What is the nature of firearm ownership and gun club
activity in Australia? This book explores cultural
aspects of consumer behaviour in Australian target
shooting clubs. It is the culmination of nine years
ethnographic research.
Three themes are explored; firstly, the
intrapersonal relationships between shooters and
guns, secondly, the interpersonal relationships between members of the shooting fraternity, and
thirdly the perceptions and attitudes of shooters
vis-à-vis the larger community. Analysis of the data
not only confirmed the intuitive expectation that
shooters love their guns, but revealed a rich
extended web of meaning and possibilities afforded
by firearm possession and usage.
The inexorable evolution against shooting as a
valued and legitimate recreational pastime is also
documented along with the implications of this on
fraternity attitudes. While shooters are well aware
they are becoming more anachronistic and alienated
over time they are largely powerless to influence
this process, which in turn does not bode well for
the future of the sport.
activity in Australia? This book explores cultural
aspects of consumer behaviour in Australian target
shooting clubs. It is the culmination of nine years
ethnographic research.
Three themes are explored; firstly, the
intrapersonal relationships between shooters and
guns, secondly, the interpersonal relationships between members of the shooting fraternity, and
thirdly the perceptions and attitudes of shooters
vis-à-vis the larger community. Analysis of the data
not only confirmed the intuitive expectation that
shooters love their guns, but revealed a rich
extended web of meaning and possibilities afforded
by firearm possession and usage.
The inexorable evolution against shooting as a
valued and legitimate recreational pastime is also
documented along with the implications of this on
fraternity attitudes. While shooters are well aware
they are becoming more anachronistic and alienated
over time they are largely powerless to influence
this process, which in turn does not bode well for
the future of the sport.