We are the last and only real gun shop left in northwestern New Mexico. There are lots of pawn shops and sporting goods stores that sell guns in addition to other things but here at SWSA, that is all we do. Besides for being absolutely committed to the best service that we can possibly provide, the staff here at SWSA is extremely passionate about personal defense. When someone asks our advice on the purchase of a new gun, we ask them some questions to help us determine their needs. Is it to be used in recreational shooting, competition, hunting or as a defensive weapon? How much experience do they have? Deciding factors may a one or more of the following-- recoil, expense, reliability, weight, accuracy, ease of operation or cosmetic appearance. Unlike most chain stores, we will spend whatever time is necessary helping a new shooter make their decision in a gun or a training course. We also provide extraordinary service after the sale.
Getting back to personal defense, we very much subscribe to Lt. Col. David Grossman's assessment of people in which he states that ALL people fall into 1 of 3 classes... Sheep, Wolves or Sheepdogs.
Col. Grossman says that the sheep are mostly gentle creatures that do not have the propensity for violence and depend on others to protect them when necessary. He doesn't mean to disparage the general population in any way by using this analogy. It's just a fact of life.
The wolf, on the other hand, DOES have the propensity for violence and in fact thrives on terrorizing the sheep. He enjoys inflicting pain, terror and confusion and the sheep are very much afraid of him.
Enter the sheepdog. The sheep are uncomfortable around the sheepdog because he reminds them very much of the wolf. The sheepdog has fangs and the propensity for violence but hopes that he will not have to resort to it. However, he lives for that day when he will be able to use his warrior skills and mindset to keep the wolf from harming the sheep.
When the wolf hijacks an airliner, a sheep may later say "Thank God I was not one of those airplanes!" while the sheepdog says, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes and maybe, just maybe, I could have made a difference!"
At Southwest Shooting Authority, we humbly and gratefully accept the role and responsibility of the sheepdog. It's in our blood and goes back to our pioneer ancestors. Our instructors and full-time employees all feel the same or they will not work here.
To read "Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs" in it's entirety, click HERE.
If you think you have that Sheepdog in your blood, we have bumperstickers to proclaim it. Few people will know what the "Sheepdog" is in reference to but other sheepdogs will know. Our bumper sticker is sure to be a conversation starter where you can explain the analogy and make others think about their position in life. We believe that good sheepdogs are born that way, not created later, but we also believe that the sheepdog can lie dormant and be brought out in some that didn't know they had it in them. This precious trait may be stirred to life by suggestions and conversation or by an event. Either way, having another warrior/guardian amongst us can't be a bad thing.
To all the Sheepdogs out there that have walked the walk and made sacrifices on others' behalf, we salute you!
