ALBEQUERQUE, N.M. May 2, 2008
Grown-up Professionals Play Cowboys
Single Action Shooting Society Attracts Tens Of Thousands Of Wanna-Be Cowboys
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Play CBS Video Video Real-Life Cowboy Games Cowboy games are popular among kids, but for more than 80,000 adults worldwide--the dream has never died. Steve Hartman reports.
Many of us used to play cowboys and Indians when we were kids. Some of us, apparently, never grew out of it, CBS News Correspondent Steve Hartman reports with Assignment America.
By weekday they are Jerry Hinkle - a mild-mannered photo editor and his wife Grace Galik - over-protective neurologist. But come Saturday, they are totally different people.
"Innocent Bystander" he says.
"Sacramento Johnson" she chimes.
Innocent and Sacramento are just two of more than 80,000 wanna-be cowboys world-wide - who shed their identities every weekend.
"I don't even know what people's names are," he says.
They leave their day jobs behind and become pardners.
"I can go out and pick up my guns and forget about teeth," says one cowpoke, a dentist by day.
Their group is called the single action shooting society. They get together at places like this ranch outside Albequerque, N.M., to compete at taking down metal bad guys and rustling up imaginary grub.
"There's part of me that wants to mock it but there's part of me that's jealous," Hartman says.
"It seems really strange when you first see it but, I tell you what, it's very addictive," says one cowboy. "I practice all the time."
Sharon Fortner - aka Shanty Sue - is so into this she says she'd rather shoot than eat. In fact sometimes she does both at once.
"If I'm stirring spaghetti I might to pull my gun and shoot at one of the pictures on the wall," she says. "I can't take time to go to the range all the time so I just shoot things around the house."
Without bullets - thank goodness. It's that kind of passion, combined with this kind of outfit that have made single action shooting the silliest looking and fast growing shooting sport in the world.
"It may not be like the old west," Hartman says. "But, it's like we think it was. And that's good enough."
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- I forgot to mention in my earlier post that the Cowboys Free Shooter Clinic provides the guns, ammunition and instruction FREE for anyone 10 years (with Parents) on up. We are especially interested in training and instructing our youth in safe handeling of firearms. This is a great family sport that keeps families an opportunity to have fun together. So come out to experience the thrill of Cowboy shooting. Bring the Moms, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, Sisters, Brothers, Grandma and Grandpa for a great day of fun.
And a big Thank You to CBS News and Sunday Morning Show for showing the shooting sports in a positive way. See you on the range, Steve and bring the crew with you! (thecowboys.org)
Wells Fargo
SASS # 3863 - Reply to this comment
- Been a SASS member for many years and Waddie at End of Trail at the Tea and Resting Tent. Fun group of people to be with. We would have hosted Steve and the crew to range time and instruction on how to play the game. If you are interested in comming out, The Cowboys in Norco, CA, has a FREE SHOOTER CLINIC on the 4th Sunday of the month, except twice a year when we hold our Major Matches. If you are interested to come out and play with us, go to our web site and send us an email (thecowboys.org)
. We will show you a great time.
Wells Fargo - Reply to this comment
- Its good to see some postive reports for a change. Many thanks to CBS. Till next time, take care and have a nice nite ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz
- Reply to this comment
- G''day,
I viewed this through the internet because it wasn''t broadcast here in my bit of Australia. It''s good.
I have been involved in this type of sport since ''94, ... and I still have to meet a nicer, friendlier, more helpfull, an'' downright funnn bunch''a folks ...... ANYWHERE !
I have, in the past, been involved in other "pursuits", including shooting sports, ..... but nowhere do you find as many fun-loving, salt-of-the-earth, people together in the same place, at the same time.
I really love the fact that I don''t HAVE to know the name, or occupation, of my very good friends that I shoot with on a regular, or irregular, basis.
The firearms are "sporting utensils", much like golf clubs or a catchers'' mitt.
The clothing can be basic workshirt an'' jeans or elaborate (like an accurate duplication of The Lone Ranger, or Woody from Toy Story) ........ it''s up to the individual as to how fancy ya get.
