First DQ given

[JKSNIPER]

And the example of the guy carrying when he shows up is almost EXACTLY what happened to me at my first match.

I was still active duty LEO when I show up, of course, carrying my issue Glock which I intend to shoot.

It seemed like a couple of the guys there delighted in informing me of my faux pas and that I should now be DQ'd.

I did not understand as I had not been advised by the guy who had invited me to come out that I should show up without loaded firearms.

Fortunately the MD was a retired cop and knew why it happened and he had a quiet word with the guys and told me to go back to my car and unload and then return.

If I hadn't been determined to get into competitive pistol shooting AND if the MD had been as much of an a-hole as the other guys were I probably would have gotten into my car and never returned.

I understand there are rules that must be enforced but theres a way to tell someone they're wrong which makes them thank you and a way to tell them that makes you want to strangle them.

New people should be mentored and there should be provisions for every match for what to do if a total new guy just shows up.

This would help with the guys who shoot once and never return.

Realize also that the one guy who never comes back tells X # more friends,family,coworkers, etc about his negative experience and the sport loses more .

JK