Mission Statement:
It is the Mission of the GSG Cowboy Fast Draw club to promote the art of Cowboy Fast Draw as a sport for the entire family, while educating the community in the safe handling of firearms and the responsibilities of gun ownership. Though our actions and activities, we strive to enrich friendship, respect and the competitive nature of individuals, as well as provide a safe, controlled environment in which members, as well as the general public may learn the history of firearms and the responsibilities of gun ownership and to promote the proper handling and care of firearms. It is our goal to display an ongoing commitment to this sport and to educate all those who we come in contact with through our various activities.
Come and join us!
GSG History
Our Chamber of Commerce was looking to host a BBQ Cook-Off when Big John met Tawodi at his garage sale. Big John saw targets and Cowboy stuff in the garage and the two commenced talkin’. Big John asked if Tawodi’s club would do a fast draw demonstration at the BBQ event. When Tawodi called back it was to set up a meeting to discuss LB’s Chamber hosting the California State Championship. March 3, 2007 Tawodi introduced Big John, Geneva and Kent to Sundowner & Papa G. They needed three days for their event so the 1 day BBQ became the Henry Miller Wild West Weekend and grand finale to the City’s Centennial celebration. The group trekked to Tawodi’s for a Cowboy Fast Draw demonstration; the three LBers tried it and were instantly hooked! It drew a big laugh among the seasoned gunfighters when after shooting 10 shots Geneva asked for nail clippers to shorten her manicured trigger finger nail …. seems it was slowing her down and she didn’t like her man being faster than her. (She hasn’t had professionally manicured nails since!)
Being obsessed with Cowboy Fast Draw fever and the opportunity to create a worthwhile community event the three gushed all over town about the exciting event and sport. As Chamber Directors the HMWWW was the responsibility of Geneva & Big John. Kent started building a CFDA club with the help & support of the Sundowners time, guns and ammo. (Kent had planned an anniversary get away for Neva – when she learned the proposed cost she asked if they could buy a timer and targets instead – hooked I tell ya, hooked they were!) Within the first month Kent hosted 5 intro shoots, two of which were Ladies Only, another was for Rotary. (The Ladies Only shoots were huge successes! Kent & Neva had found through their water skiing that women were less intimidated without a lot of me.) Initially GSG was 70% women and 30% men, the men folk got a little nervous and did some serious male recruiting!
As people and clubs go, we made a few mistakes along the way … like starting the club and then making rules. Initially GSG was just about gunfighting; as time went on the direction shifted to becoming more of a gunfighting service club:) With our fast growth (30 members in 4 months) and subsequent change to be more than shooters we lost some members. Some of those folks got caught up in our excitement, paid their dues and we never saw them again; one member never even came to the range. Others decided they want to do things differently than us so they started their own clubs. We lost some and we gained some; it’s all good. We’ve a great group of gunfighters in our club; we host at least one shoot a month, we provide gun safety education at public events, a portion of all our $ from shoots goes to charity, we promote our community in a positive light: the IRS is considering us a “Social Welfare Organization”, we consider ourselves just living and teaching the “Cowboy Way” of yesteryear.
Be it known to one and all, the Golden State Gunslingers were the first formed and first sanctioned Cowboy Fast Draw Club in Los Banos, California.
We commenced on 3/3/07; were sanctioned 6/9/07.
