Definitely good to hear confirmation that Virtra's simulators are helping Gander's bottomline...and that they plan to open "many more". Below are my favorite parts of the article that came out on Friday: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/crime_and_courts/blog/article_9450ddf8-b8d6-11e0-b19c-001cc4c03286.html
Gander Mountain says the virtual shooting range -- present in just four of the St. Paul, Minn.-based company's 116 stores -- marks the first time the general public can partake in virtual firearms technology that had previously been available only to the military and law enforcement. It works with an infrared laser device within the modified Glock, which registers the accuracy of the shot. The attached CO2 cartridge mimics recoil.
"Frankly, I don't think a lot of people saw the consumer applications for it," Gander Mountain spokesman Jess Myers says of the technology, "where Gander Mountain said this is something that will promote firearms safety."
You might wonder how conditioning people with guns to react to unprovoked attacks promotes firearms safety. I know I do. Especially as Wisconsin gets ready to enact legislation that will legalize the concealed carrying of firearms.
But whether it promotes safety or not, one thing is clear: It promotes profits.
Gander Mountain, which claims to be the nation's largest firearms retailer, opened its first gun academy in Mary Lake, Fla., in February. In addition to the profits generated by the shooting facility, the company has reported increased sales of firearms and accessories.
Since then academies have opened in Lakeville, Minn., and La Crosse, Wis. The Madison academy is the company's fourth, and others are coming this fall in Spring, Texas, and Wichita, Kan. And the corporation plans to open many more in coming years.
It's part of a major overhaul of the company announced recently by Gander Mountain CEO David Pratt.....
The company has submitted its training curriculum for state approval to meet training requirements for concealed-carry licenses. Gander Mountain officials say training requests have been exploding since the passing of the new law legalizing concealed carry of firearms in Wisconsin, which goes into effect on Nov. 1. But company officials say the Wisconsin law had nothing to do with the fact that two of the four existing Gander Mountain shooting academies are in Wisconsin.
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"We get a lot of repeat customers," he says of the La Crosse facility.