on the second Saturday of every month.
The match is held at Thunder Range located near Conroe, Texas. The range owner has constructed an area that is strictly used for this activity. The rest of the gun range is open to the general public while the match is in progress. There is the occasional cease fire that interrupts the flow of the match, but things seem to work well.
There were about 22 shooters present for the match. The weather was cool and rain was predicted for the afternoon. We shot eight scenarios and were finished by 12:30. A good time was had by all. Well almost all. One of the competitors received a DQ when his loaded gun fell to the ground. The gun flew from his hand when he drew the weapon on the first scenario. He never fired a round in the match.
Thunder IDPA is the fifth International Defensive Pistol Association club in the Houston area. And a welcome addition. Those of us fortunate enough to live here can now compete in IDPA competitions the first, second and third Saturdays of the month, every Monday evening and every Wednesday evening of the month.
Are You Supporting Gun Control?
by
Gary W. Burris
Did you know that many of the charities that you support distribute some of your money to extreme gun control organizations? You probably didn't know or you wouldn't have given to that charity. I strongly recommend that you check the list of organizations supported by each charity and advise them that you will not donate because of their support for gun control organizations.
These charities will tell you that if you don't want your money to go to a particular organization that they support that you can designate where your money is sent. This is true but misses the point. Why would you support any charity that gives money for gun control no matter who's money it is?
Here is just one example: There is an annual fund-raising drive by Federal employees called the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). They raise millions of dollars each year for charitable organizations. If you are a Federal employee that participates in this drive you are also giving to the Brady Center. The Brady Center is responsible for a lot of the stupid laws and regulations that assault the 2nd amendment to our constitution.
The Brady Center is also a member of the Health and Medical Research Charities of America. The United Way and many other organizations and companies raise money that is given to multiple charities. And a lot of those charities are pro-abortion or support gun control, both of which I strongly oppose.
My advice is to give your donation directly to the charitable organization of your choice rather than give through something like the United Way. A higher percentage of your money goes to help the charity (you're not paying a collection fee or paying salaries to executives of third party agencies) and you still have a tax write off.
IDPA Is Alive and Well In The Greater Houston Texas Area
by
Garry Newton
Texans are perceived to believe that everything in or associated with Texas is bigger and better. In some cases, the facts are stretched beyond reality. In other cases, the facts are the facts and just make everyone proud enough to brag. In the case of IDPA in the Greater Houston Texas Area, we areTexas Brag-un Proud.
Houston Texas and the Greater Houston area is a hot bed of IDPA activity. Currently there are 5 IDPA affiliated Clubs in the area and two Unaffiliated Clubs that utilize IDPA scenerios and rules. Houston shooters (and those IDPA shooters traveling to Houston) can shoot weekly Monday through Thursday as well as three Saturdays a month, and further growth continues.
EasTex Tactical IDPA club shoots weekly on Monday nights. West Houston IDPA shoots weekly on Wednesday nights. Three other local IDPA Clubs (Pearland Sportsman’s Club, Thunder IDPA Club and Texas Defensive Pistol Safety Association) hold their matches on the first, second and third Saturday of every month. Two additional local clubs shoot IDPA type scenarios and use IDPA rules (but are not currently affiliated with IDPA....yet). One of these clubs is the Tactical Shooters run by Gary Burris. Besides running a great club that shoots weekly on Tuesday night, Gary has one of the most extensive and diverse CoF lists available and a great IDPA related website. Check it out at www.tacticalshooters.com . The weekly Thursday night crowd is Humble Tactical Shooters also known as The Big Dogs and shoot in the northeast Houston area. Granted, one can travel over 80 miles in a straight line and still be in the Houston city limits, and the Greater Houston area encompasses an even greater area, but within two hours of driving time most shooters can shoot IDPA Monday through Thursday and three Saturdays a month. These clubs offer a diversity in physical size of the ranges, indoor or outdoor ranges, as well as a wonderful group of shooters. A limited number of the ranges have specific requirements, so contact the club. You can find links or contact information for these clubs at Gary’s Tactical Shooters website under announcements and click on the specific club.
