The United States is infamous for their controversial gun laws and now a series of shooting targets will make people question the country's stance yet again. Pulled together for the #011 issue of Useful Photography, a magazine based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, it reflects on the history of shooting targets used by American gun ranges.
Inappropriate, to say the least, some of the shooting targets depict pregnant women and children holding guns as well as terrifying hostage situations. Useful Photography publisher Eric Kessels says, "Our biggest question on the topic was what scares a nation--gunman who hold children ransom or infamous terrorists? In this age of high impact gun crime, are the participants seeking protection or accelerating the violence?" Anonymous silhouettes have been replaced by lifelike characters that put a face to victims and criminals alike.
Inappropriate Shooting Targets
Useful Photography Pulls Together History of U.S. Human Targets
Trend Themes
1. Controversial Shooting Targets - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop ethical shooting targets that promote responsible and safe firearm use.
2. Humanizing Shooting Range Experience - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create interactive shooting range targets that increase empathy and consciousness about the consequences of gun violence.
3. Rethinking Gun Range Practices - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design alternative shooting range activities and simulations that focus on skills development and responsible gun ownership.
Industry Implications
1. Gun Range Equipment Manufacturing - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop and produce advanced shooting targets that align with changing societal values and promote responsible firearm training.
2. VR/AR Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create virtual reality or augmented reality solutions for gun training that provide realistic scenarios while emphasizing non-lethal conflict resolution.
3. Safety and Ethics Education - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Establish training programs and resources that address the ethical implications of shooting range targets and promote responsible gun use.