It is also a sport where new folks are welcomed with open arms and not haveing "all the gear" is of no concern to those who are happy to lend theirs.
Get out there an'' have a looksee. - Reply to this comment
- Well hell... it made me think it didn''t take my post. lol Oops! Sorry Ya''ll.
- Reply to this comment
- I know I''m a goofball, so naturally I don''t mind sharing my first thought, which was... Isn''t a cadaver a hairless corpse that''s orange from the betadine bath, and shortly to be cut up for the sake of science and medicine?
Seriously now, this all goes back to the ''guns kill people'' so ban all guns issue. Frankly, I am sick of it. You are responsible for protecting yourself in the absence of law enforcement. I can''t say I have ever heard of a gun carrying criminal that just stood there to wait for the police to show up so it would be a fair fight.
Criminal misuse and civil liberties/RIGHTS aside...
I have never met so many nice people in one place before in my life and it happens again every time I go to a SASS/CAS event.
Way to go CBS for shining a light on one of the few places left where you are just about guaranteed to meet nice, polite people, get a home cooked meal, talk until your heart''s content and have a blast the whole time!
MOST Sincerely,
Cutty Babineaux, in Texas... ya''ll. - Reply to this comment
- I know I''m a goofball, so naturally I don''t mind sharing my first thought, which was... Isn''t a cadaver a hairless corpse that''s orange from the betadine bath, and shortly to be cut up for the sake of science and medicine?
Seriously now, this all goes back to the ''guns kill people'' so ban all guns issue. Frankly, I am sick of it. You are responsible for protecting yourself in the absence of law enforcement. I can''t say I have ever heard of a gun carrying criminal that just stood there to wait for the police to show up so it would be a fair fight.
Criminal misuse and civil liberties/RIGHTS aside...
I have never met so many nice people in one place before in my life and it happens again every time I go to a SASS/CAS event.
Way to go CBS for shining a light on one of the few places left where you are just about guaranteed to meet nice, polite people, get a home cooked meal, talk until your heart''s content and have a blast the whole time!
MOST Sincerely,
Cutty Babineaux, in Texas... ya''ll. - Reply to this comment
- I know I''m a goofball, so naturally I don''t mind sharing my first thought, which was... Isn''t a cadaver a hairless corpse that''s orange from the betadine bath, and shortly to be cut up for the sake of science and medicine?
Seriously now, this all goes back to the ''guns kill people'' so ban all guns issue. Frankly, I am sick of it. You are responsible for protecting yourself in the absence of law enforcement. I can''t say I have ever heard of a gun carrying criminal that just stood there to wait for the police to show up so it would be a fair fight.
Criminal misuse and civil liberties/RIGHTS aside...
I have never met so many nice people in one place before in my life and it happens again every time I go to a SASS/CAS event.
Way to go CBS for shining a light on one of the few places left where you are just about guaranteed to meet nice, polite people, get a home cooked meal, talk until your heart''s content and have a blast the whole time!
MOST Sincerely,
Cutty Babineaux, in Texas... ya''ll. - Reply to this comment
- I know I''m a goofball, so naturally I don''t mind sharing my first thought, which was... Isn''t a cadaver a hairless corpse that''s orange from the betadine bath, and shortly to be cut up for the sake of science and medicine?
Seriously now, this all goes back to the ''guns kill people'' so ban all guns issue. Frankly, I am sick of it. You are responsible for protecting yourself in the absence of law enforcement. I can''t say I have ever heard of a gun carrying criminal that just stood there to wait for the police to show up so it would be a fair fight.
Criminal misuse and civil liberties/RIGHTS aside...
I have never met so many nice people in one place before in my life and it happens again every time I go to a SASS/CAS event.
Way to go CBS for shining a light on one of the few places left where you are just about guaranteed to meet nice, polite people, get a home cooked meal, talk until your heart''s content and have a blast the whole time!
