“The bad guys know what you got and they want what you got. That’s what we do, we weed out the bad guys,” Eric Mamay, a member of the South Hampton Pistol & Rifle Club, said of the selective gun range club.
South Hampton Pistol & Rifle Club, a gun range located in Southampton, encourages residents of the Hamptons and tourists alike to join up. The club has grown exponentially over the last few years.
“Yeah, we had like 75 members a few years back when I joined,” Michael Brausch said, “Now we’re up to a little over 300 and it’s great to see love for the sport.”
Members of the club range from young women to middle-aged men to the senior members who founded the club. One does not simply walk in, however, as potential members need to be members of the NRA and have three references.
“It’s just a way to pick the absolute best people. Gun licensing, NRA membership and all. If you mess up you get scolded in front of everybody and it’s really embarrassing. It’s not for everybody, you got to love the sport,” Brausch said.
Members are also very passionate about their defense of the second amendment.
“The government is absolutely trampling on the right to bear arms. We are not these people they are after and we have our own ways to keep the club secure and free of ill dealings,” Mamay said.
Many members stress their discomfort with the Government‘s assault on the second amendment following the shooting in Newtown. In other words, many members feel as though other amendments and laws will fall victim to the Government’s “strong arming.”
Of course, the incident that best summarizes the government’s actions refers to 20-year old Adam Lanza shooting and killing over a dozen elementary school students in Sandy Hook. Because he was armed and showed no signs of mental disability, gun control was enforced and gun users targeted.
However, the group does allow non members to shoot if accompanied by a member and supervised. Safety and precautionary measures are emphasized heavily to ensure the safest and most enjoyable experience possible. They want their visitors to have a good time doing what they love, but also stress that they join up to attend many of the group’s events and contribute to the club.
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