Each club has their Master and/or Expert shooters as well as those just starting in the sport. It is the norm to see many of the same faces actively participating at many of these local clubs. What each club has is a group of shooters with a heaping of larger than life Texas hospitality and willingness to help each other. Houston area IDPA Clubs have also had the honor of hosting multiple Regional and State level matches. But be prepared, Texas sized good natured ribbing comes with the Texas sized hospitality.
Houston is also extremely fortunate to have Johnny VanEtta (the IDPA TX-LA Regional Coordinator and IDPA 4 Gun Master) living here as well. Johnny has been extremely active and helpful with each and every club. Johnny has work tirelessly on IDPA’s behalf, assisting existing clubs as well as those that are yet to be affiliated with IDPA. He has worked as Regional Match Director, State Match Director, Safety Officer Training Instructor, as well as extensively helping clubs and individuals alike.
IDPA is alive and well in the Greater Houston Texas area. If you are in the area, make it a point to experience it for yourself.
West Houston IDPA (WHIDPA)
by
Garry Newton
One of the local Houston Texas clubs is the West Houston IDPA or WHIDPA. Mike D’Elia (President), Jay Hursh (Vice-President/Secretary), Bruce Lawther (Vice-President) and Steve Gates (Treasurer). Fritz Herbst and Jay are dedicated and imaginative Match Directors, and do an excellent job on a weekly basis. Three of our members, Jay Hursh, Gary Burris and Johnny VanEtta are also IDPA Certified Safety Officer Instructors. Each of the above individuals are excellent shooters in their own rights and extreemly dedicated to both WHIDPA and IDPA. This club has many other individuals that willingly give time and manpower.
WHIDPA shoots a weekly match on Wed nights at the American Shooting Center located at 16500 Westheimer Parkway, 77082 in the George Bush Park in West Houston. It is a lighted outdoor range with a extremely wide range of shooting opportunities from pistol to rifle to various shotgun activities. But on Wed nights..... IDPA rules. The range closes at 5pm and WHIDPA starts setting up scenarios in the 50 yd pistol range and the 100 yd rifle range utilizing two or three bays. Sign-up starts at 5:30 with the safety meeting at 6pm. Safety is paramount with WHIDPA. During the Safety meeting, experienced shooters often give a "tip of the week" which range from safety reminders or concerns to general shooting tips like not crowding cover. WHIDPA averages 30-40 shooters weekly and the match runs from 6pm-8:30 or 9pm.
WHIDPA and American Shooting Range run a cold range. Squads are formed and dispersed to either two or three bay areas where the scenarios await. Novice or new shooters are paired with experienced shooters after an additional safety and Range rules meeting. This makes the new or less experienced shooter feel welcome but insures that specific Range rules, IDPA rules, and safety are understood.
WHIDPA members are also given name badges to wear. These badges identify the shooter (making it easier for everyone...new shooter or old....to learn each other’s names), IDPA number, IDPA Safety Officer Certified (if applicable), as well as the shooter’s divisions and classifications. These are laminated cards or plastic protected cards with means to attach them to a shooting vest or hat. This inexpensive touch has been a great way to perpetuate Texas hospitality, but also increases club and individual pride.
Scenarios are as varied as the warped minds of our diverse and devious Match Directors. Due to the size of the group and time restraints, a total of 4 to 6 scenarios are placed in the bays, one normally being devoted to a Standards Stage. Props (disappearing targets, clam-shell or pop-up targets, swingers) and Steel (poppers, star or steel donut) are used to spice up the scenarios but are not over used. Heck, even in the land of the jalapino, to much spice can ruin a good thing. WHIDPA also sprinkles in T-shirts (over the body of the target) and cut up Fishnet Stockings (used as masks) to add realism and teach shooters to watch their front sights rather than look for hits. Scenarios are a mixture of fast and furious to deceptively simple and slow. Mixing up close and personal with difficult long shots, weak and strong hand work, use of diverse cover, and movement always challenges the shooters abilities. Scenarios are generally Vickers count (except the Standard Stage) and range from one scored shot (neutralize the threat) to directed number of shots per target. Sprinkling in Tactical Sequence, Tactical order and Tactical Barricade order from different styles of cover, speed reloads, and tactical reloads also diversifies the scenarios. CoF are generally shot from concealment, even in the hot and humid Houston Summers. Although there is great imagination in the stages from our Match Directors, the underlying force is "could this really happen" with shooting skills (not memory) being tested? The majority of threats are within a 10 yd range but threats are utilized out to 25-30 yds. The basic idea is to challenge, improve and self evaluate skills in a safe manner within IDPA guidelines and rules.
