Corporate board rooms may come to mind when you think of networking, but Pennsylvania’s Largest Gun Show is the perfect opportunity for any gun enthusiast to find the wider Second Amendment community they’ve been looking for. We believe gun show people are some of the best you’ll find–self-reliant, patriotic, and helpful–which is why we invite thousands of them to our events every weekend to buy, sell, and trade guns; browse for unique gifts and crafts; and spend some time getting to know the gun owners, firearms services, and local organizations that gather to enjoy this rich American tradition. Here are a few tips to make lasting connections when you visit the gun show and nurture them long after the doors have closed.
Owning a Gun in an Anti-Gun World
If you feel like there aren’t a lot of places you can talk about being a gun enthusiast, you’re not alone. Despite it being one of our core freedoms, so instrumental in securing our independence that it was enshrined in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights, gun ownership and gun culture are not considered proper or polite by a large segment of the public. The fear-mongering, urban myths, and judgment stoked by politicians and the media lead many gun owners, hunters, shooting enthusiasts, and sports participants to lead a secret life they can only share with their closest friends, family, and co-workers.
Most gun owners are responsible, upstanding citizens. They focus on gun safety and work hard to teach their children the basic rules of gun safety. They’re good citizens who participate in their community, pay their taxes, and vote. They just happen to also believe in self-reliance and their right to be secure in their person and property.
Why Gun Enthusiast Networking is Important
Networking, whether with gun show people, online forums, or through local groups or businesses, gives you the chance to fully and openly enjoy your shooting lifestyle. No avoiding subjects, hiding your favorite gun mags, or feeling like you have a dirty little secret. Becoming a part of the gun community comes with some key benefits:
Experienced Advice – You’ll find gun owners and vendors, both young and old, at your local gun show. There will be civilian gun enthusiasts, military veterans with a host of lived experiences, and competitive shooting amateurs and professionals. Many of them are more than happy to take a few minutes to talk guns, swap stories, and share advice to help you get the most from your firearms.
Practice and Accountability Partners – Sure, alone time at the range can be cathartic, but sometimes you just want to run a few boxes with a shooting buddy. Other times, you need a shooting buddy to tell you to put the work in on your trigger pull, even when you just want to rock and roll. Having a supportive community can support your own individual skill growth.
Grassroots Organization – If you want to make a change, one voice can get lost in the crowd. Building your own crowd, however, is a great way to ensure your opinions are heard. A gun show is the perfect place for a gun enthusiast to meet members of local gun rights groups, historical gun organizations, or just other gun owners who share your opinions and want to do their part to protect our rights for future generations.
Increased Familiarity with Local Resources – Do you know what resources are available to gun owners in your community, including gun shops, ranges, clubs, organizations, ammunition reloaders, cabinet makers, and more? If you think you do, you could be surprised. While you can find plenty of shops and some shooting groups online and on social media, others may only consider themselves part-time hobbyists or use more traditional word-of-mouth to attract clients and customers. Talking to people at the gun show introduces you to so much more than a web search or phone book can.
Top Tips for Gun Show Networking
Be Respectful – Minding your “Ps and Qs” keeps conversations civil and polite as you get to know other people at the gun show. Basic manners like not interrupting someone who’s talking (to you or another gun enthusiast), introducing yourself, and showing appreciation for their time and viewpoint go a long way toward getting a new relationship off on the right foot.
Be Open to Conversation – Conversations are a two-way street. When you’re talking to someone, politely listen, offer your own opinions, and be open to viewpoints that aren’t precisely your own. Don’t forget to give them opportunities to talk, and make sure you acknowledge what they have to say and the time they’re taking to say it.
Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say – Gun show people can smell a phony. As you’re networking, keep your interactions honest, straightforward, and to the point. You don’t like to have your time wasted, but many gun enthusiasts are there to connect, just like you. Don’t worry. You’ll find you have plenty to say as a gun owner trying to find your place in the community.
Follow Up with Businesses, Groups, or New Contacts – After the gun show, remember to call some of your new acquaintances and friends. Reach out to groups that interest you to ask about local meetings or events, and check with action organizations for how you can help. Take the time to visit some of the businesses that supported the gun show locally and remind them where you met their representative, and watch for local craftspeople or hobbyists at other local gatherings.
Get Digital – Cell phones and the internet have made it easier than ever to build “always on” communities around your neighborhood or around the world. Remember to ask for phone numbers, get website addresses, or follow social media accounts right from the exhibition floor. Even if someone you’re networking with avoids these common digital networks due to “OpSec,” they likely have some way they feel comfortable continuing your conversation in the future.
Get Ready to Meet People at Your Next Gun Show
We’re proud to offer a comfortable, welcoming environment for gun enthusiasts of all types to gather for buying, selling, trading, or just talking about guns. You’ll find plenty of attendees and vendors ready to share their thoughts, but we also happily rent table space to gun rights organizations, local civic groups, and hunting and shooting clubs who want a place to meet their neighbors, raise community awareness, and boost their membership numbers. Look for a gun show near you that is coming up on our gun show calendar, and start making your plans now. Order your tickets to an Eagles Shows Gun Show today.
