INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — “They are the gun industry,” said Match Director Russ Thurman, publisher and editor of FMG Publications, as he provided a tour of the 12th annual Shooting Industry Masters event, which took place July 18 and 19 and held for the first time at the Indian River County Shooting Range – a big deal for the county.
They came from all over the country, 400 plus top execs of the American gun industry, representing more than 80 companies, many of whose names everyone recognizes – Smith & Wesson, Colt, Browning, Winchester, Ruger, Sig Sauer, Walther, and Beretta among them.
The event was closed to the public. The press had to be on “The List” and were asked to wait at the deputy-guarded entrance while credentials were verified.
Capt. John Burdock of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office shuttled media members to the site, aboard the cammo BadBoy super-cart owned by Dr. James Betancort, the County SWAT team medic. Then Thurman took over.
He explained the event was the one and only time in the year “when these people get together just for fun. With no pressure. We have events all through the year that the public can attend but, hey, we’re not being selfish; this one time, it’s just for us, sort of a family reunion, seeing folks we haven’t seen in a year.”
The shooters, he added, ranged from the serious professional to the beginner who’d never held a gun.
Since about a year ago, when the County was chosen as the 2014 venue, improvements were made to the range to meet the event’s requirements. County Commissioner Tim Zorc explained that the work had already been scheduled, and was simply put on the fast track.
“We got it done just in time,” he said. “The paint was literally drying.”
Zorc added that the two-day event gave a great boost to the local economy, with 450 participants and numerous friends and family enjoying the area.
Zorc noted “it gives us credibility” when other organizations are looking for a venue.
Earmuffs or foam earplugs and safety glasses were the required dress code. And Thurman recited the first five rules: “Safety, Safety, Safety, Safety, Safety. We take it very seriously.”
Shooters participated in four categories: rifles, shotguns, handguns and Side Match. They were divided into two classifications: Open – a high-level competition for advanced, experienced shooters; and Industry – for new to intermediate shooters who just wanted to have fun.
In the Open area, faces reflected concentration, eyes squinted, targets (mostly) shredded, scores carefully recorded. Spent shells littered the ground and volunteers swept them into big buckets.
The Side Match events were pay-to-shoot, raising funds for the USA Shooting Team and First Shots, a program that teaches beginners the proper way to shoot.
This year, $4,150 was raised and since 2008, the Masters has raised $211,000 for the First Shots program.
These games, said Thurman, create “a spirited rivalry.” Highlighting the 2014 theme, Pirates, a Pirate Party took place Friday night at Capt. Hiram’s, and several of the company teams were still sporting their pirate gear on the range. A Golf Tournament held in conjunction with the Masters raised funds for Honored American Veterans Afield.
There was even an opportunity to fire a machine gun. Laura Evans, with LaserMax of Rochester, NY, lay flat on her belly behind a bipod, receiving instructions, squinting at the target, across a field against a very tall embankment. The shooter was to pretend she was a member of an elite Navy team fighting Somali pirates in order to “Rescue Capt. Phillips.”
“I was terrified, laying there, waiting to fire. I thought it would feel harder. It was like being at the top of the roller coaster, and then, oooooooooo!”
Capt. Phillips had to wait a little longer for his rescue, but Evans was pumped.
The guns were all loaned from participating companies and other items were donated. Thurman was highly complimentary of the County’s support, headed by Assistant County Administrator Mike Zito and his staff, the Sheriff’s Office and the IRCSO Explorers, and the various other entities and individuals that provided support. About 250 members of the community volunteered.