MOST Sincerely,
Cutty Babineaux, in Texas... ya''ll. - Reply to this comment
- Thanks for an even-handed report on the Single Action Shooting Society. You have discovered the one sport that has the most friendly people that can be found anywhere. These folks take the time out of their busy schedules to put on Cowboy clothes and gear, go to the range, and participate in a safely conducted shooting sport done in the Cowboy Way.
Oklahomabound - Reply to this comment
- Hurray, NM is on CBS! Thanks Steve!
Come to Founders Ranch at Edgewood (I-40) and shoot with us!
There will be the biggest SASS event next month (June 13-22, 2008) %u201CEND OF TRAIL%u201D the International Cowboy Action Shooting championship and Wild West festival. It will be devoted to the classic western movies! What a fun! If you do not shoot, just dress up as a cowboy or a character form the western movies and have fun with us!
Doc Barium - Reply to this comment
I''ve been a member of SASS since 2000 but have been "playing cowboy" since I was 5 or 6 years old (65 now).
The day after my first Cowboy Action shoot, I moved the golf clubs to the basement where they''ve been ever since.
There is nothing "silly" about it, it''s fun, it''s great folks and you''ll find, it''s adictive.
Thanks for the positive piece, even though you did call it "silly".
Larry "The ''Nooga Kid"- Reply to this comment
- Please do come visit the Alley. Talk about "costuming" it''s take to a new level. Not only that but the friendships that are formed as well.
http://www.carolinabelles.net
Read about them, see what good has and is being done through them!
The website for SASS is http://www.sassnet.com for those interested in finding out more about us. Read the wire, check out the Saloon, introduce yourself and you will be welcomed (providing you''re nice and play well with others!)
Have a great day,
Mississippi Rose D - Reply to this comment
- Kudos to CBS. A nicely done piece on a great family sport. We would love to see more of this kind of reporting on how other people enjoy and use guns for fun and recreation.
ClementP, you are so off base it''s not even funny. Your anger betrays your prejudice. It''s people like you that give America a bad name. You think it''s your way or the highway, to use an old cliche.
Why don''t you take some of that liberal BS you so ardently believe in and "Celebrate Diversity". The cowboys I know are universally the kindest, most generous people I have ever met. You on the other hand seem to be a bitter, angry and hateful soul.
Do us all a favor and slither back under the rock you crawled out of.
Yer pard,
Howdy Cowboy - Reply to this comment
- Real nice segment. What I didn''t read in these comments is that we have many Veterans that are members, and many members that are Now Serving in the Military.
I just think that sadly there are folks out there that think that guns are evil and nothing good can come of them. I''m 48 and have taught my 3 kids to respect firearms and to handle them safely.
Like Tex said, We live out the West the way we thought it was or might have been and we do it SAFE and REALLY FRIENDLY!
Scott - Reply to this comment
- Great fun - Thanks for showing a positive message regarding Americans enjoying firearms in a sporting venue. People who visit these events can also get a history lesson as many of these folks are well rehearsed when asked various old west questions..fantastic way to spend a day with the kids too!
- Reply to this comment
- Steve,
You really need to look up and report on our ladies of the Carolina''s! The Carolina Belle''s! Pull up their web site. They are a slice of heaven on earth!
Kat - Reply to this comment
- I usually do not watch CBS, but tonite was the execption.
I was very impressed with the way you covered Cowboy Action Shooting, and the people that participate.
You showed that all people that own and use guns are NOT criminals.
Thanks for a great story. - Reply to this comment
- I usually do not watch CBS, but tonite was the execption.
I was very impressed with the way you covered Cowboy Action Shooting, and the people that participate.
You showed that all people that own and use guns are NOT criminals.
Thanks for a great story. - Reply to this comment
- Steve pay no attention to clementp, you did a BANG up job literally! The only thing you did wrong was you didn''t shoot! Try it man and you will love it. Were a good bunch of people and would do anything for a partner we can. They way we dress does set us apart because without it we would be just another shooting sport. You become the character you dress as and for a little while the troubles of the world go away. No different than why some play golf.
Mississippi Rose, Proud SASS Member - Reply to this comment
