Number One Priority is Gun Safety

Gun safety is our number one priority. Gun safety is everyone’s responsibility. All of our performers are well trained in gun safety and understand it’s importance. We have very strict policies and protocols when it comes to gun safety.

Before every show, we have several gun safety protocols in place to include but not limited to:

• Upon arrival to set, our Senior Safety Officer checks their firearms.
• We have one ammo box. The Senior Safety Officer along with another Gunfighter will verify that all blanks in the box are indeed blanks.
• Everyone signs in on the sign-in sheet.
• Firearms are signed off as being cleared visually and also by running a rod down the barrel of each firearm.
• When it is time to load up, the Senior Safety Officer distributes blanks and verifies that each firearm is safe. If a Gunfighter should miss the loading process, he/she will perform without blanks.

Maintaining gun safety during shows is as equally important as before the shows if not more so, because during the shows, all Gunfighters not only need to maintain each other’s safety but that of the audience members. The following gun safety protocols during shows are:

• The staging area is roped off, giving the Gunfighters enough space to safely fire weapons and to keep the audience from entering the staging area.
• Every Gunfighter is trained to keep a careful eye on the audience. Should someone, such as a young child who may not understand the rules, slips away from their parent or legal guardian and crosses the rope into the staging area, the first Gunfighter to spot the issue calls out to STOP the show in progress so to rectify the situation. In addition, if the parent or another audience member calls out regarding a situation, the show will stop.

At the conclusion of every show, the actor with the last line, calls “Gunfighters Up!” That tells both the audience and the fellow Gunfighters, the show has concluded. After every show, our gun safety measures include:

• As soon as “Gunfighters Up!” is called, all of the actors stand up.

• We announce to the audience that we will be available for photographs after we unload our guns.

• Each performer who fired a gun, opens up the barrel, empties the blanks into the spittoon, and then shows that their gun is empty to the nearest fellow Gunfighter. The words, “Gunfighter Clear!” is called.

• Once every Gunfighter has been cleared, we will then take down the rope and allow audience members to come up and get their photo taken with our group.

Teaching young children about gun safety has never been more critical than today. Children, especially boys, are fascinated with guns. By teaching them to respect guns and use precaution when in the presence of a gun, will go a long way toward safety.

The only thing that is more expensive than education is ignorance. 

Benjamin Franklin, One of Our Founding Fathers, Diplomat and 6th President of Pennsylvania and 1st Postmaster General of the US

• Before every show, we address the children of the audience by asking them important gun safety questions. We ask them if they see a gun, what should they do. The correct answer, of course, is to DO NOT TOUCH IT, leave the area and go tell a trusted adult such as a parent or legal guardian.

• The young cowpoke who correctly answers the question is given a sheriff badge that either we or their parent attachs to the upper part of their shirt. They are then “deputized” as being a safe respecting law dog.

• This process teaches two lessons — 1. Gun safety;   2.  To always respect the law.

• • • All Gunfighters are expected to maintain a high level of professionalism while at each and every event and that is especially true of events serving alcohol, because extra caution needs to be taken when at these events.
    • Our Gunfighters will not purchase drinks for guests or friends while at such an event. So please, don’t ask them to.
    • Please do not offer or purchase drinks for any of our Gunfighters while at an event where alcohol is present, because our Gunfighters want to provide you with the safest experience possible during our events. 
    • Our Gunfighters will NOT drink less than six hours before Call Time (the time when Gunfighters are to arrive to prepare for their first performance) and will NOT have more than two drinks prior to those six hours.  This allows for our performers to maintain that mandated high level of profesionalism. 
    • Gunfighters are strictly permitted from drinking during any of our events or performances.
    • In a couple of our shows, we may use props that are alcohol bottles, but those are props and rest assured, the Gunfighter playing the role of the town drunk is not actually drunk. He is a professional actor and playing the role only. 
    • If you suspect one of our Gunfighters is under the influence of alcohol or other similar product, please inform one of our leaders/board members on site and we will promptly handle the situation.
    • Due to the nature of these types of events, Gunfighters will be more vigilant. Gunfighters will not leave their guns laying on a table or bar. They will keep them in their holster unless performing.  Please don’t ask to hold our guns, because that is not permitted, due to insurance, safety and liability concerns.
    • If an intoxicated guest becomes unruly during our show, impacting the safety of our performers and/or other event guests, we will immediately stop the show and will not resume until the situation in under control.
    • If an intoxicated guest tries grabbing any of our guns before, during or after our performance(s), measures will be taken to remove that individual from the venue.
    • Our goal is to have fun and bring joyous entertainment to our guests. So, if everyone plays by the rules, we will all have a great time with lasting memories to talk about later.