WHIDPA is also currently also developing two educational seminars for it’s members this year. As many members of WHIDPA are licensed to carry concealed firearms, there was interest in knowledge concerning possible pitfalls that might arise following the use of a firearm to protect oneself. What actions or lack of actions might put one at additional risk? The approach is two fold. From the point of a police officer that could be investigating the shooting and from the perspective of a defense lawyer with a background in firearm related litigation. In other words, how to try and make sure one does not do the wrong thing after defending one’s self and looking at it from different points of view. Examples of questions are: 1) does one give first aid to the treat after the threat has been neutralized? Would not giving aid put one at additional litigational risk? 2) Does one secure the threat’s weapon? If so, how? What happens if you touch it and contaminate it with fingerprints and questions then arise to who’s weapon is it really? What if you do not secure it and it disappears in the confusion and then you can not prove the treat was armed? What if you don’t secure the weapon and someone picks it up and either becomes a new threat or injures themselves with it?
Those that carry a weapon on a regular basis often practice and hone skills that we hope will never have to be utilized to protect ourselves or others. Concealed Carry Laws are studied and understood, but additional information concerning the correct and proper procedures following the justifiable use of force are as important as any other training. Cognitive preparation before, during and especially after an event increases the likelihood of surviving an episode at all levels where deadly force might or is used. WHIDPA is assisting it’s members.
WHIDPA also holds a carbine match monthly at another local range. WHIDPA is an active IDPA club with members that range from Novice to Master level shooters, shooting in all divisions and almost all classifications. We have both male and female active members that range from 12 years old to .....well much older than 12. Firearm safety and training is done within the spirit and rules of IDPA. Scenarios are developed and utilized to make the weekly shoots fun, realistic and challenging for both the novice as well as the Master.
We would like to invite any IDPA shooters that would like to shoot with us to either go to our website at www.geocities.com/whidpa and contact Mike D’Elia. One can also contact American Shooting Center at 281 556 8086 or www.amshootcenters.com. One can also contact Steve Gates at Stephen@Gates.net or 281-468-0169. IDPA is alive and well at West Houston IDPA, and that’s no bull.
"Warning to the Knight"
by
Charles Cotton
When thou taketh up thy sword and shield for kin and kind, let not thine heart be faint. For to the quest thou hast committed; force not thy comrades to lower their heads in
shame for thee. Thou hast sworn an oath to slay the dragon, so what sayeth thou when thy countenance is shaken by a sea of foes? Wilst thee shrink from thy task for a moment's cloud of mind? Ney, though thou knowest not what evil lies beyond yon castle wall (Bianchi Barricade) thou must presseth on. Faileth not in the struggle, nor seek solace from thine angel (SO). Many are the ogres (threat targets) yet to slay, so sheath not thy sword whilst the sun continues its stroll (timer's running). For if in battle thy heart and mind faileth thee, and no longer does't thou thrust t'ward dragon, troll and ogre, thy countrymen shalt no longer call thee fellow. They shalt smite thee on the back with open hand, laugh and make sport of thee tilst thou remember thy pledge and returneth whence thou cometh to slay the dragons amore. And if thine heart be truly humble, the king (SO) might restoreth thine honor so thou mayeth wield thy sword again (re-shoot).
Editor's Note: The above was written by Charles after the match on 1 March 2003. Charles was allowed a re-shoot out of kindness by the Safety Officer and other friends present who observed his mental malfunction. |
